The Gemini

22 - Addiction

November 25, 1988

Nikki's eyes were gonna fall out of her head if she rolled them again. She was just trying to enjoy the rest of her chicken stir fry but her every bite was punctuated by a variation of sounds from Jody. The woman's giggles were either bubbly like that of a schoolgirl or airy and sultry like that of a call girl. When she wasn't laughing there were whispers that weren't as hushed as she'd intended them to be. Or maybe, Nikki thought to herself, maybe Jody didn't mean for her words to be hushed. Whatever the case, she was sickened by the gush.

It was nearing their last hour at the office. Unlike the past busy week, things had been slow today. Everyone winding down early and just sort of hanging out. She loved when work days were chill like this one. Even more reason to be annoyed at her bestfriend. She'd been on the phone with Mister Man for the past thirty minutes.

"No......Because it gave me a cramp from hell, That's why.......Yes I liked it, but that doesn't make it better.......Fine, you do it and tell me how it goes."

The girl was once stuck in her shell. At first meet, Nikki saw Jody as a music obsessed, buttoned-up homebody. In secret, she called her a nerd. Once they got to know each other, Nikki saw her transform and show her true colors. A peacock in sheeps clothing. Over the years she only became more self-assured. Now it seems that she'd found a new piece of herself.

"Two words, lace burn.....That shit's not funny, babe, it itched like crazy.....Yeah That's cool, I'm down if you are....When are you coming back anyway?" She sighed. "I don't think I can wait that long......You keep on and I just might."

Nikki shook her head, stabbing into a sweet-spicy piece of broccoli.

"Well first I'm gonna –"

"Oh. My. God. Are y'all done?" It was involuntary the blurting but Nikki didn't care one bit. Not even when Jody looked at her with all of the attitude in the world.

"Nikki.....I'm still at the office.....Yeah I'm gonna go. I'll see you tonight? I'll just wait there.....Okay, later."

"Finally after billion hours later." Nikki mumbled.

Coming to join at the table, "Wanna be nice and give me some?" Jody asked.

"I offered when I first heated it up but you were too busying caking on the telephone."

Retrieving a plastic fork from the kitchenette, Jody sucked her teeth. "Shut up." Poking at a carrot. "Jealous?"

"No." Nikki answered truthfully. "Y'all some addicts."

"How do you figure that?"

"Don't even lie and say that whole conversation wasn't about fucking."

Jody grinned, "Okay and? That doesn't prove anything."

"Girl, anytime I've seen you in the past week you were either coming from his house, on your way there, or thinking about going. Addict." Nikki continued as Jody laughed. "I bet y'all take y'all clothes off just to have a general conversation."

Stealing a piece of chicken, "Not that it's any of your business, but that's not all we do."

"Whatever, but I hope you on birth control. I ain't watching nobodies bad-ass kids."

Jody nudged Nikki's shoulder rather roughly. "Chill out with that. We're just having fun."

Shrugging, "Shit happens, Jo. I'm just being a good friend and giving you a heads up."

"Being a good friend by not only insulting my unborn children, but saying you won't watch them."

"No, by telling you not to slip up. Half the people you see walking outside came from 'having fun'."