A lazy smile spread across my lips. “But we have a deal?”
“Right, we have a deal,” she teased. “If you make the shot you win the big, gigantic, humungous prize that we all know you’re dying for—a kiss from me.”
A slow smirk spread on my face.
She took it wrong. “What? You’re going to throw it backwards? Into the trashcan?”
Without answering her, I took the shot. And made it.
I couldn’t help another smirk stretching across my lips. ‘Cause she just stood there, dumbstruck and pale, staring at the basket that had just had a ball whoosh through it.
“The bet still on?”
She blinked. “Um …” she scrunched up her brow, like she didn’t know how she should behave.
I watched her a moment, wondering what she would do if I really made her go through with it—kiss me. But that wasn’t my plan. Never was. I stepped back, pushing myself away from the booth. “Nah, I’m just kidding. I won the kiss for Finn—tell him he won the big, gigantic, humungous, grand prize.”
***
So yeah, that day, as I left Finn and Zoey alone in the tilt-a-whirl line—telling them their cuddling was making me gag—Zoey called playfully after me, “What?! We were just going to use the kiss you won for Finn—we thought you wanted to be around to see it.”
She said all of that with a cute little laugh. So, when I turned around to give her a smart remark, she caught me off-guard. Completely. She kissed Finn. Long and hard. She never did that in front of me before—not a real kiss.
Ouch! Okay, I guess I deserved that move, but wow!—a knife right to my heart.
The smart remark I was going to say to her caught in my throat. I couldn’t say anything. At all. Instead I just gave a slight nod, trying not to stagger.
Once I could breathe, I gave her a bow and a salute. What else could I do? The girl had kicked my butt.
I staggered away—knowing I was all white.
I was ready to bang my head against the nearest tree, but right then I looked up and there was this new girl from our class, Ava.
She stared at me—directly into my eyes. The girl sure wasn’t shy about letting me know she wasn’t shy.
“Hi guy,” she said.
“Hi. I’m Riley.” I wasn’t sure she knew that, since she was so new to our school.
“Oh, I know.” Her eyes twinkled with full-on girly-flirt.
Holy smokes. So not shy.
“Hi,” I said again. Then tilted my head at her, “You want to go on the Ferris Wheel with me?”
She smiled, her eyes teasing. “I saw people kissing up there. Is that what you people do in this town on Ferris Wheels?” Her smile grew even bigger and she gave a soft laugh. “Seems fun. Sure, I would love to go on the Ferris Wheel with you.”
Man! I didn’t really think I could get Zoey out of my head. But Ava definitely seemed like the girl to help me try.
And she was new. She wouldn’t diss Zoey like Jade. Or gush about her like most of the girls at our school. I wouldn’t have to stick up for Zoey or hear about Zoey or talk about Zoey. With Ava my world could be totally Zoey Free.
Best Friend’s-girl Free.
I grabbed Ava’s hand tight.
CHAPTER 16
Zoey
When I left Finn at the hospital, I decided maybe I should stay away from guys for a while. Have some “girl” time. But when I called Summer, she was busy packing for cheer camp.
“Sorry,” she said. “I’m going to be gone for the next two weeks. But we should definitely have a girl’s night when I get back.”
“Yeah, definitely,” I said, sort of despondent, ’cause, well, two weeks wasn’t right now.
Summer seemed to feel my pain. “Sorry to leave you like this,” she said. “Break ups are rough. Hey, remember Lacy Webber from middle school?”
I blinked, not following her abrupt change of subject. “Ye-ah.”
Lacy and I had been good friends … once. But then she moved a few hours away and I never saw her again.
“She just broke up with her boyfriend, too,” Summer said. “You two should get together and commiserate. Call her.”
Summer had to go, so that’s the way things were left. Only, I didn’t really plan to call Lacy. We had been more like “sort of” friends than “close” friends. I mean, we’d been on the middle school cheerleading squad together and she’d been good to go shopping with, and she gave excellent makeovers, but she wasn’t exactly someone I ever confided in.
So, though the thought of calling Lacy didn’t make me cringe or anything, it also didn’t get put on my “to-do” list. Instead, I let Jillian paint my nails and then took her and Kalab (my little brother) to play laser tag.
However, not long after the two ganged up on me and kicked my butt at laser tag, Lacy called. “Let’s totally get together,” she said.
We bonded on the phone over the fact we’d both been cheated on and made plans to get together and do the “girl” thing.
It was decided Lacy would come over Friday night after I got off work and she would spend the whole weekend at my house, since she lived so far away.
I was actually slightly excited about the plan—getting together with an old friend, dissing on boys, and eating, eating, eating. Sounded pretty good. Way better than what I had lined up—which was, you know—nothing.
So, yay for girl-time!
CHAPTER 17
Friday night, it was strange to be back at work. Not that it had been that long, but still, everything had changed. And I couldn’t help it—I kept thinking: The last time I was here, Riley kissed me.
And that kiss—oh! That kiss kept me up nights, fantasizing about it. Made me toss and turn and ache and yearn—for more. More, more, more.
And so tonight at work, I couldn’t help it—my mind would just dreamily go there—back to that kiss. Constantly.
Especially when Riley called me into his office.
“It’s good to have you back,” he murmured softly as I entered the room.
He went to close the door, but then seemed to think better of it. Or maybe like me, he was reminiscing about it. Reminiscing the way he had backed me up against it (enticing me with his ruby-red lips … his velvet tongue exploring my mouth and his hot fervent hands tangling in my hair). The memory made me dizzy and weak in the knees. (His strong Riley arms wrapping around my waist, pulling me to him….)
Gah! Get a grip, Zoey!
I almost groaned trying to make myself look away from the door … and still, even when I did, I practically moaned from the memories.
Anyway, maybe he was thinking about that stuff, you never know. Or maybe he was just thinking Ava wouldn’t like it if he had me alone in the office anymore. Maybe she made a rule—he couldn’t close the door while I was in there. Or maybe he made the rule.
In any case, he hesitated before shutting the door. But he did shut it. Softly. Reverently. Then (it seemed like) he kind of gently caressed it. Sort of.
I saw his shoulders rise and fall before he turned to face me. A deep breath? Uh-oh. Bad news.
He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to talk to you for a second.”
I swallowed and choked out in a whisper, “About Ava?”
He cocked his head, widening his eyes. “Yeah.”
I don’t know why, but my heart fell to the floor. I mean, I know why it fell. Why it suddenly ached as though a skyscraper had fallen on it. But I don’t know why now it chose to throb and ache and squeeze so bad. I mean, I’d pretty much already known they’d gotten back together. Pretty much.
… only I couldn’t believe he would kiss me, and then not even tell me that he’d gotten back together with his girlfriend.
So, I’d kept hoping there was another explanation. Another reason she was at his house—all of the time.
Okay, I’m a delusional dope—I knew that. Still, it hurt to have to face reality—they were officially back together and he was finally getting around to telling me.
Boys. Suck.
I clenched my teeth. “Look, I already know, Riley,” I muttered.
He jerked his head up. “Know what?”
“You two are back together.”
He shook his head, looking incredulous. His brow scrunched up. “Jones, Ava and I—we broke up. I told you that.”
Oh! My heart fluttered, soaring up to the heavens. I swear, the room started to spin from too much happiness flowing through my veins, making me dizzy and needing to dance a jig. Or explode.
But Riley looked grim. Aw!
It brought my spirits crashing back down to the ground.
His voice was thick with pain as he went on, “She’s taking it hard, though—way harder than I expected.” He stared up at the ceiling, then back at me. “I don’t want her to end up at the same place as Finn.”
Startled, I jerked my head up and caught his eyes. My heart squeezed seeing so much pain there.
He blanched and looked away.
Immediately, realization sunk through me. The guy was full of guilt. Not only guilt about Finn. But now Ava too. Obviously, she was playing the “I can’t live without you card” and he was afraid it wasn’t all a game.
His eyes welled with sadness. “She just needs some time—like you and Finn.”
I blinked. “Is that what Finn said?”
He clenched his jaw. “And his mom.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Finn’s a big boy, Riley. He doesn’t need his mom to speak for him.”
“Yeah … but she’s been like a mom to me.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. She’d sort of been like a mom to me too. An overbearing one. Riley lost his mom a long time ago, though. I guess it was different for him.
I rubbed my eyes. “So time? She thinks time’s going to fix everything for Finn and me?”
“That—” he drew in a breath, “and me staying away from you.”
“Riley, it’s not going to happen—”
Porcha knocked on the closed door, interrupting my just beginning rant about Finn’s mom.
“We’re getting swamped out here!” Porcha called through the door.
Riley turned back to me looking half-apologetic but also expectant—’cause he was the boss.
He didn’t need to say anything. “I’m going,” I muttered.
“I’ll be out there in a second,” he said. He watched me leave his office, then gently shut the door.
CHAPTER 18
Riley
When Zoey left my office I banged my head against the door, wanting to bash it through a window.
I couldn’t resist her anymore. Not since we kissed. Now I knew what it was like to taste her lips. It had me practically falling to my knees.
Now when I was with her it was all I could think about—the taste of her lips and her warm, moist mouth on mine.
It was like a sickness for me. An addiction. I needed her kiss.
And holy smokes! Being trapped in my office with her just now—man. I’d turned into a lovesick puppy. A loon. Caressing the door where we’d kissed. What was that? I was turning into a cheese-ball.
And that Ava stuff I was telling her—it didn’t come out right. I wanted her to know when Ava comes to my house, I don’t kiss her. I haven’t kissed her since I broke up with her. Not that she doesn’t try. Man, she tries. But it’s not even hard to resist her anymore. She used to be my crutch—my go-to fix to keep me away from Zoey. But she just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
I need Zoey. And Ava can’t help anymore. Nothing can help.
Finn’s mom had talked about time. How it heals wounds. But it seems only Zoey can heal my wounds.
But I guess I can’t ask her to do that.
I need her…. But she needs Finn.
(Really the word “love” should be where I used “need.” In both cases. Yeah, I love Zoey.)
CHAPTER 19
Zoey
Being alone in the office with Riley had gotten my heartbeat pumping, and it sure didn’t help me get my mind off his kiss. In fact, now it was all I could think about.
As a distraction, I tried to concentrate on later tonight. I had plans—yay. Actual plans. And they didn’t involve me in my pajamas scarfing down a carton of ice cream. Not tonight.
I sidled over to Riley at the soda machine, deciding to let him know that: that I wasn’t just going to sit around wallowing in my Finn detachment issues (which I actually didn’t have). All my issues these days had to do with Riley. But Riley still didn’t seem to get that—that I was completely over Finn.
I still got the sense Riley thought I was just trying to lick my wounds from Finn cheating on me—but that I would forgive him. (And Finn’s mom sure didn’t help my case. Grr!) How could I convince Riley that that wasn’t going to happen?—that I would never, ever go back to Finn? Sadly, it seemed to be true: time was the only answer.
At the soda machine, I edged beside Riley much closer than was necessary. I stood so close my arm was brushing against his.
Whoa, Zoey! Personal space?
But just feeling the heat of his arm against mine gave me a pathetic little thrill. And sent little sparks running through my body. It was, yeah … pathetic. Totally. But delightful. So, though I cringed at my utter pathetic-ness, I was also slightly satisfied—just by his arm against mine.
You’re such a goner, Zoey! It’s sad. It’s quite possible the guy doesn’t even like you anymore. Maybe he didn’t like your kiss. Maybe while you’ve been pining away, dreaming about his, he’s been gagging about yours!!
The way he’d been looking at me all night from the corner of his eyes made me doubt it. But still, I liked to torture myself. Apparently. Because though his eyes told me one thing, my brain told me quite another. It kept saying: If he really wanted to be with you Zoey, he would just be with you. He’d snatch you up into his arms and make you his girlfriend.
Unfortunately, it seemed Ava had soured him on the whole girlfriend idea. Well, her and Finn’s mom. (Grr!)
I sighed. Hopefully, he just needed time.
Time to sort out … everything. The Finn is his best friend issues, and the me—his best friend’s girlfriend issues. And the Ava clinging to him and not wanting to let him go issues.
Face it, the boy had issues.
Let him breathe, Zoey! Just stand back and let him have some space.
So, I did. I stepped back. Away from him. As though I’d just stumbled up against him accidently or something. Though as I’d edged up to him his lips parted slightly, and his eyes had flickered with a spark. Like maybe, perhaps (possibly) he’d gotten pleasure from my simple touch as well. Or, well, did I imagine that? (Sadly, sadly, oh-so-pathetically possible.)
He eyed the space I’d made between us. Eyed the space, then me, then the space. He ran a hand over his eyes, quirking a sheepish grin. “My arm misses yours, Jones.”
Adorable!
Just to keep my heart from exploding, I turned into a jabbering idiot. “I have an old friend coming to visit for the weekend—she’s coming by the restaurant after my shift.”
Though my pulse was pounding, I tried my hardest to sound casual. And breezy. Like I was just informing him of this information out of idle chitchat. But really, it was my pathetic way of saying, “So, don’t worry about me, buck-o. I have friends. And plans. My life doesn’t totally revolve around work and Finn.”
I kind of felt desperate to prove that—that I wasn’t falling apart without Finn … and that I actually had friends, since it had been a long time since he’d seen me with any.
I smiled when Riley lifted an eyebrow, looking way more interested than a casual boss should. It made me gush out, “She’s really into cool cars.” I raised my eyebrows playfully. “Can I borrow yours?”
Riley shook his head with a grin. “No one’s touching my car—not even you, Jones.”
“I was just kidding!”
I really was. I just wanted him to see I was impressed with his fancy new car— though real
ly I wasn’t. Not very, anyway. I drove a beat-up old clunker. What did I know, or care, about cars? Nothing. A high point in my life would be getting GPS. I was impressed with Riley’s awesome guitar playing, and his swoon-worthy, delicious, yummy-yummy kisses, and the fact he was incredibly cool yet sweet as could be, everything about Riley, actually. But his car? I wasn’t really into it. But he sure was. The others at the restaurant were mightily impressed with it too. So, apparently, I’m just kind of out of it. Or weird.
But I tried to let him know his car was still “hot.” Since Finn had bashed in its windshield and windows and everything. Now it was all fixed up and perfect again. But still, I felt guilty being the cause of his “baby” (aka: prized car) taking a bashing.
It made me coo about the car as though it meant more to me than it actually did—because I knew it meant a lot to Riley.
***
When Lacy got to the restaurant I was just getting off work. I took her out to the parking lot and showed her Riley’s car and she was all awed by it, just as I knew she would be.
Then I took her into the restaurant and coaxed Riley into sitting with us and visiting while we ate. Lacy was pretty awed by Riley as well, more so than I’d expected. I had wanted the two of them to meet, and I’d wanted Riley to see I actually had a friend to hang with tonight (besides ice cream), and I’d wanted Lacy to meet my handsome co-worker/boss, and later I’d tell her how we made out in his office the other night. I was hoping she’d be a little, tiny bit jealous (‘cause Riley is gorgeous and awesome).
So, that was my plan—introduce them to each other and have them see I wasn’t lonely and pathetic.
But suddenly, I could see things weren’t going to go the way I’d imagined. I felt sort of sick watching Lacy blatantly flirt with Riley, and she kept putting me down to make herself seem—I’m not sure—funny? Suddenly, I realized I liked her a lot better when she was miles away. Suddenly, I realized I hated her.
“Um, Riley has a girlfriend. Sort of,” I informed Lacy. “Remember Ava?”
Fall Forever (Fall For Me) Page 6