Spring Break Fling

Chapter 31

31

NIKKO

I woke up feeling like I’d fallen out of a plane without a parachute. Twice.

My head pounded, my body ached, and my hands stung like I’d tried to punch my way through a brick wall instead of that guy’s stupid face. That fucker had a hard head. Still, all things considered, I had gotten away without getting stabbed or killed. It had felt like a win.

But waking up and seeing the faces of Diego, Jess, and Hannah was about the worst thing that could have happened. At least Hannah had stepped out, leaving me alone with my pain. And Diego.

“Damn, son, you got your ass beat, huh?” Diego’s voice grated on my already fragile nerves. He handed me a glass of water and some painkillers. “Take that.”

I groaned and dragged myself to a sitting position. My head pounded right behind my eyes.

I eyed the pills and water suspiciously. “You’re not trying to poison me, are you?”

Diego rolled his eyes. “If I wanted you to suffer, I would just walk out that door and leave you to wallow in your own filth. ”

Fair point. I swallowed the pills and downed the water. My throat felt like sandpaper.

“Want to tell me what actually happened last night?” Diego grabbed the empty glass and took it to the kitchen. “Did you meet Mike Tyson? Say something about his lisp?”

“Did you come over to help or to audition for Miami’s worst stand-up comic?”

“Why, you think I should do some open mics?” He handed the glass back, filled now.

I sighed, agitating my split lip. “I think you’re the ugliest nurse I’ve ever had.”

“Should I take you to the hospital where the real nurses are?” he asked, pulling up a chair. “Maybe they’ll have better material.”

“I don’t need a hospital. I need sleep. Why in the hell did you bring them here?”

“They were coming here whether I did or not,” he said. “Hannah came by the shop looking for you.”

“Why?” I asked. “She’s leaving. What the hell does she care?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. She said she’d been calling and texting and you were ignoring her. I called you a few times and Jess did as well. I figured you had gotten wasted and were sleeping it off.”

I groaned. “I didn’t go on a bender. At least not until I got home. But that was for the pain.”

“Drink your water,” he ordered. “You’ve got more alcohol than blood in your system.”

I sipped, then gagged. “You put salt in this?”

“No, that’s your blood,” he said, plopping down in the chair across from me. “Drink it anyway and then you’re going to eat some protein.”

“Fuck you. Most people would offer a cup of coffee,” I complained.

“I’m not your fucking waitress.”

“You wouldn’t get a tip if you were.”

“Now spill. What happened to your face? And the rest of you, for that matter. You’re going to be pissing blood by the looks of the bruises on your side.”

“I’m fine.”

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Because I’m not pissing blood. It wasn’t that hard of a kick. Or punch.”

“What happened? You’re not usually one to let someone get the best of you.”

I leaned back, the events of the night before replaying in my head like a badly edited movie. “Because it was more than one asshole.”

“What the fuck? Why didn’t you call me? I would have had your back.”

“I didn’t have time. It’s not like they called ahead and made an appointment.” I took another drink of the water. “Two dickheads caught me alone where I parked my car. Said my old man owed them money and tried to shake me down. Fucking Zip told them where to find me. I guess they were following me. I’m just glad they waited until I dropped off Hannah. I have no idea if they would have tried to fuck with her.”

“Because Zip owes them money?

“Yep.”

Diego’s brows shot up. “And you didn’t just pay them off?”

I knew why he was asking. That was usually what I did. But it had never been this much money before.

I shot him a look. “Hell no. I don’t have ten grand lying around.”

“Ten grand? Shit. What the hell did Zip get into now?”

“Fuck if I know,” I said. “Does it matter? He’s always dragging me into his drama. This time, he’s on his own. I don’t have the money. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to him.”

He sighed and shook his head. “So, you thought taking on a couple of guys was the best option?”

“I thought getting out of there alive was my best option, and the only way out was through them.” I gestured to my busted knuckles and swollen eye. “Technically, I won.”

“Barely,” Diego muttered, shaking his head. “And now? ”

“And now, everything’s a mess. My old man has gangbangers coming after me. I just got fired. And…” I hesitated, the words sticking in my throat.

Diego cocked his head. “And?”

“And my girl is leaving.”

Diego blinked. “Your girl?”

I froze. I hadn’t meant to say that, but it felt right. Hannah was my girl. Or she had been.

“Shut up,” I said, scowling. “I’m not in the mood for your shit.”

Diego raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, man. I wasn’t going to tease you. I get it. Are these guys going to come back?”

I shrugged. “Probably.”

“Do we need to go to the police?”

“For what?” I scoffed. “I didn’t get names. No, that’s not true. Rich. Big dude was Rich. Guy that kept trying to fucking shank me, I don’t know.”

“You took on two guys with knives?” He looked genuinely impressed.

“No. One guy had a knife. The other guy was the size of a fucking grizzly bear.” I noticed Diego studying me carefully. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, a bit too quickly. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“You’re fucked.”

“Gee, thanks for pointing that out,” I said. “I almost didn’t know that. Then the pain reminded me.”

“How are you going to handle this?”

I leaned back, wincing at the pain that shot through my ribs. “Not much to handle. I’m sure they’ll report back to whoever sent them that I’m not an easy target.”

Diego didn’t look convinced. “You’re going to need backup. This isn’t just some random street fight. These guys are professionals.”

“I can handle myself,” I muttered.

“Can you?” he challenged. “Because I doubt you’ll survive another dance with them.”

I rubbed my face, wincing as my fingers brushed over my bruised jaw. “I need to see her,” I said finally. “Apologize for being a dick. I don’t want that to be how we end things.”

Diego nodded, standing. “Then let’s go.”

The moment we stepped outside, we heard voices. Heated ones.

Jessie was pacing in the driveway, her hands gesturing wildly as she berated someone just out of sight.

I was used to Jess going off on people. I wondered who had gotten on her bad side.

“You manipulative little snake!” she spat. “I can’t believe I let you into the shop. Into his life. You think you’re just going to waltz out of here without him knowing the truth? Think again.”

My heart sank when I saw who she was talking to. Hannah stood there, her face pale and tear-streaked, her arms crossed protectively over her chest.

“What truth?” I asked. “What the hell are you doing, Jess?”

Jessie whirled around, startled, then pointed a finger at Hannah. “Why don’t you tell him?”

Hannah took a shaky step forward, her eyes wide and pleading. “Nikko, please?—”

“What is going on?” I asked.

I stepped closer to Hannah. Whatever was happening, Hannah was upset. I didn’t like that.

“Tell him!” Jess shouted.

“Back off,” I growled.

“Nikko, you have to understand,” Hannah said.

“Understand what?”

“She came back to get her tattoo fixed and to get revenge,” Jessie said, her voice dripping with venom. “She wanted to make you fall for her so she could bail and leave you in the dust. That was her plan all along. She doesn’t like you. She only wanted to fuck with your emotions!”

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The words echoed in my head, loud and unforgiving. I looked at Hannah, searching her face for a denial, a protest, anything. But all I saw was guilt.

“Hannah? ”

“It’s not like that,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please, Nikko. I know how it sounds, but it’s not how I feel now. You have to believe me.”

“Believe you?” Jessie snapped. “Why the hell should he believe you? You’ve been lying this whole time!”

Diego stepped between them, hands up like a referee. “Alright, everyone chill. Let’s not turn this into a circus.”

I stared at Hannah and willed her to say something. I needed her to tell me it was bullshit.

But she wasn’t saying that. She was staring at me with those big, beautiful eyes. Eyes that I thought were pure innocence at one time.

I had misjudged her in so many ways.

Jessie started yelling again. Diego was trying to quiet her. I barely heard either one of them. My ears rang, and my chest felt like it was caving in. This hurt. It hurt more than the punches I took last night. It hurt more than anything my old man ever did.

“Just go,” I said, my voice hoarse.

Jessie’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Yeah, you heard him. Get out of here.”

Hannah looked like she’d been slapped. Her mouth opened, then closed. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t cry. Why would she? This had all been fake for her.

“Nikko, please,” she whispered. “Let me explain.”

I turned away. “There’s nothing to explain.”

Diego put a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we should hear her out?—”

“No,” I said flatly. “She’s made her choice. Just like everyone else in my life.”

Hannah took a step forward. “That’s not fair?—”

“Fair?” I laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “Nothing about this is fair. You came here with a plan. To what? Humiliate me? Make me fall for you just to prove some point?”

“No!” she cried. “It started that way, but not anymore. I?—”

“Save it,” I interrupted. “I can’t deal with any more drama right now. Get out of here. ”

“You heard him,” Jess said. “Don’t make me kick your ass out of here.”

“You too,” I said, my gaze snapping to her. “All of you. Go. Now.”

Jessie’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “But Nikko?—”

“Get the fuck out!” I bellowed, my voice cracking.

Hannah broke into sobs, Jessie rolled her eyes, and Diego muttered something about giving me space. One by one, they left, leaving me standing in the driveway like a goddamn fool.

I went back inside, slamming the door behind me. The silence was deafening.

I went straight for the fridge, grabbed a beer, and cracked it open. I tilted my head back and drained it in one go. Then I crushed the can in my hand and reached for another.

This was what I got for letting someone in.

The hangover wasn’t enough to deter me from doing it all over again. I wanted to get blackout drunk and forget about this crazy life.