“Yeah,” she nodded. “That’s so. Then again, I always get a little jealous when it comes to you.” She looked over at me almost shyly. Was she being serious right now? I couldn’t tell what the right response was. She’d blown me off for months, and she’d moved to town, and now it almost sounded like she was coming onto me.
I didn’t want to get hurt, I realized suddenly. I liked her a lot. Regardless of everything that had happened between us, I liked her. I craved her, even. Still, I knew that if Zoey and I were going to give this thing a shot, if we were going to go for round two, then we needed to be honest with each other, and we needed to have a really long talk about our expectations for the future. Communication was the one place our friendship had fallen short, I realized.
My heart hurt a little as I realized that I’d been aching for her to tell me she was sorry, that she wanted me. Now that we were physically together, touching and talking, I just wanted her even more, but we needed to talk. We needed to both be honest, and we needed to be truthful about what we wanted.
I was saved from having to say anything else because Lauren was finally satisfied with the way everyone was walking. She called everyone to the front of the church so we could go over a few final details, and then after the pastor said a short prayer, we were all free to leave to go to dinner.
“Thanks for putting up with me,” Lauren came over and hugged me. Then she hugged Zoey. “You two look so beautiful together,” she said. “I seated you together at the restaurant, too.” She hurried off before either one of us could say anything.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Zoey. I saw the look on her face. She looked disappointed, maybe even frustrated by this arrangement.
“For what?”
“Us being seated together.”
“You are?” Zoey seemed a little startled by my comment. “Oh, shit, David, you know, I mean, I could ask Felix, and...”
I reached for her chin and tilted it up toward me so that she’d stop talking. I looked at those beautiful lips, and I tried my best not to think about what they looked like wrapped around my cock.
“You’ve avoided me for months, princess. I thought it was fair to assume you didn’t want to sit beside me.” My words were quiet, but true. Was I right in thinking she didn’t want to be around me? Or had my inkling that she was flirting been the more correct interpretation of Miss Zoey?
“David, you’re all wrong about me,” she said.
“I think you’re the one who’s wrong about me.”
“I saw you with your girlfriend,” she whispered, licking her lips. I realized I was still holding her chin, so I dropped my hand. Zoey didn’t make a move to step back, though. She just stayed right where she was.
“She wasn’t my girlfriend. You didn’t give me a chance to explain.”
“But I heard her,” Zoey cocked her head, confused. She pressed her fingers to her lips. “And she kissed you.”
“Sexual assault in a legal office,” I said drily, “is quite brazen. I agree.” It still rankled me that I’d tried to keep the peace at the office instead of calling her out or booting her ass from the office entirely.
“You mean, you weren’t together?”
“She was my ex, Zoey. She was the one I told you about.” Part of me still couldn’t believe I’d been so bold as to tell her about Debra. On some level, it had seemed like a mistake. On another...
Well, on another, it had felt right. Zoey was the kind of person I could trust. She’d always been kind and compassionate. She’d always been sweet and wonderful.
“I feel like a total idiot,” she whispered.
“You aren’t an idiot.”
“I’m sorry I blew you off,” she whispered looking up at me, but just then, Lauren and Felix came barreling into the area we were standing. They were laughing and excited and anxious.
“Let’s go!” Lauren said. “We’re going to be late to the restaurant. Everyone, let’s go!”
“Could I, uh, hitch a ride with someone?” Heath asked, raising his hand. He looked around awkwardly, as though he’d never had to ask anyone for a ride before. It was almost endearing, but I felt a little bad for him.
“I got you,” Felix said. “I drove separately from Lauren.” Felix turned my way and jerked his head toward Zoey. “I trust you can deliver my little sister to the restaurant?”
“You got it,” I said.
Zoey was silent as we left the church. Everyone went to their cars and started driving. The two of us climbed into mine and got our seatbelts on in silence. Then Zoey turned to look at me. I was quiet as I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the restaurant.
“You know,” she finally said. “It seems that twice my inability to confront you head-on has led to problems for our friendship.”
“I think we’re a little more than friends, princess.”