***
Max
I stroll across the street, making my way towards Safira. Doesn’t matter how old I get, I’ll still be Nik’s little brother…and his lackey. Tina hates when Nik does this, but I come bearing gifts, so she’ll get over it. It’s Monday. Tina shouldn’t be working at all. She’s on maternity leave. I use that term loosely, because Tina’s been on maternity leave for a month, but still goes to work every day.
Nik tells her to take it easy. She smiles sweetly up at him and tells him she will. He leaves for work, and she throws on a sassy outfit and heads over to her store. She’s lucky she’s hot.
I open the door and hold it open to let out a couple of young women. I smile hard. “Ladies, how you doing today? Looking good.”
There you go again.
That wasn’t flirting. It was being a gentleman.
...seriously?
Shut up, brain.
I back through the door, balancing the loot, and call out, “Good morning.”
In unison, they all call back, “Morning!”
I place the stuff on the front counter and turn to find Tina waddling out of her office. Her eyes are narrowed and she has her cell to her ear. I grin. Ha-ha! Nik’s gonna get it.
He must’ve answered, because she immediately starts, “Nik, baby, you want to tell me why I have a delivery here this morning, with Max being the deliveryman?” And even though she’s pissed at him, she takes a second to smile at me and mouth, ‘hi’. That’s just how she rolls. Tina is the shit.
I don’t hear what he says, but she responds an annoyed, “I don’t nee
d food. It’s ten am, for Pete’s sake! What are you trying to do, honey? Turn me into a whale?” I know the exact moment he gets sweet on her. Her shoulders slump and she sighs. “I know you want to take care of me. I love you too.” She pauses, then lifts a hand to cup my cheek. “Yeah. I love Max too.”
I lean down and kiss the top of her head. She wraps an arm around me and squeezes, then she’s waddling back into the office.
Mimi appears behind me. She jerks a chin to the box on the counter. “More food?”
I grin. “Yep.”
She shrugs then lifts the lid of the box, picking up a sandwich. “Don’t mind if I do.”
Lola walks down from the back of the shop, eyes wide in delight. “Are those free sandwiches?” Mimi chews while nodding. Lola makes a score motion in the air. “I love free sandwiches!”
Nat comes through the office door, her cell on her ear. “Lena, I love you. Really, I do, but this isn’t up for discussion. You’re going to have to learn to deal with it.” My brows bunch. This sounds serious. She walks towards me, spots the sandwiches, and does a little dance. She utters into the phone, “I’m turning you on speaker now. Because…sandwiches.”
I whisper, “What’s up with Helena?”
Nat, not caring Helena will hear, takes a bite of a sandwich and explains a garbled, “My sister has a problem with hearing me have sex.”
Helena gasps. “Oh God, you have no shame, you ho! And by the way, you moan so loud it sounds like I’m in the room with you. Yuck!”
Nat swallows and rolls her eyes. “Dramatic much? It’s sex! It’s normal! I’m married, for chrissake! It won’t be long before I have two babies to look after. I have to get the sex in now!”
Helena responds, “La-la-la-la-la!”
Nat turns to me. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
Helena answers with what sounds like a pout. “I am at work. No one’s here yet. Well, people are here, but James isn’t here.”
James, is it? He always introduces himself as Whit. Why is Helena allowed to call him James?
Nat chuckles. “I was talking to Max, doofus.”