Chapter 14
OWEN
I’m exhausted by the time I push the elevator button to bring me back up to George’s apartment. It’s been an… unusual day following Zoe’s list. Now all I can think about is the stack of takeout menus on the kitchen counter and the cushy leather couch in the living room.
“Oh, hello!” The doors slide open to reveal an older, dark-skinned man in a very colorful button-down exiting the neighbor’s apartment with a bag of trash. He flashes a conspiratorial grin. “Watch out, she’s in there!”
“I’m sorry?” I pull out my keys.
“Zoe! She’s waiting in there, and she looks like she means business. Oh, sorry, I’m Raj. I think you met my husband last night.”
The man shifts the bag and holds out a hand. I shake it. “Oh, sure. Owen. Nice to meet you.”
Raj looks me up and down and smiles at me. “Marty was right. You are cute.”
Before I can even think about how to respond to that, Raj goes off toward the trash chute, whistling. I shake my head and bite back a laugh, heat creeping up my cheeks. Well, at least I have the seal of approval from the gentlemen next door.
I stick my key in the first lock—
“Be careful in there. She’s a wily one.” Raj calls over his shoulder.
Don’t I know it.
I let myself in and am immediately greeted by the sight of Zoe stretched out on the sofa, feet on the coffee table, enjoying what appears to be a full-on cocktail, complete with a paper umbrella she must have dug up from somewhere.
“Owie!!!” she squeals, jumping up to throw her arms around me.
“Zowen…” I say in a gentle teasing tone, wrapping her up in a hug and sinking into it. Zoe is trouble with a capital Z, but I love her more than words. Being with her feels like coming home.
“So…” she singsongs when she pulls back to have a better look at me, “how was your day….?”
How was my day? Bizarre? Random? She kept me busy with a seemingly endless list of perplexing activities.
Visiting a small, out-of-the-way bookstore.
Having lunch in a pub, which required three trains to get to (and which was only okay).
Walking her friend’s dog—but only in a specific park, even though we passed another two on the way.
I don’t get it. But maybe she’s just trying to keep me so busy I don’t have time to think about anything else. At least I’ve pretty much mastered the subway system after crisscrossing the city all day.
“Interesting. It was interesting.”
“I see… anything especially interesting to report?”
The blister I’ve gotten on my left heel probably doesn’t count. “Not really.”
“Oh.” She seems strangely disappointed. “Well, okay. So, I thought for dinner we’d go to this great little place. It’s kind of out of the way, but—”
“Zoe,” I groan, collapsing on the couch.
“No, listen, it’s fantastic. It’s communal dining, so you get to chat with the people near you and—”
“Zo, I’m exhausted. I don’t want to go out again.” I look up at her imploringly.
She considers for a long moment. “Okay, fine. I guess you do deserve the night off. You want to order some Thai?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“I’ll go grab the menu.” She goes into the kitchen.
“Oh, hey, and bring me one of those umbrella drinks, would you?” I call after her with a smile.