Chapter 8
EVAN
Standing in my sunny kitchen, Zinnia makes toast while I scramble eggs. So comfortable together already. That's an extremely good sign. I'm already positive that she is the one for me, but I know it's going to take some time before she knows for sure that I am the one for her.
By the time we're enjoying our second coffee, I can picture us as an old married couple. Reading news items to each other from our phones, having a playful argument about who stacked the dishwasher completely wrong.
Zinnia checks her phone and perks up. "Another client meeting! Awesome."
Placing the pan in the sink, I try to sound as casual as possible. "Yeah? Who with?
"A Mr. Edgar Hortopan. Owns the safety supply store. He wants a series of humorous illustrations for his email list, reminding people of any safety gear they might be missing." She looks up at me with twinkling eyes. "So much fun! Plus, safety is important, right?"
"Sure is." I casually sip my coffee. "What time are you meeting him?"
"Ten. So I'm going to have to rush home and do some research first."
"Why don't you make it eleven?" I ask. "That way I could wander by the café on my way back from a job."
Zinnia sighs. "Didn't we talk about this yesterday?"
"Yes, but that was with the movie guy. I know him. I have no idea who this Hortopan dude is."
"He's my client. At least, I hope he will be. He might change his mind if he sees some huge hulking guy threatening anyone who speaks to me."
"Zinnia—"
"Please, let's get going." She jumps to her feet, rinsing the cups and stacking the dishwasher.
I get ready quickly, pack my gear, and meet her in the front hallway. As I'm driving, I notice Zinnia's fingers tapping awkwardly on her knee.
"Is something wrong?" I ask.
"Yesterday I had to listen to my overbearing dad telling me that I'm too young to date. Today you're saying that I'm too young and delicate to meet a local businessman in broad daylight in a café where the staff know me. At ten in the morning. With my sisters probably a half a block away."
"You're doing everything right. I just can't help it. Listen, I can drop by and have a snack in the corner. I won't even talk to you. Just let me take a look at the guy, and if I get any terrible vibes from him, I'll—"
"You'll what?" She whips to me as I park in front of her apartment. "If he's friendly, you'll come over and sling an arm around me, showing off that I'm taken? If he's unfriendly, you'll deck him? This is my business, Evan."
Taking a slow breath, I reach for her hand, but she snatches it away.
"Zinnia, you are a gorgeous young lady. Men are going to check you out everywhere you go.
If a guy is doing business with you, he might use that as an opportunity to bring you to his office.
Alone. I mean, if you knew some of the things I've heard some men mutter in bars and locker rooms… "
"I can't live with anyone breathing down my neck. To be honest, I was thinking about getting my own place long before Dad said he was moving and we all decided to come here."
I can't stand how sad she looks. "I don't want to be a little girl asking the big man's permission to live my life. So you're going to have to think about whether or not you can be with someone who is truly independent, and refuses to ask permission to do normal everyday things."
She jumps out of the truck and dashes into the apartment, leaving me with my knuckles clenched around the steering wheel.
Have I really ruined everything already? I'm glad that she speaks her mind, but I do need to protect her. Look what happened when I didn't warn my mother not to drive in heavy rain.
The thought of anything like that happening to Zinnia makes my blood run cold.
I already know that we belong together. I'm not going to let anything happen to her.
I can't.