Chapter 12
We wound up at an all night diner. I ordered pancakes, and she ordered french toast. It didn't matter that it was ten PM, it only mattered that I'd just admitted wanting her, and we needed to talk about it. I knew it was wrong. I should have just let her enjoy her date, and went on with my life, but something drew me to her. I couldn't have just walked away, even if I tried, and I knew that now.
The waitress came by, setting our plates down in front us, offering refills on our coffee, before scurrying away once again. Zoe gave me a sly smile from across the table, before reaching for a piece of my bacon. I laughed, feeling the mood instantly lighten.
“So Soldier.” She started, chewing in thought. “What made you come find me?”
“Honestly, I was miserable at home. My plan was to go out, meet Cole, and find someone to bring home. I found you instead, and when I saw you with that guy, my blood boiled.”
“You were jealous?” She teased, batting her lashes.
“Yea. I have been since you picked Jake and I up from the airport. You have to see how men look at you. You're beautiful.”
“You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself Soldier.” She said, giving me a playful wink.
“You make me feel things Zoe Cruz.” I said, with wonder. “Things I wasn't sure I wanted to feel again.”
“Like what?” She asked curiously.
“I don't know. I just. I can talk to you.” I stammered.
“Seems like a good solid foundation to start a relationship on, to me.” She said knowingly. “If only a certain soldier, wouldn't be so pig headed.”
“You know this isn't easy for me. I really feel like I'm betraying Jake here. Even now, just sitting with you and talking, it feels wrong. But on the other hand, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. Like reaching across the table to brush the hair from your face, or wiping the syrup from your lip.” She self consciously brought her hand to her lips, and I laughed. “It's easy with you Zoe.”
“That's how I feel with you. Pretending to be together, even only for those few days, it felt real to me. And unlike you, I'm not scared of my big bad feelings.”
“Is that what you think?” I asked, raising my brow in question.
“I think you're scared because what you feel is so strong. Like something bigger than you, bigger than the universe is pulling at your soul, and it's telling you that I'm the one. And you don't know what to do with that.”
“Wow.” It was all I could say to show her how right she really was. I was terrified that the one person I had found this connection with, was someone who I never should have been with in the first place.
“I know, I'm pretty freaking awesome right.” She said, moving her brows up and down comically.
I reached my hand across the table, placing it over hers. I couldn't control it, I needed to touch her, like I needed to breathe. The smile she gave me told me that she wanted the same thing, and when we'd both finished eating, she left her side of the booth and slipped into mine. I placed my arm around her, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
“We can make this work.” She said, nuzzling against me. “The only person in the way of that, is you.”
“How did you get so damn smart?”
“I grew up with Jake. Watching him make all of his stupid mistakes taught me how not to live my life.” She joked, before adding. “Besides, one of the things I remember my mother always telling me was to find happiness wherever you could see it. I can see it with you Wes, it's that simple.”
“I think I can see it with you too, Zoe.” I said, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “What do ya say we get out of here?”
“Can I drive?” She asked excitedly, pulling away from my embrace.
“Eh, not tonight Babydoll.” I said behind a grin. “The way you drive, I'm teaching you in an empty parking lot miles away from civilization.”
She swatted my chest playfully, before disappearing into the bathroom. When I made my way to the cash register to pay for our bill, the waitress informed me that it had already been taken care of. I was confused at first, and then she'd explained that the elderly couple in the corner had offered to pay for our meal. I was shocked, and in return, I offered to pay for theirs.
When Zoe rounded the corner, and her eye caught mine, I felt like the breath had just been knocked from my lungs. She was perfect, and for some reason she was determined to make this thing work. The couple from the corner approached us then, as we were turning away from the register.
The man reached for Zoe's hand, and she smiled, allowing him to grasp it. “You look at this young man the same way my Ellie still looks at me.” He said with a sly wink. “I hope you enjoyed your meal.”
“I hope you enjoyed yours as well.” I said, shaking his now free hand. He nodded, before turning to leave. His wife was waiting at the door, and when he reached her, he placed his hand at the small of her back, and they exited together.
“What was that about?” Zoe asked.
“He paid for our meal.” I said, the wonder still evident in my voice.
“You paid for his didn't you?” Zoe asked, bumping my shoulder with hers.
When I nodded yes, she leaned up on her tip toes and kissed my cheek. “You can tell me you're no good for me all you want Wes Granger, but what you just did right there, that was the work of a good man.”
“I don't know about that.” I said, reaching for her hand, as I led her out of the diner, and back to my bike. “I like to think of it more as doing the best you can with what you have to work with.”
“Either way, it was a kind gesture. That couple saw something in you, that made them remember themselves. That in itself is an amazing feat.”
“It wasn't me. It was you. The way you view life, the way you view everything. You light up a room the minute you walk into it. Anyone who doesn't notice you is a fool.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She teased, strapping the helmet onto her head, and climbing onto the back of my bike. “Take me home?”
I instantly flashed back to the night of the gala when I did just that, and I knew tonight had to be different. We had covered a lot of ground here tonight, and if I wanted this thing to work between us I needed to pull back a little, slow things down. I needed us to essentially start over with a clean slate.
“I want to start over.” I said. “Really get to know you, and us. I don't want to hurt you again, I'm not saying that I won't, that it isn't possible, but I want to try.”
“Sounds like a plan Soldier.” She said, before laying her head on my back, and closing her eyes.
Starting the bike, I put it in gear, and drove to Zoe's house.