Page 6 of Zero
“Everything is ready.” He told me. “Need a few more minutes for the ackee and saltfish. Fried dumplings are a go—roast breadfruit ready, callaloo with salt fish just waitin’ to be eaten. The oxtail is on it’s last bit of simmerin’ and the rice and peas won’t be started until after the lunch rush starts waning.”
I giggled. “You the man, Sarge.”
“I’ve been telling people that for years!”
Shaking my head, I smiled and got to work bringing cupcakes out to the showcase.
My day started out perfectly.
Then Rei Hakama was introduced to it and I wanted to slap him so hard his head spun. But in all that anger, I couldn’t deny how sexy he was. I’d watched him enter the restaurant with my brother and had tilted my head to stare at Rei’s perfectly rounded ass in those shorts. He was gorgeous and I was breathless each time he looked at me.
But with all that, Rei Hakama was a dick.
I left him alone with Justice for the rest of the evening and left Bailey’s for home. Suddenly super exhausted, I poured myself a glass of wine, ran myself a bath and sank my sore body in. A soft moan escaped my body and I sighed.
Closing my eyes, I wanted to let the moments I’d spent with Rei go. I wanted to pretend he didn’t exist and close out the world for at least the next hour. But the world didn’t want to stay out as my phone rang. Reaching for the towel sitting on the stool at the head of the tub, I dried my fingers then grabbed my phone to see my best friend’s face.
“Hey, Nitro.”
“What you doin’?”
I chuckled. “In the tub.”
“Cool, cool.” She laughed. “I was hoping for a girls’ day tomorrow.”
“Yes!” I cheered. “The answer is yes. Wait, you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Kimberly Dreyfuss told me. “I’m leaving for a race this weekend and wanted to spend some time with you before I get on the plane.”
“Sure, if you’re not busy, you could come by tonight.” I told her, while thinking of what I had in the fridge.
“I’m not busy.” Nitro explained. “Have you eaten?”
“Dinner, not yet. I had a bit of a day, so I wanted to get a little soak and quiet before I tackled that.”
“Don’t cook anything.” Nitro cheered. “I got this.”
“Oh boy.”
She giggled and after we finished our plans, I hung up.
My bath had to be cut short, but I didn’t climb out until after I’d finished my wine. I rinsed my body, dried it, rubbed on some lotion, then dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank.
I darted around the house, straightening things up a little, setting more wine in the fridge to cool as well as making a jug of lemonade.
Nitro arrived about an hour and a half later and we delved into time together. It was full of pasta from my favourite place in Ocho Rios, wine and a couple shots of tequila. We giggled like we usually do throughout our entire friendship but inevitably, the conversation made it to Rei.
“I hear he’s hot.” Nitro poured more wine for both of us. “He’s all the girls are talking about at the restaurant. Even old lady Evans is gushing.”
I told her about my first meeting with Rei and Nitro laughed so hard, she snorted.
“It’s not funny!” I exclaimed.
“Sure, it is!” She giggled. “And you have to admit, you walked into that whole ass-clap thing.”
I scoffed.
“Sis, you are way too serious.” Nitro told me. “He’s a good-looking man flirting with you. For once, try flirting back.”
