Chapter 10

I follow the waiter as he takes me to Nick's table.I spot him toying with his glass of water and looking deep in thought.Our eyes meet and he immediately gets to his feet as I reach the table and pecks my cheek????

I do my best to ignore the slight tingle I feel from his kiss.I mean it's just a peck nothing more,I mean friends kiss all the time on their cheeks right.Times like this I'm glad for my skin color because my cheeks would be spotting a certain primary color.

He pushes in my chair and returns to his.

'How was work ,bella?',he places his hands on the table as he leans forward staring at me intently.

I try to not look at his arms and focus on his eyes but I fail miserably.What? I have a fetish for veiny arms especially with the shirt sleeves rolled up,help me Jesus.He flexes his hand and I look up to see him smirking at me...argh what a cocky bastard.I do my best to feign nonchalance.

'I asked you a question bella,' he says bringing his fingers to his mouth hiding a smile dancing on his lips.

A question? What question?.

Ms KAL help!!!

'He asked how was work,bella.With the way you're going on ,I'd swear you've never seen a man before.'

Right,work.

'Well it was going well until some annoying guy walked in and ruined everything and now here I am having lunch with him.'I say with a smug smile.

'Well I wouldn't take all the credit,I'm surprised you made it here in one piece,Draculina was ready to pounce on you earlier',he says with a glim in his eyes.

'Yeah.....we are sort of friends now',his mouth hangs open and I don't know what came over me but I reach out and close it.After realizing what I've just done I immediately retract my hand.My fingers feel like they are burning but that must be his prickly 5 o'clock shadow he is currently spotting.He stares at me and I can't decipher what he's thinking.

'What can I start you off with?',the waiter asks and I look up to him relieved and release a breathe I didn't know I was holding.We make our orders then the waiter bows his head and leaves.

'So what changed',Nick asks.

'Excuse me.'

'You and Draculina,it didn't seem like you guys were gonna be friends when I was in the shop.'

'Well she's not so bad once you get to know her ohhh she thinks you're very handsome by the way.'

'What do you think?',he looks at me intently.

'What do I think about what?',I suddenly feel heat on my back,his stare was making me uncomfortable.

'Do you think I'm very handsome bella?'

Yes!!!

'I thought this was supposed to be a friendly lunch',I emphasize on the word friendly.

'Yeah and I'm asking you as a friend if you think I'm very handsome',he counters.

'You're okay I guess',I try to sound unbothered by the whole thing.

He smiles at me.

'Sure,sure',he says not believing me hell even I don't believe myself.

'I'm taking Paula shopping tomorrow.'I tell him in hopes that he drops that conversation.

'Paula?'

'Really she had a name tag on,Draculina's name is Paula',I say exasperated.

'What?I know her as Draculina now...ohhh okay good for you guys,I guess.'

'You guess?'

'I mean everytime I want us to hang out with you,you always find an excuse it's been two weeks but you have time for Draculina.'

'I've been busy though...'

'Aka you work half day on Saturdays,Sunday you don't work at all and Friday you knock off early from school.I was really looking forward to this you know.I even cleared my schedule on weekends but if you don't want to do this anymore you can just tell me.'

I had no idea it was so important to him and I was busy maybe this particular weekend I lied but I've been busy.

Did you notice how he called you Aka instead of bella?

'Okay I won't apologize but we take turns working at the bookstore so I'm off two Saturdays in a month.Next week I'm free so we can spend the whole day together.'

'Ohhh thanks bella ,I'm glad you on board and don't worry I wasn't expecting an apology',he winks at me.Okay quick question when people wink at you what you do,wink back,smile or in my case fiddle with your thumbs.

'Why do you call me bella?' I ask him,he call me that all the time.

'It's short for bellismo which means beautiful in Italian.That was the first word that came to my mind when I first saw you at the cafè.'He says with a warm smile.

Jesus help me !!!!!

He thinks you're beautiful Aka.

'Thanks',I say to him toying with my napkin.

I don't like this at all,I'm so nervous so I look around trying to relax.

Nick continues to talk and our food comes ohhh I could kiss this waiter he knows the right time to come.Me and Nick start eating and talking about nothing and everything and before we know it it's late.I haven't laughed like that in ages.

I get out of the elevator and skip my way to my apartment door to see nightmare next door camped outside my door.

'Hey Ms Lavender',I say with a smile.

'Yeah yeah you know how there's load shedding and we are being told to use electricity sparingly yet you leave your light on when you aren't even home',she all but yells at me.

I look at my door and surely there's light outlining my door.

'Ohhh snap I must have....'

'Don't make excuses just don't do it again',she folds her chair and walks to her door.

Argh of all neighbors to have but that was not enough to ruin my mood.I get in my apartment and start thinking about lunch with Nick and it was amazing.I hum incoherent things as I get ready for bed.

'Your father is having an affair,he took all his clothes and left.'

My mother's tear stricken face flashes in my head.

My mood turns sour immediately.