Zoey’s POV
It had been a week since Jackson had taken me out riding on the horses and Nookie had just reappeared into our lives again. She kept trying to get me to rejoin her band. Which I have NO plans on doing, at all.
I woke up this morning to my cell ringing continuously. I rolled over and sighed.
I felt around on my nightstand without opening my eyes to see who was calling. I had been up half the night with Jackson the previous night. I pressed the on button and groaned out a barely audible, “Hello.”
Nookies voice blared from the other end. “Oh did I wake you? Well, since you’re awake anyway. I really need to talk to you about something but not over the phone.” She practically growled. Oh boy, she was pissed about something. Just great! I was so not in the mood to put up with one of her moods.
“When?” I asked shortly. I wasn’t fully awake and I was irritable. She knew I always was before I had my coffee. “Where?”
Nookie’s POV
“Now and at the local coffee shop.” I was completely pissed off. Although singing again for the first time in months had made me feel better, I still needed my girl. Well, I needed my girls but I only had one of the four at the moment.
She huffed. “Fine. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.” I was grateful I had a friend I could call and wake up out of bed and she would come right to me if I needed her. She truly was my bff. “I’ll see you in 10 then.” I hung up the phone and hurriedly got ready and apparated straight to the alley beside this coffee shop. It was muggle owned so I knew it not wise that I just pop in.
I walked around to the front of the coffee shop and saw Jackson a little ways away. My god that boy was hot. I hated to do it to Zoey but damn…
I knew at that moment I no longer wanted Randy. I now have a new target in my sights. A small grin etched its was onto my lips as I entered the shop, ordering my coffee then taking a seat at a table near the window so I could watch him.
I was lost in thought when the bell on the door rang out. I wasn’t paying much attention to anything since Jackson had wandered off after a while, until Zoey came bustling over to my table making me jump 10 feet in the air. “Damn, Zoey. Warn a girl next time will ya?”
Zoey’s POV
“Maybe you should quit daydreaming and open your damn eyes!” I proclaimed. I was irritated enough that she woke me up this morning and drug my ass out to talk to me about whatever that she couldn’t over the phone. “WHO were you staring at anyway?” I took a seat in the chair across from her and ordered my cappuccino, waiting on her to answer me.
“Oh,…um….Jackson.” My mouth dropped. Was she really infatuated with MY Jackson? I saw red at the mere thought of it. I wanted to rip her fucking eyes out. I stood up, “If you think for one minute that Jackson would even want to touch you then YOU are insane, Natalie Burberry!” I slammed my hands down on the table. “Jackson and I are trying to work on us, Natalie. Do NOT interfere in it.”
I waited for her response before I done anything hasty. “I never said anything, Z. I just said I was looking at him was all. Calm the fuck down. And anyway he’s not technically taken yet.” She smirked at me. She fucking smirked. Who the hell does she think she is waltzing in my life after 6 years and trying to take the one man I have ever loved? Damn it all to hell!
“No he’s not. But we are trying to work things out, Natalie. Please do NOT ruin this for me.” I sighed. “Please, Nookie.” I was practically begging her, which was so not me. I swear if we weren’t in a shop I would have hit her when she told me what she did.
Nookie’s POV
“Fine! I’ll back off for now.” I sneered at her. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t flirt, I thought. I closed my eyes for a moment. “Have you given it any thought as to helping me get the old band back together and opening a club here in town somewhere?”
“Thank you and no I have not. I told you I am not singing in public unless I’m completely wasted.”
“Oh, come on, Z. You know you miss it.” She kept shaking her head. Damn, she was playing hard ball. I would persuade her in the end. I smiled drinking some of my coffee.
She bit her lip and sat back down. “What the hell did you drag me out of bed this early for?” My eyes grew dark with the memory of my phone call from Randy earlier. I knew she could tell something was bothering me. I gritted my teeth and swallowed my pride. “Randy called me this morning.” I sighed. I wasn’t sure I could tell her the whole story but I had to try. I mean I did ‘drag’ her out this early as she stated.
She looked at me intently waiting on me to continue but I was frozen and overcome with emotion. “Well?” She asked. She clearly wasn’t seeing the way it was hurting me to talk about it.
“He wants to talk to me. I can’t do it, Zoe. I just can’t.” Tears came to my eyes as I thought about seeing him again.
“Why not, Nookie? It’s clear to see you still love him.” My heart felt like it was going to explode when she said that. “I know that, Zoe. It’s just not that easy for me. I’m not like you. I can’t just let the man that hurt me back into my life in the blink of an eye.” I dropped my head to the table. “Why is my life such shit?”
She rubbed my arm. “Your life is NOT shit. You have a lot going for you, sweetie. You just have to open your eyes and see it for yourself.” She was trying to reassure me. It wasn’t working. “What do I have going for me? Tell me exactly what it is I have going for me? Nothing! I have zilch. Notta. Zip.” I threw my hands up in aggravation. My life sucks.
“Well, you’re a beautiful woman, you have your music with or without a band, you’re very talented. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “If you don’t want Randy back then go out on a date or something. I could set you up with Derek Talon.” My head snapped up at the name. “Oh god. He’s in town?” I bit my lip.
“Yes, he’s in town. He lives about 2 blocks from me.”
“Damn, I ain’t seen that boy in ages.” A sly smile crossed my face remembering the last time I had saw Talon, as I had always called him. “No, I wouldn’t mind talking to him but no I don’t want set up on a date of any kind right now.” I sighed. “Randy is still with Katalina. You remember her?”
Zoey’s POV
“That bitch of a cousin of mine?” Fucking stupid bitch always did cause trouble. “What happened, Nookie? Why did you break up?” I asked her, concerned for my friend. I wasn’t sure what to do. I needed my sister but had no idea on how to get ahold of her or where she was at.
“I caught him cheating on me with your fucking slutty ass cousin.” She said angrily. Oh god. “Shit. I’m so sorry, Nookie.” I closed my eyes fighting back the tears I had for her heartache. “I know the feeling though. For 6 years I thought Jackson was cheating on me.” I saw the look on her face. Her eyes scrunched up in a menacing way. “I know its not the same. I didn’t actually catch him but I lost 6 years with him that I could have had over that damn bitch.” I sighed and stood up holding my hand out to her. “I think we need to get some fresh air.” And I needed to figure out where my sister was at. I need her more than ever right now. She took my hand and we walked out of the coffee shop together, heading toward her small apartment on the Westside of town.
