Isaac arrived at Nikki's home. After what he had seen yesterday he had been reluctant to even come, but decided in the end that the situation had to be addressed one way or another.
"Hi sweetie!" Nikki greeted opening the door for him.
She kissed his cheek and held the door open as Isaac stepped through.
"Hey," Isaac replied.
"Okay, I was making spaghetti bolognase," Nikki said. "But the sause burnt and the spaghetti did too for that matter. I left it in the pot too long and the water all evapourated for me. So I cheated and bought Chinese."
Isaac started at the word "cheated".
"Oh, umm, yeah, I'm sure it'll be fine," he mumbled.
He followed Nikki into the dining room. There were candles and plates of Chinese food on the table.
"Ike? You okay?" Nikki frowned at him.
Isaac rested his hands on he back of the chair, looking down at the table.
"No," he said finally. "Not really."
"What's wrong?" Nikki asked, moving over to comfort him.
"I saw you yesterday."
"You did? When?"
"At the mall. With him."
Nikki paused.
"I see."
There was silence.
"Well? That's all you're going to say?"
"I'm not cheating on you, Ike," Nikki said firmly.
"He kissed you."
"So?"
"On the lips."
"So?"
"I didn't exactly see you objecting."
"I was working," Nikki shrugged.
"Working?" Isaac frowned. "Was there a photographer around I didn't notice?"
"Huh? Oh, no I wasn't modelling."
"Then what job?"
Nikki was silent, trying to figure out how to answer this without violating her position. She walked over and slipped her aroms around him and kissed his lips softly before Isaac caught himself and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't try to avoid answering the question," he frowned down at her.
"Ike," Nikki said patiently. "There's nothing wrong, okay? I just... need some stuff from him, and he likes to... whatever... in return."
Isaac stared at her.
"That doesn't exactly make me feel better. If you're not going to..." Isaac frowned and looked at her shoulder, seeing a glimpse of brown just under her sleeve where his hand had pushed it up.
Isaac lifted the sleeve the rest of the way, seeing her tattoo.
"How long have you had this?" he asked quietly.
"Had what? Oh, my tattoo? A year ago now," Nikki considered. "Before we got together."
"How come I've never noticed it before?"
Nikki shrugged.
"I usually cover it up with make up for photo shoots," she replied, grateful for the distraction. "Some people prefer clean skin, so yeah. And it's not exactly a traditional tattoo: y'know, a butterfly or a dragon, a heart with 'mother' written in it."
She giggled at her own joke.
"So..." Isaac said, trying to formulate his words. "Does this guy have anything to do with your work for the Fudge Gang?"
Nikki stood stock still.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't give me that. I know this tattoo. I've seen it before. I've been accused of being in league with them, and I don't especially care for those accusations to come up again."
Nikki started pacing, trying to figure out what to say.
"Okay, okay, I am," she said finally. "But if you can keep that to yourself? I'm not supposed to tell anyone."
"And the guy at the mall?"
"Yes, yes he's my job for the Fudge Gang," Nikki said impatiently.
"Right, so, what, you're spying on him or something."
"Yeah."
"And he thinks you're dating?"
Nikki paused.
"Well... yes..."
She started to feel a bit sick. Isaac caught her eyes.
"Are you sleeping with him?"
Nikki swallowed and stepped back, suddenly feeling very small.
"Yes," she said very quietly.
Isaac turned his back on her. There was a very long, tense silence.
"And they're paying you, right?"
"Well, duh, I don't do this for free," Nikki said, relieved at the break in the silence.
"Right, so in addition to being a criminal, you're also a whore?"
"I am not a whore!"
"You're having sex with other men for money. I'd say that makes you a whore!"
"I am not..." Nikki broke off. "Well, maybe by that definition, but it's only... I'm a very exclusive whore."
"Like that changes anything."
"Hey, you're not the one being called a whore. It changes everything."
"Yeah. And you know what else it changes? Us."
"Ike..."
Isaac shook his head.
"Nikki, I love you, I really do. But I... aside from the fact that I've been wrongly accussed of associating with the Fudge Gang before... I can't... I can't share you, y'know?"
Nikki frowned.
"Call me old fashioned but I can't... I can't be with someone all the while knowing she's off... off... off having sex," Isaac swallowed, "with someone else. Not matter what the reason. I'm sorry, Nikki."
Isaac turned to leave and Nikki ran to close the distance.
"Ike... please..."
"It doesn't work like this, Nikki," Isaac said firmly. "Come back to me when you're no longer with the Fudge Gang. I'm not to going wait for you though."
"I can't just quit!" Nikki objected. "It doesn't work like that."
Isaac shrugged.
"Then I guess we're over for good then."