17. Zoe
SEVENTEEN
zoe
“What should I do?
“Maybe take a deep breath first.” Mazzie, the owner of Boots and Brews, squeezed my shoulder.
She and Lucas had struck up a close friendship with her being new to town and a new business owner just next door to his shop. From there, he and Charlee and Mazzie and her fiancé Gian had gotten close. So of course, by extension, Natalie and I were also getting to know Mazzie pretty well.
In short, she was becoming the fourth musketeer. To someone like me, that was great news. Mazzie was a lot of fun and even shared a little bit of my anxious nature.
“Okay, deep breath,” I repeated.
First, Charlee had come. With wine. Not that I didn’t have plenty of it already. Then Natalie arrived and now it was a certified wine party, though Mazzie was heading back to her bar soon.
“Let’s think about this. Is there any chance in hell you’re not going to meet up with him?” the very practical Natalie asked.
Nate had texted not long ago, “Meet up tomorrow?”
“No,” I said. “Of course not.”
“So why not text him back, ‘Yes,’ or something of the sort?”
All four of us looked at each other.
“The question is,” Charlee asked, “does Zoe want to immediately capitulate after what Nate did tonight?”
“Exactly,” I said.
“You mean like wait to text him back?” Natalie asked.
“Or stall him for tomorrow?” Mazzie added.
Natalie was already shaking her head. “No way. From what you told us, Nate’s not the kind of guy who will appreciate that. Just be straight up. You’re going to meet him, so tell him so.”
“Mmmm.” Charlee took a sip of wine, not seeming to agree. “I’m sure he’s not into playing games if he’s anything like Lucas. But he dropped the ball tonight. Sure, be as mad as you want. But he’s literally within walking distance and doesn’t come?” she asked Nat. “Not cool.”
I agreed.
“On the other hand. . .” Now Mazzie was apparently going to play devil’s advocate. “You’ve got to be dying to actually see him in person.”
“I am.”
“That’s one of my cardinal rules of life. If you want something, go for it. Text him back. Set it up,” Mazzie said.
“Well, one of my cardinal rules,” I said, “is ‘seize the day.’ Which typically makes sense to me. But right now, the only thing I want to seize is Nate’s throat.”
“Or maybe,” Charlee said suggestively, “you want him to seize yours?” All three of us gaped at her. “Oh, you guys aren’t into that? Never mind.”
“What the hell kind of freaky-deaky stuff are you and Lucas doing in the—” Natalie stopped. “You know what, never mind. We have more important fish to fry. Namely, whether Zoe should text Nate back immediately or should wait. And what she should say.”
“Well, by the time we’re finished with this discussion, he’ll be passed out on the bar.” Charlee refilled her wine glass.
“Bar?” I asked.
“Yeah. Lucas texted. He took him to KC’s for some food.”
“That’s nice. Hope they’re having a great time.”
Mazzie laughed. “By ‘great’ it sounds like you hope a hole opens up in the ground and swallows him up.”
We all laughed. Truth was, both Mazzie and Charlee’s relationships had growing pains. And maybe that’s all this was. But it just felt like such a disappointment after the buildup. Tonight was supposed to have been. . . magical.
“Okay, it’s been long enough,” Natalie said. “Text him.”
I really didn’t want to play games, and she was right. Of course, I would meet him, even if I wasn’t thrilled at the moment. But I could recognize that it was me not telling him about Erik that fucked things up in the first place.
I reached for my phone.
Typed out a few words.
Then tossed it back on the table, grabbing my wine.
“Well? What did you say?” Charlee asked.
I told them what I’d texted. “Yes. Of course.”
The ladies nodded their approval.
My phone buzzed.
“Just like the good ol’ days,” I said, grabbing it.
What time?”
“Jesus, it’s like we’re back to square one. What time, he asks. I don’t know, Nate. How about right now?”
“Say that,” Charlee said.
“No way,” Mazzie disagreed. “The last thing you want is your first meeting to be when you’re both half in the bag after a fight.”
“True.” Charlee went over to my cabinet and pulled out a bag of popcorn.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m the worst hostess tonight.”
“You’re not hosting us,” Natalie said, “we are your consultants.”
I laughed. “Thanks, guys, seriously. First Erik. Now this. I’m not sure my liver can take many more guy problems.”
“Like I said.” Charlee poured the popcorn in a bowl. “Not long ago, it was you consoling me.”
“I wish I’d had you ladies around to do the same after I met Gian,” Mazzie said. “Talk about a rough patch.”
Natalie pulled out a chair and sat. “Without the rough patches, the smooth ones wouldn’t be so sweet.”
“To overcoming the rough patches and finding more smooth sailing,” Charlee said, lifting her glass.
We toasted, at which point I realized I’d never texted Nate back.
Up to you.
Text bubbles immediately popped up.
You know what time I get up. . .
I couldn’t resist a smile. I did know so much about him. There was such a familiarity in that text. “Maybe we should just have a text relationship,” I said, looking up. No one seemed to be on board with that idea. “Or not.”
If you want to come wake me up at four, that’s fine by me.
I forgot for a second I was supposed to be mad. But I really wanted to see him. Now, preferably. But if I had to wait a few hours, so be it.
Lucas says there’s a coffee shop with good cinnamon donuts that opens at six. I’ll grab some and some coffee and be at your place a few minutes after.
Devine Coffee House
That’s the place.
Alright. See you then.
I waited. Nothing. My shoulders sagged.
And then another text came through.
G’night, Zoe girl
After all that had gone down tonight, he still had the ability to make me melt inside. This was the Nate I knew.
And loved.
Fuck. I was in love with him.
Later, gator.
“Look at her,” Mazzie said. “Way to hold your own.”
I lifted my head, laughing.
“Oh man. I need more wine.” Natalie reached for the bottle.
Sometimes, two opposing things were true. Like tonight. I was both really sad and angry about how our first meeting had turned to shit. On the other hand, I was also looking forward to tomorrow morning because I was head over heels for this guy.
“So, it’s definitely not going to be what I pictured or expected, but I guess it is what it is.”
“Is what it is,” Natalie repeated.
“He wouldn’t be coming with cinnamon donuts if he didn’t plan on forgiving me for keeping Erik from him. Do you think?” I asked the group.
A chorus of “definitely not” and “no ways” met my question.
And I was inclined to agree with them. A good thing, because there was no doubt about it. Even angry about how things had gone down tonight, I was in love with a man I’d never met.