Under the Table(16)

“Hi, Zoey!” His voice was overflowing with excitement. Or nervous energy. It was so endearing, in a boyish sort of way.

“Did you bring your credit card and a desire for some fun?” Zoey could’ve bitten her tongue off. What a rotten opening line to say to a guy who got snookered by a prostitute. But she didn’t need to beat herself up. She was with a gentleman. And in being such, he only thought gentle things.

He nodded and with his hands still in his pocket said, “I’m ready. Did you want to grab a cab or should I call for a car?”

“Neither. I thought we would start at Barneys on Madison, try on some new clothes. It’s about twenty blocks. It’s a beautiful day. Let’s stroll, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m game if you are.”

They started walking. Zoey decided to hold off on the talk about how to stomp through the city with purpose. That speech would likely scare him right back into hiding. But there was something else. With Tristan next to her, she felt like taking her time. She wanted to enjoy all the smells and sounds, like the gyro and pretzels guys with their carts, music pumping out of storefronts, and people walking their dogs.

“Do you have ideas on what you want to do with me?” he asked.

“I was watching on the Today show this morning about the new spring fashions. Colors that are in and styles. Did you happen to see it?”

“Nope.”

“What do you like to watch?”

“I don’t have a TV. I like to read.”

“And listen to music,” she remined him with a knowing grin.

“That too.” She couldn’t be sure, but he may have started to blush.

When they reached the corner of Madison, they waited for the crossing light with a family, a mother who had a toddler by the hand and the dad pushing a stroller. They looked happy.

“Tell me about yourself?” Tristan asked. The timing was impeccable. Zoey stared at the baby carriage and debated just how much information she wanted to give him. “You said you were from Cleveland?”

“A suburb. I have one older sister, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers. My older sister, Ruth, is my roommate. Everyone else is still either at home or living near home.”

“What made you want to move here?”

An innocent question. But also, a moment of truth.

“Adventure” was the answer she settled on. Not quite a lie, Zoey told herself. There was no need to drag him into her mess.

“Did you find it?”

“I certainly did. I’m having one right now,” she quipped.

As they got closer to Barneys the crowds got thicker. People sidestepped one another in the effort to keep moving and retain their personal space. Others would abruptly stop and further mess up the flow of foot traffic. A man bumped into her with a disgusted “Geez.” Zoey glanced at Tristan. His smile was gone, replaced with a grim expression, his hands still jammed in his pockets. Was he on the verge of a panic attack? She gingerly hooked her arm in his and began to match his step.

“He didn’t even say ‘excuse me,’” Tristan said.

“Hey. We’re okay. We all have a right to the sidewalk. And I have pepper spray in my bag.” She whispered up at him cheerfully in encouragement. “We only have a few more blocks to go.”

He stared down at her, and she could feel him start to relax. She guided him over to the inside of the sidewalk, so that the faster walkers could hurry by.

“What do you like to read?”

“Everything! My favorite books are history. I have a library at home that’s full of books. It’s the one thing I had sent over from Paradise Cove. My grandfather devoured the military and war stuff. My grandmother loved her romances, so when you visit again and I show you the room, please don’t judge. Although if I’m being honest, I have to admit, I’ve read almost all of them.”

“If we’re being honest, I guess I should admit . . . I’ve seen the room.”

With their arms still hooked together he stopped short, looking down at her again, this time with a tilt of his head and laughter-filled eyes.

“What? You told me to make myself at home.”

“You little devil,” he said, and she wondered if he had picked up that come-hither look from those romance novels. He pulled her arm closer to his and they resumed their walking.

“I swear I didn’t stay in any room long enough to take an inventory. I did notice you didn’t have a television but thought maybe you had one hiding in a wall. And let me add, you are a heck of a housekeeper.”

“Thank you.” He continued to smile, unoffended by her confession. “Cleanliness is next to godliness, my grandmother used to say.”

It was hard to believe they had known each other for only twenty-four hours. They had slipped into such easy conversation. Of course, Ruth had men who had proposed to her after one date, so it probably wasn’t that big a deal. Zoey couldn’t remember the last time she had let her guard down so quickly. They had reached their destination and unlocked arms, with Tristan opening the door and allowing her to enter the bustling building first. She led them straight to the men’s department.

“Just so you know,” Tristan said, “I do own a couple suits.”

“I’m sure you do and I bet they’re very nice. But I was thinking of us getting more in touch with your Steven Tyler side.”