by Blue Remy
“I know if I get Wood in my corner, I can take it to the mother chapter and get things lined up quickly. I need this, Hop. I can’t keep going the way things are right now.”
“You get shit rolling; I’ll be there, brother. It’s about time someone breathed some fresh air into this club.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Hopefully, I could convince Wood of the fact that it was time for a change, and I was just the guy to make those moves.
Chapter FIVE
Karmen
“I swear to God if you don’t sit still I am going to rip all your eyelashes out with the curler. Calm your tits, woman,” Nikki scolded as she put the finishing touches on my makeup.
We had gotten to my house forty-five minutes ago, and we had been going non-stop. I had jumped in the shower as Nikki ransacked my closet looking for something to wear tonight. I had no idea what she was going to find. I knew I had to dress differently this evening, but I also knew my closet was lacking. If I wasn’t at work in my scrubs, I was curled up on my couch wearing yoga pants and reading.
“Sorry, it’s just that he’s going to be here any minute, and I’m going crazy.”
“Just stop freaking out about it, and just go with whatever he wants to do. Did he say what you guys were going to do tonight?” Nikki gave me one last look, scanning the miracle job she had just done on my face.
“Um, we’re just going to the fireworks. He didn’t mention anything else.” I glanced in the mirror as Nikki walked over to my closet, and I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me. “Holy shit, that can’t be me.”
“Ha! Better believe that chick is you, babe. I’ve known all along what a babe you are under those scrubs every day.”
“Please, I am anything but a babe.”
“That’s why I’m down with you going out with Nickel. I believe that man is just what you need to make you see just what you are. Your witch of a Grandma needs to be shot for making you doubt yourself so much.” Nikki pulled out my favorite pair of jeans, tossing them over her shoulder at me and continued looking for a shirt.
“You gonna bring my Grandma back from the dead to shoot?”
“Phft, in a heartbeat. That woman was stone cold.” Nikki threw her hands up in the air and turned around. “How the hell do you not have anything sexy to wear?”
“Because I have nowhere to go that requires sexy. I work. That’s it.”
“Well, thank God you at least have a pair of jeans that give you a shape that isn’t baggy. Put those on and I’ll see what I can find that doesn’t look like it’s been washed fifty times.”
I walked into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked so I could listen to Nikki’s rambling. “I just bought a couple of new t-shirts the other day. They are in the top drawer of my dresser.” I shimmied out of my scrub bottoms and worked the jeans up my legs. They were boot cut and hugged my thighs and flared out at the bottom.
“Hmm, this will have to do. Thank God you, at least, bought woman’s cut t-shirts and not baggy men’s.” Nikki reached into the bathroom, the t-shirt hanging from her fingertips. I grabbed the shirt and tossed it on the counter.
“Am I just leaving my hair down?” I glanced in the mirror, taking in my dark, chocolate brown hair.
“Hell yeah. I don’t know how you have such soft, full, bouncy hair. If I didn’t like you so much, I’d hate you for it.”
“My hair is all I have going for me. Now out.” I pushed the door shut and pulled off my top.
“I’m gonna look for shoes. You better have some good ones, or I’m calling it a wash and you a lost cause!” Nikki yelled.
I shook my head, laughing, and pulled the black v-neck t-shirt over my head. Nikki was going to be pleasantly surprised when she saw my unhealthy obsession with shoes. I smoothed my shirt down, thankful I had at least invested in some sexy bras and panties. Not that Nickel was going to see them. I think.
“Sweet mother of God, where have you been hiding all of these shoes?” Nikki exclaimed from my bedroom. I slipped out of the bathroom and saw Nikki in the middle of the floor with all my shoe boxes strewn around her.
“In my closet.” I stood over her; my arms crossed over my chest.
“Oh, my God, none of these have ever been worn! What is wrong with you? This is a crime against the shoe gods!” Nikki cried, outraged.
“I like cute shoes, I just never have anywhere to wear them.”
“Girl, these shoes are not cute. They. Are. Gorgeous.” Nikki held up my favorite pair of purple sling backs and beamed up at me. “Can I please try these on? I will love you forever.”
“Have at it. Just be careful on the rug in the living room, I always trip over it whenever I have them on.” I reached to the left of her and picked up a pair of black flats.
“Are you kidding me?” Nikki said, kicking the boxes out of her way and slipped on the purple shoes. “All of these shoes you have and you are going with the most grandma looking ones.” She curled her lip up in disgust as I grabbed my purse and slung it over my shoulder.
“We’re going to the fireworks. I can’t wear four-inch heels in the grass. I’d fall on my face, and then he would have to carry me everywhere.”
“And that was would be a problem because?” Nikki waved her hands in front of her and laughed.
“Because I don’t need anyone to take care of me, that’s why.”
Nikki stood up, wobbling a bit and walked over to the full-size mirror I had rested against the wall. “One day, Karmen, you are going to need someone. I know you had a shitty childhood, and it taught you not to rely on anyone, but there are good people in this world who will help you and not ask for anything in return.”
Nikki told me this all the time, but I didn’t believe it. No matter the person, they are always looking to get something. “I think you are the only person I can say that is true about.”
“That’s because I’m awesome.” Nikki winked at me and headed down the hall to the living room.
I lived in a small apartment, but it was home. It was only a one bedroom with a small kitchen, somewhat large living room, and one bathroom. It was perfect for myself.
I adjusted my purse and looked in the mirror.
I looked plain and ordinary and would more than likely fade into the background with Nickel. What he saw in me I was blind to.
“Karmen! He’s here!”
I gave myself one last glance in the mirror and headed down the hall to Nikki. “Would you stop peering out the window like some psycho? I thought you said you were going to hide when he got here?”
I tried nudging Nikki out of the window, but she refused to move. “Shh, can we please just take a moment to recognize the smoking hotness that is Nickel Barnes and thank his momma for bringing him into this world?”
I caught a glimpse of Nickel as he walked to the front door of my building and had to agree with Nikki. Nickel was one fine specimen of a man. His jeans fit perfectly, tight in the thighs and widened out at the leg encasing his perfectness. He was wearing a light blue t-shirt with the Asphalt Kings logo stretched across his back. His dark brown hair was windblown, and it begged for me to run my fingers through it.
“Sweet mercy, can that man be any sexier? I think I just came.”
“Nikki!” I screeched, pushing her out of the window. “You’re freaking crazy! Hide in the bathroom. I’m afraid to have you in the same room as him when he comes in. You might jump him.”
Nikki headed down the hallway, turning halfway. “If anyone is going to jump that man, Karmen, it’s going to be you.” Nikki took two steps to the window and peeked out at Nickel again. “Oh, man. I need to check my panties.”
I grabbed a throw pillow off the couch and threw it at Nikki as she sprinted down the hall. “God dammit, Nikki. Your ass better stay in that bathroom until I leave.”
“You won’t hear a peep out of me,” she promised, shutting the door.
I looked around my apartment trying to find a place to hide when there wa
s a knock on the door. Crap! I froze, staring at the door. He knocked again at the door, but my feet felt like they were glued to the floor.
“Psst!” I turned my head to the hallway and saw Nikki sticking her head out. “Answer the door,” she hissed at me.
“I can’t!” I whispered back.
“Oh, my God I’ll –” Nikki started but stopped when he knocked on the door again.
“I know you’re in there, Karmen. I can hear you talking to your girl,” Nickel called through the door. Nikki shooed her hands at me and ducked back into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Baby girl, open the door,” he called again, his voice soothing and hypnotic.
My feet came unstuck from the floor, and I slowly walked to the door. My hand grabbed the door handle, but I didn’t twist it. I needed to get a grip. Nickel was just a man I was going on a date with. Something I had done tons of times before.
OK, well, maybe not tons of times, more like five times. Or was it only four? Ugh, thinking about my almost non-existent dating life was not helping. I twisted the handle open and stepped back, pulling the door open.
Holy shit. Nickel looked even better up close. “Hey,” he said, winking at me. Oh my, I think I needed to check my panties like Nikki had to.
“Hi,” I wheezed out.
“Good, you didn’t wear heels,” Nickel said, his gaze traveling up my body. I glanced down at my feet. I couldn’t even remember putting my shoes on.
“Ugh, I didn’t think heels would be good in grass.”
“Right on, baby. You ready to go? I got Pyro holding a spot for us right now. The park filled up a lot faster than I thought it would.”
“Um, yeah. I think I’m ready.” I glanced around my living room, hoping a big hole would open up and swallow me whole. The bathroom door was cracked open, and I knew it was taking all of Nikki’s will power not to open the door and walk out here.
Nickel grabbed my hand, turning my body back towards him. “Come on, baby, if you don’t have it right now, you don’t need it.” Nickel pulled me out the door, slamming the door shut behind us. “Keys?” he asked, holding his hand out.
I numbly dug through my purse and gave him the keys. He grabbed them and made quick work of locking the door and dropped them into my bag I was still holding open. “I know your girl is in there, but you can never be too safe.” He was still holding onto my hand with his other hand, and he tugged me behind him down the stairs and out the door, never letting go.
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle,” I said dumbly, watching Nickel grab a helmet and hold it out to me.
“First time for everything, baby. Stick with me, and I won’t let anything happen to you. Just strap this on and climb on behind me.”
I grabbed the helmet out of his hand and quickly put it on, buckling the chin strap. Nickel swung his leg over the seat gracefully, obviously having ridden thousands of times before. I scrambled on behind him, surprised I didn’t kick him in the back or catapult myself off the other side.
“Just hold on tight,” Nickel reached behind him, grabbing my arms and wrapping them around his waist, “and lean with me in the turns.”
I held on tightly, confident I could hold on, but doubtful about the leaning with him. I hoped I didn’t make him crash. He started the engine, the bike coming to life underneath us, rumbling and vibrating me to my core.
He kicked up the kickstand, and I realized I was about to go for my first motorcycle ride. I was putting my life into the hands of this man that I barely knew anything about, and I was surprisingly calm about it. Don’t get me wrong, I was terrified, but I figured the best person to go on my first motorcycle ride with was probably someone who had ridden a motorcycle more than they have walked.
I squealed as he took off and buried my head in his back, not wanting to see. I felt his body shake, and I knew he was laughing at me. We drove for five minutes before I finally opened my eyes and peeked over his shoulder. The familiar streets that I had turned down numerous times before were speeding by in a blur and the wind was blowing my hair out behind me.
Nickel maneuvered turns and corners with ease and by the time we made it to the park, I almost wished that we didn’t have to stop. Almost.
“You get off first, baby,” Nickel ordered. I awkwardly slid off, my legs feeling like jello underneath me. Nickel reached out for me right before my legs gave out. “Easy,” he chuckled, pulling my body close to him.
“I’m ok,” I whispered, trying to pull away from him.
“I know you are, baby. That’s why I’ve been chasing you for a year.” He winked at me, sliding one arm around my waist and we started walking towards the huge crowd of people that were all over the park.
I was speechless and had no idea what to say. Had Nickel been chasing me for a year? I thought he was just kind to me because he was a nice guy. I mean I knew he had a bad boy side to him, but figured he was nice to me because I was taking care of his grandma. “Um, is your friend going to watch the fireworks with us?”
“Naw, Pyro is gonna be lighting them off and blowing shit up. He lives for this shit.” We snaked our way through the crowd, dodging large groups of people who were camped out on large blankets. “When did you say was the last time you came to the fireworks?”
“Um, I was seventeen. I think it was only the second year they organized Shake the Lake. There were maybe a quarter of the people there that are here now. This is insane,” I mumbled as Nickel went left to go around a group of people, but one guy backed up into me knocking my hand out of Nickel’s, and I stumbled backward.
“Hey! Watch it!” a girl screeched at me as I stepped on their blanket.
I started to mumble an apology when I felt arms wrap around my waist from behind. “She got pushed. It wasn’t her fault,” Nickel thundered at the girl.
The girl who was ready to scratch my eyes out for stepping on her blanket seconds ago now looked up at Nickel with lust in her eyes, and I could tell I didn’t even register with her anymore.
“It’s ok. She can’t help it she’s clumsy,” the girl said, brushing off the blanket I had stepped on. “There’s plenty of room on my blanket if you want to sit with me. There’re no other places to sit.” She batted her eyes at him, and I swear to God pouted her lips. This was almost comical.
“I think your boyfriend sitting next to you might have something to say about that.” Nickel nodded his head at the guy who was sitting next to the girl. The girl didn’t even look ashamed at the fact that she had just hit on another guy when her boyfriend was sitting next to her.
“He’s just my date for the night,” she stuttered, her eyes not leaving Nickel.
“Either way, I’m not interested.” He pulled away from me, his hand trailing around my waist and grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him once again. I glanced back at the girl who was pouting her lips and giving me the evil eye. I shrugged my shoulders at her and continued following Nickel. I was just as shocked as her that he decided to stay with me and not her.
“We’re just on the other side of the lake.” I followed close behind Nickel, careful not to get knocked into anyone, and we finally made it to the spot he had saved for us. There was a tall guy standing guard at the edge of the blanket; his arms crossed over his chest as he talked to a short blonde who had a shirt, tight shorts on, and a crop top on. Her breasts were overflowing over her top, and she was leaning on his arm, rubbing against his arm.
“This is us,” Nickel again pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Yo, Pyro,” he called, getting his attention. Pyro and the girl turned to us, each of them looking me over. I got the sense of approval from Pyro but from the woman, she looked puzzled as her gaze bounced between Nickel and me.
“I gotta head back. You good, Nick?” Pyro asked, picking up a bag next to his feet.
“All right, brother.” Nickel kneeled down on the blanket and held his hand out for me to follow. I glance at Pyro’s retreating back with the blonde followin
g him close behind.
I kneeled down next to Nickel. “Um, I’ll sit over here.” I crawled over to the other side of the large blanket, trying to put as much distance between Nickel and me.
“Did you eat dinner?” Nickel grabbed a small cooler that was on the corner of the blanket and flipped it. He pulled out two sandwiches, a container of something and two beers. My stomach growled as he unwrapped a sandwich and ripped off a bite. “I’ll take that as a no,” he chuckled, handing me a sandwich.
I sat down on my butt and opened the sandwich, inhaling half of it without actually tasting it. I hadn’t eaten since eleven o’clock that morning and it was going on seven thirty. Hungry was an understatement at this point.
“So, how long have you worked at the nursing home?” Nickel popped open the top of one of the beers and handed it to me.
“Um, a little over four years. Thank you,” I mumbled, grabbing the bottle from him.
“You like working there?”
Hmm, did I like working there? It was a job, but I could honestly say that I did enjoy being there every day. It felt like I was making a difference, no matter how small it was. “I do. I love getting to know all the patients and spending time with them. Some of them feel like grandparents to me.”
“Do you have any? Grandparents I mean.”
“Um, no. I don’t have any family. My father is in prison, and my Grandma died over a year ago.”
“What about your mom?”
“She left when I was three. I never really knew her.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“It’s ok. It’s hard to miss something you never really had.”
We sat in silence as we both ate. I could tell Nickel’s eyes were trained on me, but I look everywhere else but at him.
Nickel stretched out on the blanket, his elbows propping him up and crossed his legs at the ankles. “How come you always avoid me whenever I visit Nan?”
