Page 53 of A Little Naughty

Then my eyes land on the clock.

“Shit,” I hiss, grabbing a pair of jeans out of my drawer and jerking them over my hips.

A long-sleeved ivory sweater is over my head, and I twist my hair into a messy bun on my head. It’ll have to do.

“I’ll call you later!” I yell, stepping into my clogs and scooping up the bucket hat as I run out the door.

I’ve never been so thankful to have a bike.

* * *

“What haveyou been up to, Miss Thang?” Monay’s dark eyes move from my messy bun to my clean face and bare lips. “You’re glowing, and you didn’t text me last night.”

“New skincare routine.” I breeze past her to where Nikki is sitting at the small table. “Hey, how are you feeling this morning?”

She looks up from her bowl of Lucky Charms. “You look different.”

“I’m not wearing lipstick.” Reaching into my bag, I pull out the hat. “Look what I got you!”

Her eyes widen, and she stands out of her chair, taking it from me. Walking over to the mirror, she pulls it on her head then turns it side to side. It fits neatly over her brown curls, and she’s really cute.

“You have got that look on lock.” I walk over to bend down and give her a hug. “I look like a dumbo in those hats.”

“It’s too little for your head.” Monay walks over to stand beside us looking in the mirror. “Miss Nik looks like a fashion model. You’d better work it, girl!”

“Are you saying I have a big head?” I elbow her in the side, and she arches an eyebrow.

“What happened when you left here last night?”

I shake my head, careful to avoid Nikki’s notice. “Why don’t you come to the office today so we can talk about the gala? Mardi Gras is only two weeks away—February 13, no less.”

Her eyes widen. “We’ve got a lot to talk about and not much time to do it.”

“Tell me about it.” I tap Nikki on the shoulder. “Do you need to go by the house before school?”

“I don’t think so.” She motions to her backpack on the table. “I brushed my teeth, and I have my stuff here.”

“Let’s get going then.” I give Monay a side-hug and scratch Angie Dickinson’s ears. “I’ll see you in a few hours?”

She sees us out, and I walk with Nikki the few blocks to school. It’s on the other side of the courthouse beside the small church.

“I’m sorry I had to work late last night.” I look over at her, but her eyes are hidden by the brim of her hat. “It seemed like maybe it wasn’t such a great day yesterday?”

She shrugs, and we walk a few steps in silence. My insides are buzzing and happy, and with every step I can feel how many times Raif and I fucked last night. Still, thinking she’s unhappy puts a damper on my otherwise sunny mood.

“I heard something about a Koala Kup?” Her lips tighten, and I wait, hoping she might say something.

More steps, and still no reply. Looking up, I see the school rising before us, and I wish this town wasn’t quite so small.

“What if I have a friend who might be able to get you one? Do you have any particular color in mind?” She stops walking, and I do the same, turning to face her. “Lavender haze?”

Amber eyes meet mine, and she shrugs. “Or green to match my hat.”

She’s still not smiling, so I give her one of mine. “You know, even in the best places, things don’t always go the way you want. But I’ve learned if you just keep swimming, somehow it always seems to get better. Maybe not right away, but eventually. The best thing is to be with people who lift you up and who love you, and you have that here.”

Her expression doesn’t change, and I can’t tell if anything I’m saying makes a single bit of difference. I don’t know how it could. I know from personal, first-hand experience, life can get pretty dark, and no amount of positive thinking can take the pain away.

But I can give her something I never had. A person who’ll be here fighting for her.

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