11. Zoe
ELEVEN
zoe
“Thank God we took a break this afternoon.”
Natalie had just proudly scored us a much-coveted table. We were currently listening to the dueling pianos at Lafitte’s, one of my favorite bars in the Quarter. It had such a sordid history and great drinks too.
“No kidding,” Charlee agreed. “We’d never have made it all night.”
Typical Nat, after a champagne brunch and a requisite stop at Napoleon House for Pimm’s Cup cocktails, was the responsible one. She suggested we take a break from drinking to shop, so we’d be able to last the night. I’d suggested a trolley ride to the Garden District, and though at the time, Charlee and I had resisted the break, not wanting to lose our day-drinking buzz, we could admit now it had been a good idea.
“What would we do without you?” I asked Natalie.
“Right now, you’d probably be passed out in the room.”
Charlee and I agreed with that.
The music had stopped, the piano players taking a break, and so we talked about where to go next. Inevitably, the discussion turned to men. First Lucas, since his text had prompted our new topic. Then Natalie’s boyfriend and her continued disdain for blow jobs.
And finally, Nate.
“So you guys are pretty hot and heavy, huh?” Natalie asked.
“Why? What do you know?”
The ladies laughed. “Guilty much?” Charlee swirled her drink around with her straw. “So, lots of dirty texts? Have you exchanged pics yet? Maybe videos?” she asked suggestively.
“In fact, yes. Want to see them?” I pretended to get out my phone.
Charlee waved her arms. “No, no. I was kidding.”
“Sure,” Natalie said, calling my bluff. “Let’s see.”
If I lived to be a hundred, I wouldn’t understand this woman. Practical, down-to-earth Natalie. But her crazy side? “You’re like one of those quiet, wild-child types. All innocent on the outside and then anything but on the inside.”
“You just figured this out?” Charlee asked. “I think, if push came to shove, Natalie is more wild than the two of us put together.”
“Not true,” Natalie argued.
No one believed her.
“Speaking of wild and hot guys.” Charlee peered over to the bar.
“We were talking about hot guys?” I asked.
“No. But there’s a group of them, and the tall one is definitely looking your way.”
I glanced toward the bar. Sure enough, the tallest of the group, a well-built guy with sandy brown hair, sort of a surfer type but more clean-cut, was looking at me. Probably around my age. Very hot. And I’d made eye contact just long enough that he was coming our way.
“Oh shit,” I said.
“That is one fine-looking male specimen,” Natalie said under her breath but loud enough for me to hear. He was almost next to us now.
“Hey there.” He smiled at me, his opening understated but on point.
“Hi,” I responded, wondering how this very live and in-person hottie could do absolutely nothing for me. But a text? From a man I’d never met in person? If Nate messaged me right now, he could get me wet in about three seconds flat.
With a text message.
Insane.
The chemistry between us was off the charts. Which one wouldn’t think should be possible through text messages. But it was.
“Can I buy you ladies a drink?”
I had to nip this in the bud. “Thanks, but all three of us are attached. We just noticed you guys over there having a good time. Appreciate you asking.”
Too subtle?
“Maybe I can just get you one then?”
Yep. Too subtle.
“No, thank you. I have a boyfriend. But thanks for the offer. Hope you’re enjoying New Orleans.” Clearly he was as much a tourist as me.
“We are. Very much.” He let his suggestive tone hang out there for a second, but when none of us responded, he got the hint. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks,” I said as he walked away.
Both ladies stared at me.
“Seriously?” Charlee asked. “Did you see that guy?”
“If a make out session with Mr. California isn’t the perfect way to distract you from you-know-who, what is?” Natalie asked.
There was the wild streak again. Of course, she would make out with a random guy in a bar in NOLA. Why the hell not?
“He’s not Voldemort,” I responded, ignoring her question.
“Oh my God. You don’t need to be distracted from Erik,” Charlee said. “I had no idea you and Nate were so serious. Boyfriend, huh?”
“That was a stretch,” I admitted.
“For now,” Natalie proposed.
“For now.”
“And this from the woman who claimed a few weeks ago,” Charlee teased, “she would never, ever, ever—”
“Okay, I get the picture.” I sighed. “There’s just something about Nate. . . he’s so easy to talk to. And funny. He’s clearly very disciplined, which is oddly attractive. And his deep, sexy voice. Oh, and his laugh.” I stopped, realizing I was gushing. “Anyway. I really like him.”
“Clearly,” Natalie said.
“And from what I hear, he likes you too.”
I thought so, but hearing Charlee confirm it made me happy. “We’ll see. It’s early days still. And he’s halfway across the world.”
“Yeah.” Charlee watched as the piano players made their way back to their pianos. “But he won’t be halfway around the world forever.”
True enough.
At some point, we needed to talk. About his plans. About us. But for the moment, I was in one of my favorite bars in the greatest city in the world, so thoughts of Nate would have to wait.
Not two seconds later, my phone buzzed.
Nate was up for the morning.
I stared at his, “Hey there, Zoe girl,” realizing I was totally and utterly screwed. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Not once had I ever, ever, nearly jumped out of my skin at a text from Erik. Or any other man, for that matter.
Totally.
Freaking.
Screwed.