I felt so embarrassed about missing my shift. Then, I felt ashamed that I didn’t confirm my hours and conflicts when I saw it. And then, I was annoyed that she had shown up, as if I needed checking in. And, her offer to help whenever? Did she think I couldn’t take care of things on my own?
I was fuming when I clocked in, ready to show her how capable I could be, but then, I saw her.
She had been leaning back against a chair, sitting on her hands and resting her ass against the backrest. Her chain hung from her pants, and I wanted to run my fingers along it. She was listening intently to a story from one of the bowlers, a huge smile on her face, and my heart felt like a squishy fidget toy that Dolly would play with. I felt like that smile used to be a ray of sunshine that warmed my face. How long had I been under clouded skies?
So, I pivoted. I decided to try and reclaim the friendship we had once had. I moved closer, and she didn’t react. The lack of reaction was so intense, it had to be intentional.
“Do you still love chocolate with cheese?” I asked. “Because I have to tell you, that was my strongest craving when I was pregnant with Dolly.”
This caused Nikki to break into a smile — not the powerful sun smile, but a star for sure. Just like the sun, but a lot farther away. “It’s an underrated monstrosity of a snack that I love with my entire being.” Nikki turned her body to me. We were both leaning in towards each other on the counter, a scrap of paper between us listing off deliciously strange food combinations.
Pickles and ice cream.
Mayonnaise on hotdogs.
Hot Cheetos and nacho cheese.
“Okay, that last one is phenomenal and very popular,” I argued. “We should honestly sell it here. Chocolate and cheese, too. People need an education.”
“When is the last time you had it?”
“Oh, it’s been a while. When I was pregnant, Tristian thought it was weird, so he wouldn’t let me have it.”
Nikki placed a hand on mine. “Let you?” Her inquisitive disbelief made me squirm a bit.
“Well, you know, with the pregnancy I had to be safe with what I ate…” I started to explain. But, I stopped as the doors opened. Dolly skipped her way inside, interrupting my thoughts. Tristan marched in behind her, his eyes sweeping Lucky Lanes until he found me. He looked between Nikki and I, our hands touching, and his gaze narrowed.
“Mama!” Dolly ran to me.
I scooped her up and held her. “Well, hello, this is a surprise.”
Tristian answered for her. “Yeah, I have a work thing, so Dolly needs to stay with you this weekend.”
I smiled uncomfortably. “Okay, can you stay with her for a few more hours so I can finish up here?”
“Mama, I want to look at that!” Dolly was reaching for a bowling ball trophy on the counter behind me.
“Sure,” I put her on the counter to look at the trophies. “I’m in the middle of a shift, Tristan.” I appealed. “Just a few hours.”
Tristan checked his phone. “I’ve actually got to head out right now.” He gestured between me and Nikki. “Besides, it’s not like you’re busy.”
“Not busy?” Nikki scoffed. “Do you see any open lanes, bud?”
Tristan looked down his nose at Nikki, disregarded her, and turned his attention back to me. “Maeda, when are you going to stop playing around here? This isn’t even a real job, and you don’t need one. I can take care of you. You can stay home with Dolly. I’ll be gone this weekend but you can move back in and be there when I get home. Your lease is running out soon anyway. This little vacation needs to end at some point.” I flinched at the reminder that my housing situation was temporary. I was struggling to find another apartment to approve me because I didn’t have enough paystubs or enough for a downpayment.
Nikki stood up to her full height, only an inch shorter than Tristan, and planted herself behind me, a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for your gracious offer, but Maeda is her own person and not an accessory to your picket fence Americana wet dream.” Tristan opened his mouth to interject, but Nikki didn’t let up. “Now, what we’re not going to do is come into my business and start running disrespect like you get paid by the word. You said you’ve got somewhere else to be? You should go on and get there, because you’re done here.”
I looked back at Nikki. I felt sosafe. Something I hadn’t felt in the presence of another person in… well, longer than I cared to admit. I held onto her hand, for stability, courage, and strength.
Tristan’s eyes locked onto our hands. “Oh, so you’re sleeping with your boss? Real professional work environment you’ve got here.”
“Who I sleep with is none of your business,” I countered.
“Is this why you won’t come home? To play some girl on girl fantasy?” He was laughing like he couldn’t believe anyone would chose a woman over him.
“Like she said, it’s none of your business.” Nikki’s voice was cool, and she stood closer to me. I had been arguing my independence to Tristan to no avail. Maybe this was the approach that would get him to back off. I leaned against her, the feeling of her breasts and stomach against my back sent jolts of lighting through me. When she placed her free hand on my hip, I could have melted.
“You’re ridiculous, Maeda,” he hissed before turning to Dolly. “See you later, princess. Daddy loves you.”
