Torn in two

Chapter 9

Cindy finishes making a much needed pot of coffee and brings over two mugs before sitting down.
"You two looked cozy," I imply when she sat next to me.
"We didn't have sex, I know, shocker," she surprisingly admits.
"Performance issues?" I snicker.
"He's old fashioned. Wants to wait until marriage," she says causing me to pop on my elbow to look at her.
"Seriously?" Lifting my eyebrows in disbelief.
"No, silly," she smacks me with a pillow.
I groan, still having a headache.
"Sorry. I meant he wants to take me on an official date first," she blushes again.
"Well I suppose that's sweet. Wine, dine, then sixty-nine," I stifle a giggle.
"No honey, the sixty-nine was last night," she busts out in a giggle.
And I join her.
There is a very big possibility we were both still drunk.
"He told me he's in the corporate trust industry," she looks at me quizzically.
"What even is that? Is that like a fancy name for a drug dealer?" I joke.
She laughs nervously.
"I really hope that's not the case. I mean his best friend is a cop, so," she trails off letting the sentence die.
We both sit in silence pondering over the last couple hours of events.
"Today was weird and it's not even noon yet," I peek over at her.
"It has been. What's our plans for the rest of the day?" She asks.
"Well when's your date?" I raise an eyebrow.
"When's yours?" She retorts.
"Good question. All Zak said was 'later,'" I mocked in a manly voice.
"Was that a genuine response?" She asks trying to hide the apprehension in her voice.
"I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine," I admit, releasing an uneasy breath.
"Like how well do we even know these guys? The man arrests me because he popped a boner, takes me back to his house to be chivalrous, Diego won't disclose his occupation and then this Carlos character?" I didn't realize I got up and was now pacing back and forth.
Cindy nods silently agreeing and I feel a pang of guilt for dumping doubt onto her.
I sat back down.
"Carlos was a very kind man," I say calmer and in a serious tone.
Cindy's face brightens as she can't help but laugh, "yeah. He was definitely a sweetheart."
My phone dings receiving a text message.
I haven't heard from Greg today. Maybe that was him.
Zak: I'd like to take you out tonight.
Odd. I don't remember exchanging numbers this morning but his name was already in my phone. Well, I did black out last night.
"Who's that? You look conflicted," Cindy asks before sipping her coffee.
"It's Zak. Do you remember if I gave him my number last night?" I ask curiously.
"You must of if he's in your contacts," she shrugs.
Maybe I did before I passed out?
I debunk the mystery as solved.
What did you have in mind? I sent back.
Zak: I know a really good taco spot on the beach.
I love tacos. I sent him.
He responds immediately.
Zak: Then it's a date. Send me your address and I'll pick you up at 8.
See you then, and sent him my address.
I stay at Cindy's place most of the time but I still live at the house Greg and I grew up in. We've been meaning to sell the place after our parents passing, but it's been hard letting go. Don't think about it.
I slap a smile on my face.
"I'm going on a date tonight," I cheer.
"Me too," she waves her phone at me.
"Did he say where you're going?" genuinely interested where Diego would take a first date.
"He said he'll be my Spanish tour guide while we walk around Little Havana's tonight," she giggles.
"He does know you're not a tourist, right?" We live in downtown Miami, only 20 minutes from Little Havana.
"Nikki, he dropped us off at my house," she looks at me bewildered.
I raise my hands in defeat.
"You'll have fun. Remember how much we liked the drinks at Cafe La Trova?" Referring to a cute little bar we went to not long ago.
"If he takes me there I'll act like I've never been," she laughs.
"Tonight will be fun," I say while yawning.
I try and make myself as comfortable as I can on this sofa, attempting to take a brief nap.
"Hey, wake me up if I sleep longer than 3 hours, please," I don't want to be too groggy later.
"Mhm," Cindy mumbles already half asleep.
So much for the coffee. I can already feel myself drifting to sleep.