Page 42 of Taming Nikki

“Can you go away? You’re making my friend nervous.”

He stepped back and leaned against the wall. It was as far as he was willing to go, apparently.

Zoe sucked in a breath as she started again. Her nervous chatter started almost immediately. She was never the one to sit quietly, especially when there was awkward tension in the room.

“So… when's the wedding?”

I gave her a dirty look, but the question made Leo smirk. “Three weeks from Saturday.”

“Or how about never?” I snapped.

Zoe actually ignored me, continuing like she didn’t hear me. “Who’s planning it? We know it’s not Nikki, and I think Viola would rather jump off a bridge.”

“My aunt.”

I jerked my head and glanced between the two of them before Zoe nudged me to remind me not to move again. Her eyes remained focused on my tattoo, but she kept talking about wedding details like it was no big deal.

I lifted my head to glare at her. “You aren’t my friend anymore.”

She laughed and finally looked up at me. “I am too. Who else will give you last-minute tattoos when you want to piss off your fiancé?”

I dropped my head back down and scowled at the ceiling. I couldn’t even walk away. I was trapped between the idiot who won’t let shit go and the hopeless romantic.

“So, Mr. Vitale. Did you know it’s almost Nikki’s birthday?”

“Leo is fine. Yes, she mentioned it this morning.”

“Going to get her something?” I reached to smack her and Zoe laughed and batted my hand away. “Hands to yourself or I’ll sneak his last name or something.”

“You wouldn’t.”

She raised one immaculate eyebrow. “Wanna bet?”

Leo watched us, the tension he carried in with him all but gone thanks to Zoe’s careful questioning. She was a beautiful distraction.

I glanced between them with a frown. She wasn’t Cosa Nostra, so she had that going against her, but otherwise she was perfect. Leo would probably choose her over me any day if he didn’t have a vendetta against me. Zoe’s long braids were tied behind her, her slim mocha face a mask of concentration as she worked. She had the fullest lips and a perfect ten body, not an ounce of fat on her. She took self-defense classes with me and loved to run. She was also better at listening and could placate even the most bitchy customers. She was considerably more patient than me. I ground my teeth and glared at the ceiling.

“You doing okay? You’re getting a little tense.”

I nodded, but said nothing. I’d been friends with Zoe for a long time. This wasn’t the first time I’d been jealous of her good looks. Though it almost felt like it was the attention she was getting from Leo that bothered me more than how pretty she was. He almost always looked at me with irritation or mild amusement, like an animal at the zoo. Not the calm, pleasant attitude he had with Zoe.

Leo appeared above me, placing his hands on the table on either side of my head. He observed me before he glanced back at Zoe.

“Any suggestions on what to get her?”

“How about you break off the deal? Best birthday present ever.”

He ignored me, his eyes on Zoe as I grew more and more irritated.

“She likes weapons, tattoos… and cupcakes.”

He frowned. “Really?”

Zoe nodded. “She may not look it, but Nikki’s got the biggest sweet tooth.” She shot me a grin. She was enjoying this way too much. I didn’t want Leo to have that kind of information about me. I don’t want him thinking he knew me.

“I’m cutting your tip. Seriously. I told you how unhappy I am about all this and you decide to feed information to the enemy. I’m going to find a new tattoo artist.”

She rolled her eyes. “No, you won’t. I want you to have a happy ending, so sue me. Besides, going up against you, he’s going to need all the help he can get. Now hush, I’m almost done and the smallest lines are the hardest when you keep bitching.”

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