“You’ll pass? I know you cooked, but you never pass on pizza.” He stands before me, rubbing his five o’clock shadow with curiosity. “Remember that time we went to All-You-Can-Eat Pete’s? You had four plates of Pete’s ribs, including the side of lobster, and still ordered pizza on the cab ride home.”
“It was that time of the month.”
Checkmate, Drew. He hates menstrual talk. His body shudders when I mention it. I don’t want to invite any more questions.
“All right. We need to talk. Something’s up, and you’re acting really weird, Zo. Kristy has a shift that starts in two hours and mine starts in four, so we’ll talk then. But seriously, what flavor?”
“Hawaiian.” I sigh.
He leaves my room without another word while I sit on my bed, sulking. I am weak. Day one of my new life and everyone thinks I’ve gone cuckoo.
Is there even a point in trying?
And who am I trying for?
Me? Or for a man who hasn’t walked into my life yet?
Chapter Six
Drew
I can’t stand it anymore. Zoey’s acting all weird, and trying to read her mind is like reading a Chinese novel upside down. Wearing a dress on a Sunday not to mention an apron on top. It’s like I’ve walked into the 1950s, and all I need her to say is, “Honey, dinner’s on the table.”
Being the stubborn woman she is, she refuses to acknowledge that something’s wrong, carrying on pretending everything’s normal between us.
I called bullshit the second I saw her, but Kristy was beside me at the time, and I didn’t want to have a heated argument with Zoey in front of her. Kristy had kept me occupied for most of the day, and despite what one may think, she’s not interested in me. Having broken up with her boyfriend only a week ago, she confided in me the fact he was abusive, emotionally and physically, and she needed to find herself. I respected that. Hanging out with her was easy. Kristy’s pretty laid-back despite the traumatic events she endured.
Normally, Zoey chills with the girls I bring back, yet this time she retreated to her room. I let her be, hanging out in the living room with Kristy, watching reruns on MTV. When Kristy’s stomach growled, she suggested we order some pizza. Miss Moody declined the offer to have some, but in the end, she caved.
I’ve made it my business to get to the bottom of this the second Kristy leaves for her shift.
I tap on Zoey’s door wanting an end to this saga. She doesn’t answer, so I open the door anyway, but not without warning her that I’m coming in. She’s sprawled across her bed in her sweats with that book she was talking about, not a single movement to acknowledge I’ve entered the room.
“All right, what’s going on, Zo? All day you’ve been acting weird. Ever since last night when you stormed out of—”
She drops the book onto the comforter and turns to face me. Her eyes are doing that thing where it looks like the pools of green are circling rapidly like a cyclone. Her lips tighten as she bites her tongue, warning me I should have probably never walked in here and opened my mouth. Smart move, you idiot.
“I didn’t storm out. I was pissed at you that you thought it was more important to go find some pussy than hang out with me.”
And there it is. The truth comes out like the rain after the crack of thunder. Stunned at her choice of words, I sit on the edge of her bed trying to find the right thing to say. Talking to women can sometimes be like walking on eggshells while carrying barbells. Choose your words carefully. Do not anger the beast.
“It wasn’t like that… it’s hard to explain,” I fumble almost incoherently.
“Really? That’s the best you can come up with? We’ve known each other for, like, what? Four years. I’ve seen you vomit on yourself. I’ve even rubbed your belly when you had that bout of stomach flu,” she quips. “And the best you can tell me is it’s hard to explain?”
“Okay, the kiss made it awkward,” I confess.
Her hands toy with the cover of her book until a sheepish, annoying, smile sweeps across her face. At first, it’s small giggles, but soon her laughter erupts into a coughing fit. “Of course, it was awkward. How long did it take you to realize that?”
“All right, whatever. Can we move on from what happened?”
“Sure. But just admit I’m right?”
“I’ll admit you have a strong point.”
“Admit I’m right.” She moves closer to the edge of the bed where I sit settling on her knees as she rubs her hands in delight. She’s watching me intently, and I can’t stop grinning knowing full well that Zoey will lose if she attempts to arm wrestle, again. But hey, let’s humor her into thinking she has a chance.
“And what if I don’t? Whatcha gonna do, Richards?” I tease.