~ Zoie's POV ~
- - - - - Three Weeks Later - - - - -
"Wow," Nic gaped as she shook her head from side to side. "I mean, just wow..."
The first thing Zoie did once she got back to California was to take control of her life again. Everyone at school was under the impression that she was in a terrible car accident and that was why she missed the finals and went away for a month or so. She went to her professors, who of course were very accommodating. They allowed her to retake the finals and she was on her way to become a junior in college. Once all that was done, Zoie went to meet her friends. There was, of course, a party at Nic and Jo's apartment. It was an intimate get-together to welcome Zoie back to school. The girls invited some of Zoie's closest friends from her year. While talking to Nic and Jo, Zoie thought about coming clean with them about what happened to her, especially about Giulio. But after thinking about it some more, she figured some secrets are better left alone.
Hey, ignorance is bliss, right?
"Dang, I'm so glad you're okay, though," Jo chimed in, pulling Zoie into a hug. "And Asher saving your life like that, God bless that man,"
Nic joined the hug and the girls were hugging each other for a while. Zoie glanced around the room and she caught sight of Asher who was standing on the other side. He was talking to some friends from his international relations class. People were excited to have him back too. Oh, yes, of course, Asher was back in college with her again. Damon wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, that was his one condition for letting Zoie go back to California.
"Asher has to come with you. He can't let you out of his sight. Not even for a minute!" Damon said warningly, and Zoie was just smiling.
"Okay, at least there's a silver lining here and let me just say, I'm all for it!" Nic clapped her hands in excitement as she noticed Zoie and Asher looking at each other from across the room.
"Girl, I swear, your life is like a movie," Jo added. "Someone should write about you to Netflix!"
Zoie couldn't help but blush. She also finally told the truth about Asher to her friends earlier.
"So, Asher and I aren't exactly brother and sister..." she started. "We grew up together, so it kinda feels like it, and he's also my dad's godson. But we're not blood related and all that. And... after the accident... we kinda decided to get together. I mean, we've been having feelings for each other since we started college, but... we were scared so we kept it a secret..."
"Wait a minute, so Asher is the mystery guy?" Jo interjected. "Long distance guy? Stranger at the bar guy?!"
"Yup, he's all of those," she admitted.
Jo and Nic exchanged a look as their mouths fell open.
"Oh my God, I knew it! I knew he was in love with you!" Nic exclaimed.
"What? How'd you know?"
Jo and Nic exchanged another look and laughed. Zoie could only stare at her friends in confusion.
"It was so obvious," Jo explained. "We all can see the way you guys look at each other, but we didn't wanna say it. We thought y'all are siblings, you know? That'll be awkward!"
After seeing how easy it was for her friends to accept her new relationship, Zoie felt almost dumb for thinking she had to lie to them all this time. Even her family, everyone was so accepting and supportive. Well, obviously the fact that Asher almost died to save her played a big part in why Damon and the rest of the family were so accepting. But if she'd known it was gonna be like this, maybe she'd get herself kidnapped sooner?
Okay. No. Jk, guys. Just kidding.
"But yeah, who cares if you grow up with him and see him as a brother first, love can grow from anywhere," Nic chimed in, pulling Zoie out of her thoughts.
"Speaking of love..." Jo let out the heaviest sigh and took a big gulp from her red plastic cup. "I can't believe Giulio ghosted me just like that! Like, what the hell? We were talking about getting married someday! He was supposed to take me to see his family in Italy and all that crap!"
Jo and Nic didn't know the truth about Giulio at all. As far as they knew, he was just some Italian exchange student who decided to go back to Italy and never contact Jo again.
"Aw, I'm sorry, boo," Nic said as she put an arm around Jo. "Men are pigs, you know? They tell you everything you wanna hear just so they can get in your pants. And once they do, they disappear like a little bitch,"
Jo let out another sigh and rested her head on Nic's shoulder.
"Do you think it was my fault?" she whined. "Maybe I was being too naggy. I can be kinda demanding and maybe that drove him away?"
"No," Zoie and Nic said in unison.
"The right person wouldn't be driven away just because you tell him what you want from him," Nic explained.
"Yeah, and it's his loss," Zoie added. "You'll find someone better who can appreciate you for who you are,"
"You think so?" Jo asked, her eyes turned watery.
"Oh, I know so, one thousand percent," Zoie said reassuringly.
Zoie had met some terrible guys in her life, like Miles, for instance, but Giulio was on another level. He was the lowest of the lows. So surely, yes, Jo deserves someone better.
"Ugh!" Jo groaned and put her head on Zoie's shoulder. "Men. Why do they have to be so difficult?"
"I know right, I am so done with men," Nic agreed as she downed her drink. She then rested her head on Zoie's other shoulder.
A few weeks ago, Nic also just broke up with her longtime bartender boyfriend. She was ready to take the next step in their relationship, but he wasn't. The timing wasn't right, he said.
Sometimes the right person at the wrong time is the wrong person, that kind of situation.
"I don't know guys... but, I think when you've found the right person, it won't be so difficult," Zoie said. "It'll feel easy, even though it's not,"
Zoie glanced across the room again. Asher was talking animatedly with his friends. He was describing some kind of supercar he wants to build next. He looked so excited, it was really cute, like watching a kid in Disneyland.
"By all means, things haven't been easy for us. But yet, every time I look at him, everything feels... simple and effortless,"
Zoie caught Asher's eyes and their lips curved into smiles. Jo and Nic, of course, noticed this. They jumped up immediately.
"Oooohh!" they teased, giggling and laughing.
"Look at you, Zoe, dropping them relationship-goals pearls of wisdom!" Jo said.
"Seriously, you two are so cute together, it's like watching Tom Holland and Zendaya in the room!" Nic continued.
"Oh, stop," Zoie blushed, pushing her friends away.
"So, are things, like, official with you two now?" Nic asked.
"Yep," Zoie paused for a beat before adding, "He's my boyfriend,"
"Eeeeeek!" Nic and Jo were screaming and giggling, making Zoie blush harder. Meanwhile, Asher was just looking in their direction, looking very confused.
"You know what? This is giving me a lot of hope!" Jo said. "If Zoie can find love in places she didn't even expect, then I think we can too,"
"Yes, girl, yes!" Nic agreed, lifting her plastic cup above her head.
"Here's to love," Jo said, raising her glass.
"To love," Zoie agreed, raising hers too.
Zoie downed the drink and felt the alcohol run through her throat. The bubbly sensation began rising to her head. Her body felt light and her feet felt like dancing. She looked across the room again and saw that Asher was already looking at her. Of course, he was. The ever-vigilant bodyguard. Zoie's lips curved into a smile as an idea crossed her head. Slowly and seductively, she made her way across the room and stood right in front of him.
"Are you not gonna get me a drink?" she said teasingly. This was a throwback to the time when they first met at that bar.
"You already got one," he replied, smirking that gorgeous smirk. "Anyway, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"
Asher leaned his face closer and Zoie got a whiff of that delicious, masculine scent. Even just the smell of him sent shivers up and down her spine.
"To find a guy like you, I guess," she replied, biting on her bottom lip.
Asher stifled a laugh and shook his head from side to side.
"You're so bad," he whispered as he leaned even closer, planting a sweet, soft kiss on her lips. "The absolute baddest,"
Asher pulled away from the kiss, leaving Zoie hungry for more. She looked up at him with fire in her eyes and said, "I guess you'll have to teach me a lesson then..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoie was hungry, there was no denying it. And no, not the kind when you're hungry for some french fries. The kind when you're hungry, hungry.
It had been almost a week since they arrived in California and Asher hadn't made a move on her at all. Ever since the incident, they hadn't been intimate with each other. There were kisses and hugs and maybe some cuddling at night, but that was it.
At first, Zoie thought maybe Asher didn't wanna risk it, doing it in the house with her family present. Because even though her dad and everyone already knew, maybe he wanted to be respectful. But when they got to California and Asher still hadn't tried anything, Zoie started to get anxious. All week long, she started dropping hints. But every time she initiated a long, passionate kiss, Asher always cut it short. Every time she tried touching him south of the border when they were sitting on the couch, he would then move away.
Is something wrong with me? Zoie started to wonder. Is he not attracted to me anymore?
"It's been a long day, huh?" Asher said with a long sigh, pulling Zoie out of her thoughts. They had just come back from the party. He took off his clothes and jumped on the bed. Meanwhile, Zoie was slipping into her nightgown.
"Yup, it was a really good day," she said, climbing into the bed and lying next to him. "I had fun tonight with the girls,"
"I saw that, you three wouldn't stop giggling and looking at me," he said, turning his face to her.
"Hey, I can't help it when I have such a cute boyfriend," she giggled, moving closer to close the distance between their bodies.
"Okay, you definitely had too much to drink," Asher said, patting her on the head. Zoie was trying to kiss him, but his hand was pretty much blocking her face.
"Are you ready for bed?" he said again.
Zoie let out an annoyed sigh.
No, I'm not ready for bed! I want you to touch me!
"Can we cuddle?" she asked sweetly, not trying to unleash the Grinch on him.
"Of course," he said, opening his arms for her.
Zoie rested her head on his chest as he wrapped her body in his arms. His fingers were stroking her arm gently. It was such a subtle touch, but it was enough to twist her stomach into knots. Before she could stop herself, her hand began wandering under the duvet, south of his body.
"Whoa, what are you doing?" he laughed, trying to move her hand away from his boxer briefs.
"What do you think I'm doing?" she replied confidently. She noticed that his member hardened at her touch. So yes, he was still attracted to her. That's for sure.
Asher didn't respond, so Zoie continued. She slid her hand under his boxers and found his member. She held him firmly in her hand and started massaging him. Slowly and sensually. He was getting harder and harder by the second. And Zoie was getting hungrier and hungrier.
"Hey, hey, stop," Asher said suddenly, pulling her hand away.
Zoie was caught off guard.
"What? Why?"
"Because..." Asher started to speak, but he couldn't continue.
"Do you not... like me like that anymore?" Zoie pressed, waiting for an answer.
"Are you kidding me?" Asher scoffed. "Every minute of the day, I haven't stopped thinking about that,"
"Then why stop me?"
"Because!" he sighed in exasperation. "Are you sure you're ready for this? I mean..." Asher couldn't continue again. He glanced down at her body and looked away.
Zoie let out a sigh and tilted his face back to her.
"I've been waiting for you to make a move all week long, Ash," she said reassuringly. "So, yeah, I'm ready for this,"
*
*
*
- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -