“Wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world, kiddo.”
“Kiddo?” She grimaces.
“Not a fan?”
“I’m thirty. It’s so old.”
“Age ain’t nothing but a number, baby.” I gently tug on her braid, teasing her. “If it makes you feel any better, you look eighteen.”
“Would an eighteen-year-old have this?” She glances back and forth, then pulls a flask out of her jacket. “I got some juice.”
“The last time I had some juice, I did things that um…” I trail off.
“You stuck your finger in my ass?”
“Zoey!” The kids beside us stare at my outburst. “So, haunted house. Terrifying, right?”
The kids continue to rudely stare. I yank Zoey’s arm and pull her closer to me. “Curb the ass-talk until we’re alone, Richards.”
“I may have drunk some juice already.”
“Oh… you think?” I answer back sarcastically.
Gigi and Mia join us handing Zoey a bunch of tickets.
I pull Mia aside wanting to apologize for what happened at the wedding. “I’m sorry, Mia. It was really immature of me.”
She folds her arms, keeping her distance, then follows through with a smile. Am I missing something here? Women confuse me. I never can predict their next move.
“It was immature of you, but I get it. It’s easy to get jealous when the person you love is the apple of somebody else’s eye. On our honeymoon, one of the old maids kept batting her eyelashes at Troy. I didn’t think I could be so jealous, but turns out I can be.”
Brushing it off, not wanting to admit any truth to what she said, “It’s not like that.”
“Then tell me what it’s like, Drew.” She laughs. “It’s so frustrating watching the both of you. It’s like watching a trapeze. Both of you are swinging, but no one will let go. It’s about being in sync and trusting the other person.”
I turn my head to the left where a trapeze is set up with
a big net beneath it. A couple is swinging and failing miserably at letting go.
“Did you come up with that because you’re staring at that couple trying to do it?”
“Yes… no. It all makes sense now,” she says to herself.
“That’s nice. Because what you’re saying makes no sense to me.”
She shakes her head, breaking her sudden daze and grins. “It’ll all work out. Plus, London is so romantic. Some of the greatest love stories began there.”
“Mia, what does London have to do with Zoey and me?”
“Uh hello, because Zoey’s moving there in the next week for wo—” She stops, her face pulling back in shock. “She hasn’t told you.”
“Told me what?” I grit.
“I thought she told you. Don’t rat me out, Drew. I had no idea.”
“She’s moving to London?”
“Mr. Becker offered her a role with his brother’s company. It’ll be a step up from what she’s doing, a promotion really, plus they’re footing the bill for her apartment and moving expenses. She’d be silly not to take it.” Mia’s voice fades out, and my head turns to where Zoey’s standing with Gigi. She’s clutching over, laughing along with Gigi. Her annoying yet cute braids are in the way so I can’t see her face. When she composes herself, she’s all smiles, and the vibrancy in her eyes displays her happiness.