Chapter Twenty
Zoey
A knock on my bedroom door yanked a groan from my lips. I’d just slid under my comforter after returning home from my meeting with Connie at A&J. I’d only stayed out long enough to make the last call to Mrs. Rollins, and by the time I got home, I was beyond exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to flip on Netflix and finally discover what I’d been missing on half the shows Braylen had begged me to watch over the last few years.
Before I could respond, whoever was outside knocked again.
“Yeah?” I called, not bothering to get up to open the door.
My father cracked it open and leaned against the frame. “Glad you’re not asleep.”
“I was close,” I lied. Honestly, with how tired I was, my mind still refused to let me rest. That’s why I had Netflix up on the screen, hoping I could get so lost in a show my brain would have to let me go. I kept trying to figure out if there was anything else I could do to make things right with Gordon, but honestly, outside showing up at his house with a Jambox pumping out a love song, I’d done everything possible. I planned on calling him tomorrow, or at least trying to, but today…I needed to sleep.
“Can I come in?” he asked, and I nodded, sitting up straight with my back against the headboard. He sank onto the edge of my bed. “I don’t think I’ve made myself clear enough,” he said, and I furrowed my brow. Was I in trouble? “I’m incredibly proud of you.”
My eyes bulged for a second as shock flew through me. “How could you be?” I asked. “I practically ruined a boy’s future, all so I could get my revenge.”
He shook his head. “You didn’t. You made a mistake, and you took every action to fix it. Not even adults always do that, Zoey. You’re an amazing young woman.”
“Dad,” I said, fiddling with the hem of my comforter. “I’m not sure I fixed it.”
“Sure you are,” he said. “The scholarship is now in his name, you cleared yourself at A&J, and you’re on track to start Stanford in August. What more could you fix?”
I pressed my lips together. Gordon. I could have him along with everything else, but it was selfish to ask the universe for that, too.
“Ah,” he said, a small grin on his face. “The boy.”
I raised my eyebrows, refusing to look my father in the eye. We had never discussed my social life before—it just wasn’t our style—and I wasn’t about to start now. “The only reason why I’m headed to Stanford is because of you,” I said, desperate to not talk about Gordon.
He sighed. “I wish you didn’t view agreeing to a part-time internship at our company as a curse.”
My chest squeezed. He’d only agreed to pay for my college if I agreed to the part-time internship. Strict terms. No negotiation. If I’d refused, he would’ve, too. That push-pull was what made it more difficult to accept. Also, the knowledge that I hadn’t been able to do things on my own crushed the dreams I’d had about earning my way, regardless if working for him was a way to earn it or not.
“I don’t,” I finally said. “Honestly. I just…I wanted to earn it on my own.”
“And you did.” He patted my leg. “Zoey, you did everything possible to ensure you earned a full ride to the college of your dreams. Why does it matter that our company is floating the bill as opposed to the school? You’ll get your education, enrich that already brilliant mind of yours, and do wondrous things. Wherever you decide to end up.” He added the last part quickly, and I still wasn’t used to his new outlook on my choices. He’d never been this open before, but I’d never been completely open with him about the effect the rumor mill had on me over the years, either. Like I said, not our style.
“You’re right,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m being stupid. I should be beyond grateful I have this opportunity. Thank you,” I said with as much sincerity as I could. He was right. I had earned my way to college. The payment was just coming from the last source I’d expected.
“You know I wouldn’t have paid for your school if I didn’t believe in you, right?” he asked. “If you didn’t work as hard as you do…I wouldn’t have made the call. I would’ve left you to find your way out of the problem.” He stood up. “So, don’t for one second think you didn’t earn this. Because you did. Many times over.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. “Thanks,” I said.
He smiled before walking toward my door. “Oh, and Zoey?”
“Yeah?”
“Gordon’s here to see you.”
“What?” I snapped, bolting out of bed. I frantically smoothed my frizzy hair down. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I wanted to talk with you before I lost your attention to that boy for the rest of who knows how long.” He chuckled. “Smart kid, though.”
“So I guess the meeting went well?”
“Yes, it did.”
That made me happier than I thought possible, but it was quickly clouded over by fear. My shoulders sank. “I’m pretty sure he hates me.”
“Not possible.” He tapped the side of my door. “I’ll send him back.”
Butterflies flapped in my stomach, but they were half frantic, half excited. Chaotic little suckers made my fingers tremble and shoved my heart right up my throat as I waited for him. Why had I changed out of my public clothes to my softest pair of sweats and an oversized white tee? I contemplated darting to my closet to change, but I heard footsteps outside in the hallway.
Too late.
Seconds later, Gordon’s tall frame filled my opened doorway, and the sight of him switched on all my senses. Like every single nerve-ending I had in my body woke up in his presence. Had it always been that way? Had I mistaken the rush of a challenge when we competed with the rush of attraction and connection I recognized now?
He wore the same clothes he had on last night, his tee wrinkled, jeans still splattered with dried dirt, and his brown hair disheveled. There was a slight dusting of purple under his eyes, too, but he’d never looked more handsome to me.
“Hi,” he said, and I tried not to laugh.
“Hi.” I motioned to my room. “You want to come in?”
Nodding, he took two tentative steps inside, surveying my bedroom. It was immaculate, except for my rumpled comforter and a stack of books on my desk. I needed a clean space since my brain was always on overdrive. After a couple of turns, he sank down in the oversize chair in the corner of my room—my favorite reading spot. He smacked his hands on his thighs after I’d perched on the edge of my bed. He eyed the red Netflix screen on my TV, which sat on top of my dresser across the room.
“I thought you were going to call me the day you decided to binge-watch?” he asked, and the tight air in my lungs released in one breath.
“Didn’t think that invitation was still valid.”
He scrunched his eyebrows. “Why? Just because you let your friends have an after-party in my dad’s shop?” He tried to joke, but I couldn’t laugh. “Zoey,” he said, sighing. He rested his elbows on his knees, peering up at me with those eyes that seemed to look right into me. “Tell me the truth…was it all in my head?”
“No,” I said. “Not even close.”
“Why’d you do it?”
“I told you last night—”
“Not that,” he cut me off. “The scholarship. A&J called me, too. I got the internship. Seems like today turned into my luckiest yet.”
“You deserved both.”
“You earned that scholarship. Your app was better than mine.”
I shook my head. “Different, not better. And I found another way to cover school.”
He eyed my room, the massive amount of space I had, and looked out my open door and down the even longer corridor that led to an even bigger living room. My father wasn’t shy about showing his success in the massive house we lived in.
He eyed me, his jaw tensing.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I said, not wanting him to overthink his newfound luck.
“Oh really?” he said, challenging.
I shrugged and swallowed hard.
“Zoey,” he said. “Your father told me”—he motioned toward the door—“before he came and got me. I know exactly what you gave up for me…and it means everything.”
My heart thudded hard against my chest. “All I have to do is work at the company. Part-time. It’s not a big deal.” It still felt like a loss, but one that was well worth it.
He rubbed his palms over his face. “That’s the last thing you wanted to do.”
“Not true,” I said. “The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you. Screw everything up.”
“But now you’ve lost it all.”
“No, I haven’t. Sure, I have to work at the company in the terms that he’ll pay for Stanford. But I still get to go to Stanford. In the end, that is all that matters. So I wanted to do it.”
“Why?” The knowing look in his eyes said he understood, but he needed me to say it.
“Isn’t it obvious?” I asked. “After what I did…you had to know what happened between us was real. It wasn’t an act. Wasn’t part of the plan.” My heart raced and heat flushed my cheeks as I forced myself to look him in the eye. “Falling for you was never part of the plan.”
His eyes widened, something like hope flashing behind them.
“And you do big things to prove to the person you fell for that you totally did,” I said, trying to shrug off the epicness of the truth that spilled from my mouth.
Gordon dropped his head into his hands, shaking it. The exhilaration at my admission evaporated to utter embarrassment. He didn’t feel the same way. Omigod I’m an idiot.
“I’m just so pissed,” he said, bolting out of the chair.
I stood, too, ready to show him out. At least I had tried. “I completely understand,” I said, my hand on the doorknob. “I hope someday you’ll be able to see that I’m genuinely sorry…and maybe I’ll see you on campus sometime?” I couldn’t help posing the question. I needed hope.
He stopped an inch before me, sliding his hand over my cheek. Sparks flew across my skin, and I leaned into his palm, never losing his gaze.
“I’m pissed,” he said again, “because I wasted so much time trying to beat you when I should’ve put all that effort into winning you over.”
A thrill raced through my blood, my heart flying. “What?” I gasped.
He reached behind him, pulling something from his back pocket. I smiled at Branch as he handed it to me.
I bit my lip as I held the trophy to my chest. “But I didn’t lose—”
“I’m not saying you did,” he agreed. “But I think you should keep him forever.” He cupped my cheek. “Because getting to be with you?” He arched an eyebrow at me, and my breath hitched. “It makes me the biggest winner of all.”
I grinned, chuckling.
“Too cheesy?” he asked, smirking.
“Just enough,” I said.
He licked his lips, eyeing mine before he glanced at me in question.
I nodded, unable to form another coherent thought. Instead, I set Branch on my chest of drawers and then closed my door.
Gordon brought his other hand to my face, cradling me in a gentle way that made my heart beat harder, if that was possible. Agonizingly slow, he inched his lips to mine, brushing me with the softest, and yet hottest kiss ever. I closed my eyes, popping up on my tiptoes to get closer to him. I wrapped an arm around his neck, kissing him harder.
He smiled against my lips, snaked an arm around the small of my back, and lifted me off my feet to hold me to him. Exhaustion completely forgotten, I lost myself in his arms, his lips, the way his smell unraveled each of my coiled muscles. The weight of the night’s events melted with each flick of his tongue, and I sighed between his lips.
Gordon pulled back enough to catch my eyes, his breath matching mine. He flashed me that irresistible grin. “So,” he said, gently setting me on my feet. “What are we watching?”
“I have no idea where to start. You?”
He shook his head, plopping back down into the chair in the corner. “Not a clue.”
“We’re a lame pair.” I huffed, scooping up my cell.
“Who you going to call?” he teased.
I eyed him over my shoulder, tossing him the remote to the TV. “Texting Braylen.” She’d point us in the right direction. Funny, I didn’t think there was another person on the planet who would need instructions on how to relax, but here Gordon was, in my room, just as lost as I was.
We really are a pair.
I loved the sound of it.
My cell buzzed in my hand.
Bray: For Zombies, The Walking Dead. For Vampires, The Vampire Diaries. For MC Club, Sons of Anarchy. For utter epic awesomeness, Game of Thrones. For laughs, How I Met Your Mother. And you’re with Gordon? WTH?! Catch me up tonight?
I typed back absolutely before setting my cell down on the nightstand next to my bed.
“Verdict?” Gordon asked.
“Depends,” I said, walking toward him. “You want funny, scary, swoony, or badass?”
He pressed his lips together, analyzing. “After the night we had? Funny.”
“You got it.” I reached for the remote in his hand, but he caught my wrist and pulled me down to sit in his lap. I giggled but settled comfortably against him. After a quick kiss, he gave up the remote, and I found the show with an easy search.
“There are nine seasons?” His eyebrows raised as he glanced the selection on the screen.
“Think you can handle that much?” I teased, the happiness flooding my body with so much giddiness I couldn’t contain it. We’d forgiven each other, and in the process…found each other. How had I gotten so lucky?
“Oh,” he said, wrapping his arms around me as he settled back into the chair. “I can handle it.”
“Perfect.” I clicked on episode one.
“It’s weird not arguing. We should’ve battled over the show to watch,” he joked, his chin tucked onto my shoulder.
I laced our fingers together. “I like it better this way.”
“Me, too,” he said, kissing my shoulder as the show started.
Though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anticipating our first debate, because how we felt about each other now?
It would be one hell of a fight, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of our time making up.
Want to know what happens between rock star Lennon and mathlete Jade? Keep watch for the final book in the Grad Night series, coming soon!
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