Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker (Cocker Brothers #30)

25. Zoe

TWENTY-FIVE

Zoe

I choke, “You’re Caleb’s father?”

“Who are you?” he bellows, “What is going on here?!”

The air in the echoing event hall is thick with tension, the kind that clings to your skin, causing the wrong kind of goosebumps.

Tom’s punch still reverberates in all of our cells, hitting different triggers, and I now stand frozen, breath stuck in my throat as my gaze darts from Tom to Caleb then to his father who is glaring at all three of us like he’s never seen anything more to his disliking.

Caleb snaps, “Are you out of your mind?” wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes stormy as he stands up.

Mr. Astor focuses his fury at Tom, “You assaulted my son! I’m calling the police!” pulling out his phone, expression cold as ice.

With a rush of panic I step closer to him. “Don’t do it!” My plea echoed off the high ceilings and in an instant all eyes are on me. “Tom didn’t mean to hit him!”

“Yes, I did, Zoe.”

Mr. Astor dials 911.

They answer instantly.

This is not one of those times you want them to.

The huge event space is empty, except for us, so we can all hear the dispatcher’s voice clearly as she says, “911. What’s your emergency?”

“This is Caleb Astor II! My son has just been assaulted! I need the police to the Four Seasons immediately.”

Caleb rubs his face. “Father. That’s not necessary.”

I step closer, feeling the urge to grab my future father-in-law’s phone and smash it with my foot. “Tom was just defending me, Mr. Astor!”

This makes Caleb glare at me. “Defending you? From what? My kiss?”

The words pour out before I can stop them. “From you!”

Reality is overwhelming.

I’m standing between two worlds.

I can feel it.

“He felt you were hurting me.”

Caleb asks, “What do you mean by that?” brows twisted in confusion.

But I can’t answer him.

I’m not sure how to explain it.

Mr. Astor’s phone disappears in his pocket. “They’re on their way.”

“Good,” Tom mutters. “I don’t regret it. I’d do it again.” Heat enflames my cheeks, a flush of embarrassment mixed with something else. Something thrilling. Tom’s stance is wide and defiant, anger etched into his features, a sharp contrast to the gentleness I usually see in him. “Zoe deserves better than an over-entitled snob like you, Caleb!”

Every word is a dagger aimed at my…fiancé.

I gulp, not knowing what to say.

“Better? You think you’re better than me?” Caleb scoffs, voice dripping with disdain as he dusts off his form-fitting suit. “You’re just a delivery boy, Tom. You think you can play hero? You’re nothing.”

My heart sinks. Caleb’s words cut deeper than I want to admit, because I was raised to see wealth simply as a means of freedom so you can help others, not so you can talk down to them.

Tom growls, “Maybe I’m nothing?—”

I cry out, “—You’re not nothing!”

Tom’s glance flickers to me, then locks onto Caleb, “Maybe I don’t have the money you have but I would never talk down to Zoe.”

“I wasn’t talking down to her.”

I repeat, this time in a whisper, “You’re not nothing, Tom.”

Mr. Astor bellows, raising the tension, “I demand to know what is going on! Who are you?”

“I’m Zoe Cocker.”

He looks me up and down. “This is your fiancé. I would’ve thought a Cocker would be dressed more…”

Caleb snaps, “Father, stop!”

My gaze races to Tom, who’s suddenly got his fists clenched. The tension between us crackles like electricity. I grab one of his fists, wishing we could run away from all this.

From the unknown future.

From my promise.

From the police.

Tom’s voice is low and fierce. “I can’t just stand by and watch him treat you like that.”

Caleb thrusts out his chest, voice rising. “So you treat her how, Tom? Like a princess who needs saving? This isn’t a fairy tale!”

The sound of sirens wails in the distance.

I breathe, “They’re coming,” barely audible.

Time is slipping away.

Tom’s gaze searches mine. “If punching him sends me to jail, I’d do it again.”

Shared moments during the months he’s worked for me flash before my eyes. Suddenly, I see everything I couldn’t before — the longing in him for me. The undeniable connection. All this time, he harbored intense feelings, and is right now willing, even eager, to go to jail if that’s the price for standing up for me.

“Just go, Zoe, before they get here,” Tom says, his voice strong. “I don’t want you to see me in cuffs.”

Desperation fuels my, “No! I’m not leaving you!”

Mr. Astor growls, “You’re making a mistake, Zoe. If you defend him, you’ll be throwing away your future.”

Caleb interjects, “Father, she’s defending her employee. Zoe has a right to do that. This isn’t a comfortable place for her.”

“This animal works for her?”

“Animal?” Caleb almost laughs. “Haven’t you ever gotten into a fight?”

“I know you don’t take after me in that regard.”

I stare at Caleb as he winces from his dad’s verbal jab, dark eyes glittering with rebellion that never finds his lips. “Father, you’re right. I’ve had some… instances… in the past. But her employee only punched me once.” Touching his jaw, Caleb shrugs, “Can’t even feel it anymore.”

Police rush into the hall, and Mr. Astor points to Tom, “This man! He assaulted my son.”

“Father!”

The twist of Mr. Astor’s silver eyebrows don’t budge. “He’s going to jail!”

Tom presses his keys into my palm and holds for a second longer than he should. “Zoe, make the deliveries.”

My eyes widen. “You’re thinking of those at a time like this!”

“People are waiting.”

“I know but…”

“No buts.”

“You’re amazing.” They start to cuff him and I whip around to beg Caleb, “Please stop them!”

Caleb takes my hand, “Zoe, what are you doing?" lacing our fingers together. "Whose side are you taking?”