Chapter 13

*Tina's POV *

I was lazily relaxed on the couch, clad in a plain black T-shirt and matching lace panties, with a bowl of fried chicken and watching a movie when there was a loud knock on my door.

"What the fuck?" I looked at the door angrily. Today was Sunday and one of my favorite days to relax. I didn't want any visitors. Yesterday was a long day. Pleasant but long. I came back late from my date with Alejandro and slept like a log. And now I wanted some time for myself.

The banging on my door became louder. Apparently, someone had other ideas.

"Girl, I know you're in there!" I recognised the familiar voice on the other side of the door. "Get your big fat ass over here and open this door."

With a slight shake of my head, I stood up and made my way to the door. Opening it, I saw the upset face of Kelly.

"About time." She briskly made her way into my apartment.

"Sure, come in," I muttered sarcastically as I closed the door.

Kelly was inspecting my couch with a perplexed look on her face.

"Girl, is this what you do when you're not working?" Her eyes darted towards the bowl of chicken. "Stuffing your face and watching a lame ass movie."

"Okay, first of all" —I put a hand up— "that movie is not lame. Second..." I walked towards the couch and flopped on it. "How else do you spend a weekend?"

"I could think of many ideas." She grinned. I knew that look and I immediately felt the warning alarms ring in my head.

"Kelly." I shook my head at her with a scowl. "We're sure as hell not going clubbing. You know what happened the last time we did."

"Okay, okay." She raised her hands in surrender. "Don't get your panties in a twist. Although, I'll say it's kind of late for that."

She snatched the bowl away from my hands and took out a piece of chicken.

"Do you always have to make jokes about my butt?" I stood up and tried to get it back, but she pulled it out of reach.

"Can't help it," she replied, side stepping me with tremendous agility as i dashed towards her. This woman's fitness was one of the wonders of the world. "That thing swallows the black lace panties you're wearing. I can't imagine what happens if you wear a thong. Your future boyfriend would be one hell of a lucky guy."

I flushed at the image of a certain someone looking at my backside. I quickly shook the image out of my head when I saw the mischievous grin Kelly sent my way.

"Imagining it?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Shut up." I pouted. "What are you doing here anyway?"

She handed me the bowl. "I was bored. Wanted to grab something to it so I thought you should come along."

"You mean you came all the way here to spoil my wonderful day just to ask me to do the same thing I was doing before you came?" I stared at her in disbelief.

"Girl, this is a sorry excuse for a lunch." She rolled her eyes, making reference to the bowl of chicken. "It's not healthy and sending weight to the wrong areas of your body."

"I get it already!" I gritted my teeth at her. She could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Great. Now I just used a butt pun, thanks to her.

"Get dressed and let's leave this jungle and get some fresh air." She commanded.

I groaned. "Can't we just eat here?"

"No." She shook her head. "Come on, hop to it. Let's go get some balanced diet."

I grumbled incoherently as I stood up. Another problem with Kelly was that she could be stubborn. As I walked past her, I felt the sting of her palm against my partially exposed bum, making me cry out in pain.

"Oh, it even jiggles." I heard her hysteric laughter behind me.

I shook my head and made my way into the bedroom.

***

"Now tell me you didn't prefer this," Kelly said, as she swallowed a mouthful of brown rice.

We were seated in a moderate restaurant by the seaside. I have to admit it was comfortable. The salty breeze against my skin was soothing and the scent was exhilarating. I glanced down at my bowl of rice, brocoli and salmon. The chefs were also very impressive. I wondered how I had never seen this restaurant before. Probably because I didn't go to that part of town.

"Fine, the food is great." I swallowed a spoonful.

"And a balanced diet." She winked.

"Yeah, that too." I rolled my eyes. "But you're still paying."

"Yeah, Yeah." She laughed and took a sip from her glass of water. "If it will get you to stay off junk."

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't eat them once in a while." I stuck out my tongue.

"You're so insufferable," she said and we both laughed.

I relished the moment. No matter how much Kelly could be a handful, she never stopped finding a way to bring a smile on my face. Well, that was bar the club incident. I wasn't lying when I told her at one point that I saw her as more of a sister than a friend. She had shrugged it off with one of her usual quips but deep down, she knew I was right. I was an only child and as much as my parents had cared for me and showed me much love, sometimes it just felt lonely.

Just then, Kelly's face morphed into an intense glare.

"Kelly?" I gave her a worried glance.

Her glare wasn't directed at me but to something behind me. Or rather, someone behind me as I could hear the footsteps made by high heels. I turned around in my seat and my mood soured.

"Fancy seeing you here again."

It was the woman that accompanied Alejandro that night. Natalie, was it?I knew I was going to run into her soon. I wasn't expecting it to be this soon. From the way she had looked at me after that incident as Alejandro sent her off, I knew her eyes still carried the pledge of an unfinished battle. I cursed myself for getting carried away.

"What do you want?" I glared at her. I could feel Kelly's fingers grazing the table radiating her building rage.

"Alejandro has been distant since that night." Her eyes narrowed at me.

"And what does that have to do with me?" I deadpanned, unfazed by her venomous gaze. "Clearly he has priorities."

"Don't try to act coy." She bent down until our eyes were level. "I know you're trying to punch above your weight."

I felt her vanilla breath tickle my nose. "You should keep your eye down at your own level."

I was so focused on her face that I didn't see her hand reach for my glass. Seconds later, I felt the splash on my face and my vision was blurred.

"That's it!" Kelly screamed.

Before I could stop her, she had tackled the bitch to the ground. The latter's screams echoed in the restaurant as I tried to pull away Kelly who rained punches and scratches on her face. As much as I relished the pain of the bitch, we were drawing unwanted attention from other guests.

However, that moment made me love Kelly even more.