She’s laughing so hard we all start to and Brianna is slapping the floor imagining this. “Oh my God I didn’t know you had it in you Moses!” she says.
I shrugged, “Zen helps me chill out.”
Chloe winks at me, “Moses can be hot headed if the occasion calls for it but he’s in total control.” She defended.
“Control.” I said, “Funny word. When Katie cheated on me I blew up at my friend Jacob’s, went batty in his hallway before almost drunk driving home…that’s when I realized jealousy, anger, they aren’t really useful emotions. Between meditation and not going to the East Coast, I’m good.”
They laughed but Chloe then smiled warmly at me, “Not many guys would’ve hit the door instead of her or her lover. You’re a good guy.”
“I try.”
My phone buzzed again and Brianna stopped sipping her wine to frown in its direction, “who keeps messaging you?” Brianna feels around for my phone and I went a little wide-eyed when Chloe reached over her to get it off the end table.
We know each other’s passcode and it’s not weird for us to read a message out loud to the other. We don’t have secrets. But when Chloe looked at the screen I winced.
Chapter Four
She read the message out loud without reading the name.
“Just got home from moving the last of my things out. Talked to him a little over text, and I’m about to have dinner with Todd and Mandy.”
Chloe frowned at my phone then saw the name and said, “Jenzy…” she looked up at me and raised her brows. “What? You’re…you’re talking to the girl from the bookstore?”
Brianna tilted her head and reared back. “You have a girlfriend?”
I shook my head, “it’s not like that guys. We’re friends. She’s going through a divorce and she just needs to talk.”
Chloe scrolls and reads another out loud from Jenzy.
“Is it funny I miss your voice already? By the way my, new niece Penny is about to go to bed. Look.”
She looked up, “she sent a… picture message of her niece.” Chloe’s lips are tight which tells me the secret I kept is bothering her.
I sat up on my knees. “It’s really not serious or anything. She’s great but, we’ve said nothing will happen until she tells her husband she’s moving out.”
Brianna got up to sit on the couch, “I think it’s okay. I mean, she told him and she’s moved out.”
I nodded, “my buddy Chris said the same thing. He said if I didn’t make a move I might be permanently friend zoned.”
Chloe got up in one fluid motion then handed my phone down to me. “Wouldn’t want that,” she mumbled.
I took my phone but caught the back of her knee before she could walk away, “hey, I really didn’t keep it from you to be a dick. I just didn’t want to jinx anything.”
She set her hands in her back pockets of her shorts and smiled. “I understand. It’s all good.”
“Think I should ask her out?” I really need her opinion but she looks either uninterested or still a little ticked off I didn’t tell her still.
She slips out of my hold and goes to get Brianna’s wine glass then mine, “just don’t rush her. When you feel the time is right, go for it, but otherwise, hold out.” She reasoned.
Brianna goes high pitch, “whatever! Ask her out! You like her, I can tell, you sound whipped.”
I came to my feet and went to kiss Brianna’s cheek. “Thanks, girly.”
Chloe took our glasses to my kitchen and by the sound of the clanks, she’s pissed. Brianna whispers, “go give her hugs.”
I make my way to the kitchen to find her doing dishes. I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her chest. “Hey, Baby Girl,” I say into her hair. “Don’t be mad okay? I swear I was going to tell you.”
She shrugs both shoulders and drops them, “you’re a big boy, you don’t need my permission.”
“You know what I mean.”
She turns her head enough to kiss my cheek and smile, “I’m happy for you. A little worried. She’s getting divorced, so she could be on the rebound but if you understand that and still want her then you should go for it.”
I hug her tighter, “you’re awesome, and I know all the dangers of this but I think-.” I saw the time, “shoot! I always call her at around ten. Do you mind if I walk outside and call?”
She shook her head no and started up with the dishes again. “Take your time. I have to take Brianna home in another half hour or so anyway.”
“Okay, great.” I kissed her cheek again and got out my phone. First I read the texts I missed then I dialed and my night brightened at the sound of Jenzy’s amazing voice.
CHLOE
I’m not just in the back seat, I’m in the trunk.
“That’s so crazy,” Brianna said as she carefully came around the corner with her stick. “Moses, and a married chic!”
I set a plate down with some force. “Thanks for voting yes on the dating poll.” I snapped.
“Wait, are you mad at me? You sound mad.”
“You just shoved him in this girl- this Jenzy woman’s lap. Yeah, I’m mad.”
“Hold up.” Brianna felt her way to a chair and her brows knit together, “let me get this straight. Maybe I misunderstood. You’ve been dating a guy for almost a month. You say things are official now and when I ask you about Moses, you give me the, we’re just friend’s, it’s not like that, don’t wanna mess stuff up, BS. Now I tell him to go for it with a girl he sounds like he really likes and you get bat shit?”
I felt my face and neck getting red and my ears burned. “So…?”
She flicked her hair back, “so you’ve had four years of him being single to say something if you wanted him. He hasn’t dated since that blonde bombshell, slut Katie; save some casual ass. You’ve dated like what? Twenty guys?”
“I was going to say something soon. I can’t now.” I waved my hand at the door like she could see me.
“Chloe, no you weren’t. You can’t be mad at him for being what he thinks you want. A friend. You’ve zoned each other so don’t expect him to just sense you feel different then feel the same.”
I whirled on her and opened my mouth to bitch but then I saw myself saying something girly and stupid like, ‘he hasn’t even given me a chance.’ Brianna is right, why should he?
I saw Moses talking on the phone outside the window and hugged myself. “You’re right, I’m not being fair. I need to be supportive and stop being a little girl.”
Brianna turned her lips down. “I didn’t say not to be human. I’m sorry I encouraged him, I thought it was okay. If I’d of known I wouldn’t have. Do you need a squishy hug?”
I watched Moses smile and his posture hunch like a teen while he talked to the bookstore twat blocker. I felt like crying but I don’t do crying. Nope. It’s pointless and makes people look and sound like seals on an inhaler. “I’ll take a squishy hug.” I folded.
She got up with an “aww,” sound and came to hug me but tripped on the table leg and did a total face plant. You’re not supposed to laugh when your blind sister falls face first but in my defense, she was laughing too.
Moses came back in like twenty minutes later and I resolved myself to the good best friend role. He’s happy and I need to support that. After all, it’s probably not going to last.
“How’s the divorced lady?” I asked.
He rolled his eyes at me, “her husband faked a heart attack and she was at the hospital.”
Brianna silently laughed, “you men are so dramatic.”
I sipped from my wine glass. “Did you ask her out?”
He grinned, “I did, and she said yes.”
I swallowed the lump and gave him a thumbs up. “That’s great Moses.”
He came over and pulled my hair. “I’ll introduce you as soon as I’m sure about it okay?”
I smiled. “sounds great.”
MOSES
Getting ready for my first date days later with Jenzy i
s making me crazy. There’s something about her that makes me feel alive and I don’t want to screw anything up.
Chloe is lying on my bed while I try on maybe three suit jackets. Goliath is lying with her and watching me like he’s planning to give an opinion too.
“Still say black,” Chloe says with a stretch.
I shrugged out of the navy and tried on a gray. “But you didn’t see this one yet.”
“I saw it twice. I still say black. Black makes men look mysterious and sexy.”
I took off the gray and grabbed the black, “fine. Should I have shaved?”
She rolled to lay on Goliath’s back. “She likes you the way you are, your well-trimmed man beard is awesome, don’t shave it.”
“Right, cause, we aren’t having sex, just a date.”
“Even if you have sex I wouldn’t shave. Some of us don’t mind whiskers near our nether regions.”
“Katie hated it.”
“Katie hated monogamy too.”
I laughed and looked at my watch. “I’m meeting her in a half hour; I think I’ll leave now.”
Chloe sat up on the bed and looked me over. “You look suave. My work here is done. Gonna kiss her tonight?”
I bit my lip at the thought. “I want to but I think just going is hard for her, we’ll see. When Katie and I broke up I didn’t really want girls touching me. Jenzy is looking at divorce so it’s probably worse for her.”
Chloe stood from the bed and brought over a bottle of my cologne. “Do the Woodsy smell. It makes me horny so that might help your cause.”
I convulsed in laughs then misted it before heading out.
I got to the place early by ten minutes. This was a five-star place, with glistening surfaces and a classy atmosphere. The tables were round with white tablecloths and there were crystal chandeliers above. I want to impress her, but more importantly, I want her to feel at ease.
I got a text from Jenzy saying,
“I’m in my cab, but can I call you?”
I’m actually relieved and type, “absolutely.” A few seconds later my phone rings and I pick up.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
I hear a soft sigh come from her, “you saying that just made all my nerves chill out.”
“Are you good?”
“I really am,” she pauses. “Thank you for this. I’m excited.”
I tap my fingers on the table. I need to be able to talk around the grin on my face, “me too.”
“I’m like a block away.”
My heart sped up and I looked out the enormous glass window to my right where I can see traffic. “Am I ready to handle how you look? Or will I pass out?”
She chuckles, “don’t pass out, I need you awake for this.”
We talk a little more then hang up and I’m back to waiting. When she does come in I feel like the entire place shifted out from under my feet.
She’s wearing a form-fitting crimson dress that’s hugging all her curves in all the right ways and it’s complimented by these matching red heels that are pushing up her ass. I don’t think I was ready at all. She’s blindingly hot.
I stood up and managed a, “Whoa.” She blushed and smiled as she got closer, “You’re like the sun. If I stare I might go blind.” I meant it.
She came to me and I kissed her cheek, even though my lips were aching for hers.
“Thank you.” She said. Our swift hug was an unfair challenge since her body pressed to mine for even a second was painful.
“You nervous?” I asked.
“Does it show that bad?”
“Nothing shows on you except beauty, but I’m sure this feels strange.” I get it, and she needs to know that.
She turned the ring on her finger, “It does…I’m sorry. Are you regretting this yet?”
No! “I think if you acted perfectly fine after being with a guy for seven years, I’d regret this. It just shows you’re committed, and not trying to replace him. Are you sure this wasn’t too soon?”
“No,” she reached across our table and took my hand. “I wanted this. I’ve been on cloud nine getting ready.”
I smiled and kissed the back of her hand before stroking my forearm. “Me too.”
“So, enough talk about my husband-, er, ex-husband, tell me how the bookshop is going?”
“I don’t mind when you talk about him, but yeah, it’s going well. The finances are clearing up. Dad was just adding wrong and way overpaying certain bills. I think I have it recovering now.”
“I can’t believe you’re his son, I’ve known him…Mr. Livingston years and been going there for years, it’s the best shop in town.” She looked as wowed as I felt.
“We must’ve just been missing each other; I always go from the gym to there.”
The waiter came with menus and she looked at them like they were live lobsters.
“You okay?” I asked.
Jenzy looked up and smiled. “I’m fine. This all just looks awesome.”
I saw a guy walk in behind her and felt a rush of reprieve. My gym buddy Chris came in and for some reason, it made my nerves less jumpy. I don’t mind seeing what he thinks of my date and it’s good to see a friend when you’re tense. He’s way underdressed for here, though. I smiled at him.
Jenzy cocked her head, “what is it?”
“A guy from my gym. He’s great. We hang out after and talk sometimes.” I gave a little wave.
“Really? Small world,” she turned, then turned back around in the same second when he set his eyes on her and started our way. “Oh, my God, this isn’t happening.” She whispered and rubbed her face.
My brows rose. “You know Chris?”
He stopped beside our table, “Yeah,” said Chris. He looked furious and his nostrils were flaring. “She knows me. We were roomies for like, what was it? Seven years?”
I frowned and looked back and forth between them. “Wait?” My karma can’t be that bad, can it?
Jenzy lifted her head. “Chris, not here.”
I put it together, “oh shit.”
Chris was glaring at our table and Jenzy realized first it was the hand holding.
She snatched her hand back and turned in her seat. “I told you I was going out with someone; this isn’t dishonesty or a surprise.”
“You said someone,” Chris railed, “not my friend from the gym.” He looked over at me, “Are you friggin kidding me? You’re banging my wife?!”
Chapter Five
That escalated quickly. I put my hands up, “hold on just a minute, Chris, I had no clue this was your wife. You never said anything about the two of you splitting up. You even told me this would be okay…I didn’t know-.”
Jenzy cut in and asked him, “how are you even here?”
He looked at her and cooled a bit, “I guessed.” He said.
“Are those mine?” She asked, pointing at a pair of broken binoculars around his neck. “Were you stalking me? What’s wrong with you? That’s against the law.”
He pointed like a teacher. “No, it’s not. Stalking is frowned upon, not illegal. I would have to physically threaten you first. Like,” he looked back at me, “like hypothetically if you lay one finger on my wife, I’ll hypothetically break that finger…hypothetically.”
“Gahhh!” Jenzy groaned and got up before taking Chris by the arm and pulling him toward the door. He stayed put and daggered me with his eyes before finally following her to the entrance hall where fewer people were staring.
I sat at our table and decided whether I should just leave or stay. It felt like an hour before she came back. She looked like she’d been crying and I doubted this whole thing.
Not my feelings for her, just if she was really ready for this. “I’m so, so sorry.” She stood behind her chair and shifted uncomfortably. “I had no clue he’d do that. I think I’ll just…head home.”
I stood, “Jenzy this doesn’t change anything for me. Stuff happens. I wish I’d of known you were Chris’ wife but-.”
“I sh
ould’ve told you, I didn’t think you two knew each other.” She looked around at the people. “I feel like I’m under a microscope. He really made a scene. I’m just sorry.”
“Stop apologizing. I mean it.”
She wiped under her eye and seeing her cry made me feel ready to build castles to fix it. “I was living for this date all week,” she confessed, “I wanted to be with you and…”
“Then be with me.” I came around and took her hand. “Let’s go somewhere else or…”
“What?”
I wasn’t sure how she’d handle this but I thought I’d give it a try. “We stop by that organic pizza parlor and take one home.”
She looked intrigued by that idea. “That sounds great but you did all this,” she waved at the table. “The reservations for this place alone-.”
“Really not the part of the night I was concerned about.”
She read it in my eyes that I was being honest and after a second or two of thought she nodded. I offered my hand and we made our way out.
Her hand in mine is like electroshock. I keep looking down at her as we stroll to my car and it’s like magic. I want to run my fingers through her long hair and I want to taste her pouty lips.
We ordered a massive pizza made with organic artichoke, spinach, mushrooms and dried tomatoes. Her tastes are even like mine.
Last minute she asks if we can go to her place, not mine and I get why. She’s worried I’m going to aggress something sexual but I’m not. To prove that I agree right away and we head to her brother-in-law’s townhouse.
We go in laughing. I love this place. It speaks the word home very loudly with a southern charm décor but there are toys for toddlers and infants scattered on surfaces and peppered on the floor. Pictures hang in the hall and living room of family but when we round the corner to the kitchen we find it decked out with a green tablecloth and lit candles.
The Friend Zone (The Relationship Quo Series Book 2) Page 5