11. Kenji

"It's been two fucking months of this shit, Maty."

"Can you blame her?" My girl's best friend answers me with sass. Hands on hips and all.

Since Nia won't give me the time of day, I opened up to Alessio and begged him to ask Maty to talk to me. She knows everything.

"Help me, please."

Her big brown eyes widen. "And how am I supposed to do that? The woman is as stubborn as a mule. As you damn well know. She won't listen to a word I say about you. Doesn't want to hear your name. Fucking leaves the room if anyone even mentions you."

I stare at her intently. Hoping my eyes can express all the shit I sure can't put into fucking words.

"It's so fucking sad, Ken. If she knew what happened. That you were actually protecting her…"

"You think she would forgive me?" I ask in a voice filled with hope.

"I know she would. Nia is all about friendship, family, trust, and…" Maty's eyes get lost for a moment, like she's toying with an idea.

"What is it?"

"I think you've been going about this the wrong way," she mutters.

"What do you mean?"

Before Maty can answer my question, Alessio bursts into her office, walking directly behind her desk to wrap his arms around her. Ugh, not again. It's the third fucking time he barges in for a ‘quick kiss'. The fuck? What are we? In Junior High? And I've barely been here twenty minutes.

"No one wants to see this shit, man." I shake my head with mock disgust. I'll give him shit, but I'm fucking happy for my brother. After years of dancing around each other, he finally got his woman.

"Fuck you. No one wants to see your ugly mug."

Maty rolls her eyes, giggling. "You guys are stupid." Then she turns to face me, her expression excited. "I have an idea."

"Whatever you need," I reply with no further detail needed.

She laughs again before sighing, while resting her head on Lessio's chest, who's still frowning at me. "I love this so much for Nia." Another sigh. Goddamn chicks. "Okay, just promise you'll do everything I say."

"For another chance with my girl? You can have my fucking kidney, babe."

At my last word, Les growls and Maty hits him on the shoulder, before turning back her giddy expression to me. Operation Get Nia Back is in motion.