“It so was all night long. Until I left. Don’t give me that shit. It was awful.”
“What if I promise to be on my best behavior?” He pouts out his bottom lip. “Will you come then?”
“I don’t trust you, Dan. I don’t think you have the best behavior. You always act like a damn animal.”
He laughs and nods. “Maybe you’re right about that. I just lose my head around hot chicks. But I would try for you. If it would get you out and stop you being chained to your desk all night long.”
I’ve lost my head as well, but I’m not going to tell Dan about it. For one, Nova is a client and I definitely shouldn’t have. Secondly, for all the bad things Dan has done, he hasn’t ever done that - as far as I know - and finally, I don’t want anyone to know. I don’t need to hear comments or anything negative. Today, I just want to enjoy it.
Telling him wouldn’t get him off my back, it would only raise more questions.
“Okay, so no more double dates. How about a night in the town?”
I screw up my nose. “Pool parties and nightclubs… don’t you think we’re a bit old for that?”
“Nah, no way. Not when you’re as hot as us. That way, you can meet someone.”
“Why are you so obsessed with me meeting someone? It’s weird, Dan.”
“Stop deflecting. I’m just being a good friend, wanting you to be happy. I think you’re lonely.”
I pull back and stare at him. Everyone seems to have this opinion of me which is strange when I’m doing so well by myself. Why doesn’t anyone see that I’m just fine, thank you very much.
“I don’t know, maybe, we’ll see. I can’t this week because I’m so busy.”
“You’re always busy. Come with me tonight. Just do it on a whim.”
“I can’t, I’m sorry. Not tonight.” No way in hell with Nova at my home. I can’t help it, I only want to be with her. “I have too much to do. Maybe at the weekend though.”
“I can already tell that isn’t going to happen. You’re letting me down, Zane.”
“Soon, Dan, as soon as I can. It isn’t that I don’t want to come out, I just can’t right now…”
He rises from his seat and stalks off without saying goodbye, leaving me with the slightly disturbing anonymous note which was going to irritate me all day long. Stupid idiot who can’t even sign his name…
11
Nova
“Just do it,” I tell myself seriously as I tap my cell phone over and over again. “She needs to know.”
Clara has to be informed about this or she will kill me when she comes back from New York and finds that I’m not at home. She told me to call her the minute something happened, and I didn’t. I might have even caught her before she got on the plane yesterday, but I wasn’t going to ruin her trip like that.
Plus, it all worked out in the end anyway, didn’t it? I ended up here… with Zane.
“Oh God!” I toss my head into my hands, but the giant grin remains on my face. “What am I doing?”
I know this isn’t where I should be, not really, I’ve told myself the same thing over and over again, but I can’t push the happiness away. I can’t stop feeling incredible. My body is open, my heart raw, my soul exposed, and I love it. I didn’t realize how locked away I have been over the last few years.
“Okay, just do it, Clara will be pleased for me, she started this after all.”
I leap up and pace the room while my cell phone presses to my ear. Each sound bolts anxiety like lightning through my system, but I can’t deny the little bit of excitement too.
“Hello, Nova? Are you okay?” Clara gushes, half excitedly, half with nerves.
“I’m good, how are you? How’s New York?”
“Oh, New York is incredible. This is the best trip that I’ve ever been on. I have so much to tell you and its only full day one… oh, but I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. Then I can show you pictures too.”