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Tasha’s front door flew open. She jumped in surprise as it slammed against the opposite wall and Nisha stormed in. Her friend’s loud screech warned something bad had happened.
Nisha took one look at her, balled her fists at her sides and stomped a foot. “They aren’t worth our time and energy.”
“Not worth our time and energy? Who?!”
Behind Nisha’s vibrating frame, Kien stood in her doorway glaring.
Three and a half hours ago, Nisha had shown at Tasha’s apartment with a slinky red dress flung over one arm, a make-up bag in one hand and curlers in her hair. Tasha had sat on the edge of her tub and kept Nisha company while she’d dressed and listened to her excitedly describe how good their first date would be.
She’d been anticipating their outing at one of the most expensive restaurants in town. Since Kien didn’t have a car or a driver’s license, Nisha had agreed to pick him up.
Kien’s attention left the back of Nisha’s head as he glanced over it to focus on Tasha. “What are you doing up there?”
Embarrassment made heat rush up her chest, neck and face. Of course, Nisha and Kien would burst into her apartment while she was trying to eavesdrop on Solgre and Phate’s conversation.
Tasha straightened from the wall she’d been pressed against and pushed her hair from her face. “Um...nothing. Just checking the vents for...um...”
Kien looked confused as ever.
Nisha narrowed her eyes and whirled to face Kien. For a split second, Kien looked scared, and took a step back. “Stop badgering her! This is her apartment, she can do whatever she wants in her apartment.”
“Sooooo, how was the date?” Tasha asked, trying to deflect from her embarrassing situation.
Kien glanced down at Nisha. “This was the worst date I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
She stabbed him in the chest with a finger. “This has been the worst date I’ve ever had.”
He squinted, staring down at her. “Exactly how many dates have you been on?”
Nisha gripped the edge of the door frame, holding it so tight her knuckles turned white. “Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know!”
She slammed the door in Kien’s face and turned around to lean her back against it, expelling a deep breath.
Tasha gave her friend a sympathetic look. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out their date hadn’t gone as planned. Tasha gave her friend a pitying look. She really felt bad for her. She’d been so excited to finally be going out with Kien. She’d worn a short dress that accentuated her body and curves. Her hair had so much mouse in it that it would take two washes to get it all out. She’d also worn a full face of makeup. It wasn’t that she’d needed it. Nisha was naturally beautiful, but she’d wanted to look and feel good for tonight.
“Aw, hon. I’m sorry it didn’t go well.”
Nisha pushed her curls from her face and glared at Tasha.
“O.M.G. Get down from there. You look ridiculous.”
Right. She was still balancing on her couch arm. Tasha dropped to the floor and grimaced at the amount of noise she’d made and hoped her downstairs neighbor didn’t notice. “Do you want me to make us tea while you tell me all about it?”
Nisha pouted and pushed off the door. “Can we have something a little stronger?”
“That bad?”
She nodded and dragged her feet to her favorite chair. Nisha dropped onto the cushion with a forlorn sigh. “Whiskey me, please.”
Tasha stopped in her tracks and turned toward her friend. Nisha liked the fruity wines and cocktails. A hard liquor drinker she was not.
“Did he hurt you?” she asked slowly. “Because if he did, I will go over there and take Big Bertha against his head.”
Nisha slumped forward and braced her elbows on her knees. “Nothing like that. Leave Big Bertha behind the door.”
Tasha eyed her aluminum baseball bat she’d had since her high school softball days. It was propped against the door in case someone made their way to her door who wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Nisha, he’s big but I can take him. Then we call the cops and tell them to throw that asshole in jail.”
“You know I would tell you if anything like that happened.” Nisha sighed again and flopped back against the chair while staring at the ceiling. “What’s taking you so long to get me whiskey, girl?”
“Okay, Okay. I’ll pour and you start talking. What happened?” Tasha continued to her small liquor cart where exactly five bottles were. She had two bottles of wine, a bottle of something her mother had picked up from New Orleans, a bottle of Long Island Iced Tea and a bottle of Tennessee Whiskey. She picked up the Tennessee Whiskey and made her way to the kitchen. “Start talking!”
“It started off okay, I guess. He liked the dress, the hair and make-up. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of me.”
Tasha selected two wine glasses. Just because they were drinking whiskey didn’t mean they couldn’t look fancy too. “And?”
Nisha groaned. “It went downhill from there.”
In the living room, she set the wine glasses down and poured them both three fingers worth. Tasha settled onto the couch with wine glass in hand and curled her feet under her legs. “I’m not a mind reader, Nisha. You have to give it to me straight.”
Nisha picked up her glass and shrugged. “He just... He was looking at me and every other woman too.”
Tasha cringed. “Ew.”
“Ew is right.” Nisha took a healthy swig then coughed and gasped. She pounded on her chest while choking for air. “Holy shit.”
Tasha chuckled. “You’re the one who wanted to hang with the big girls.”
Nisha patted her chest a few more times then cleared her throat.
“So that’s when you told him about himself and the argument started? You should’ve left his ass there.”
“The argument started when I matched his energy.” Nisha lifted her chin. “I stared openly at men.”
Tasha raised an eyebrow. “I take it he didn’t like that one bit.”
Nisha took another healthy swig and coughed again. “He. Did. Not. He told me to stop. Then I told him to stop. He said he couldn’t because his mission was to observe females of this place.”
She said the last part of the sentence in a deep and gruff voice.
Tasha cocked her head to the side, remembering what Solgre told her about Phate needing to log his dates. “That’s odd.”
“It’s crazy is what it is. He said it like it was his job or something. And he expected me to believe him. Like, really? What was I supposed to say? Oh, Kien! Yes, please continue ogling every woman in the restaurant while I sit here looking stupid.”
Tasha laughed and choked on the sip she’d taken. “So, you both were just there looking at other people the entire time?”
“When he looked at me, I looked at him. When he turned to gawk at every woman who entered the restaurant, I checked out their dates. Quid-pro-quo, motherfucker!”
Tasha burst into a laugh then held up her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. But this sounds so ridiculous.”
Nisha’s face softened and she chuckled. “It was. Our poor waitress didn’t know what was going on.”
“You two probably looked like a swinger couple looking for some fun.”
Nisha held up a finger. “Maybe if we were happy about it. But by the time our entrees came we were glaring at each other and glaring at everyone who walked by us.”
“So, I take it there won’t be a second date. I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to this.”
“I don’t really know what I was expecting. That he would sweep me off my feet or something, I guess.” Nisha shrugged a delicate shoulder and let out a deep sigh. “It’s okay. I think he’s made for the streets. I should’ve guessed by the way he’s dating everyone in town. I can do better.”
“And you deserve better.” Tasha reached over and patted her knee. “You deserve a man who only has eyes for you. Release him back to the streets, honey.”
Nisha flicked her hand in the air. “Poof, back to the streets he goes.”
* * *
AGENT MARGIE SANTANA sat on her couch, curled up with her own glass of wine and listened to the conversation of her downstairs neighbor. She’d kept quiet out of necessity. While the government listening device picked up on Tasha and Nisha’s conversation, the recorder taped every word said. Which would also mean the tape would pick up on her as well.
It was easy to imagine herself in the conversation between the best friends. There’s was a close and easy-going friendship. If Margie was in the apartment with them, she would’ve told Nisha Kien was an ass who didn’t know what he was missing.
She would’ve told Nisha she could do better than a whoremonger and player. She would’ve also told Nisha, Kien would get what he deserved in due time. Because once Margie confirmed these targets were the aliens she’d been tracking since an unknown spaceship had breached Earth’s atmosphere a little over four months ago, she was sounding the alarm and her team would swoop in for the extraction.
And Margie? She would be getting a nice raise for her efforts.
Win. Win. As far as she was concerned.