Under the Table(29)



The car pulled up, ending the conversation. And though she was loath to say the words, Zoey gave the driver her address to drop her off first, since her apartment was closer. This time, instead of looking out at the city during the silent drive, she snuck peeks at Tristan’s profile as he watched the scenery through the windshield. His head was slightly swaying to the music the driver was playing. A delighted grin tugged at Tristan’s lips, the evidence he had indeed enjoyed himself. He started to turn toward Zoey and she snapped her head forward just in time to keep from being caught watching him.

“I had a wonderful time tonight,” he said softly. “I couldn’t have done this without you. Thanks, Zoey.”

She should’ve been proud, even if he was exaggerating. He didn’t look like it took too much effort to get him relaxed. She had done what she set out to do, help him conquer another hurdle in his wish to really appreciate all the best things in life. But the only thought that was drumming in her head was that another magical night was over. Another night with a perfect gentleman. A needle in a haystack. A needle she unfortunately had found a little too late.

In too short a ride, the car pulled up in front of her building. Tristan stopped the driver from getting out to open her door and asked him to wait. He got out and ran around to her side to do it himself and walked her to the door.

“I’d like to walk you to your apartment,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Just in case some vagrant is hanging around the halls.”

They got to the door of her apartment, and it was an awkward moment. The kind of moment that, if they weren’t on different paths that somehow collided, would end in a kiss. She looked at his lips, watching them move.

“Thanks again, Zoey. Have a good night.”

Unable to stop herself, she reached out her arms and wrapped them around his neck, giving him a tight squeeze. “You’re welcome, Tristan. Good night.”

At first his arms remained stiffly at his sides, but she couldn’t bring herself to pull back and away. Then she felt first his arm then his hands draw lightly over her hips to settle around her waist as he awkwardly hugged her back.





Chapter 11




The last time Zoey was so restless was before she’d left Ohio for New York. She tossed and turned for hours in bed as the entire evening rewound in her memory. From the intimate discussion over the dinner Tristan had cooked for her, to the open looks of hunger from other women in the club, to his smoldering eyes on the dance floor and the hug he was too considerate to rebuff. She had only wanted to help him. Now she wished they could just hook up and get it out of the way. Break the tension so she could go back to grinding away at work instead of checking her phone a hundred times a day, in the hopes that he’d texted. The single silver lining of the night was that she couldn’t recall having smiled once. There were sultry looks and pouting, but her secret neon gums were effectively concealed from Ruth and her crowd.

As soon as Zoey was done admonishing herself, a little voice inside her head would speak up. It would tell her how in just a few months, if all went according to plan, she’d be divorced. But then her logical side would counter that Tristan had never actually expressed an interest in her. There was no way of knowing where he stood without flat out asking him. When she got to questioning whether it would be worth the risk of ruining the friendship, the debate would start all over again.

It felt like she had just fallen asleep when Ruth shook her awake.

She didn’t need to ask Ruth if she was just getting in. Ruth usually stayed out all night on Saturday, sometimes bringing the party back home. Letting Zoey have the bedroom on the weekends was mutually beneficial. Ruth was still wearing the same clothes, but her silky hair was now flat, her makeup all but gone, and her smoky eyeliner looked smeared. Her voice sounded giddy and a little buzzed. Ruth was always able to hold her liquor without stumbling. She had likely danced most of it off.

“What are you doing home?” Ruth asked.

Zoey sat up in bed and rubbed her face. “Where am I supposed to be?”

“I figured you went home with Mr. Good-boy.” Ruth gave a smug snort. “I told Abbie he was never going to get in touch.”

Zoey’s jaw tightened with the reminder of Abbie’s invitation for Tristan to join her on Tinder. After last night, all her good will toward other women had come to a screeching halt.

“I told you he wasn’t that kind of guy,” she said irritably.

“Yeah,” Ruth continued to scoff. “You also told me he was a nerd and looked like a baby duck. That was a boldface lie. That man is scrumptious.”

“He’s not for you.” Zoey issued the warning.

“Of course he’s not!” This time Ruth added a laugh. “He’s way too square and noble for me. I’m more the bad-boy-aching-to-be-tamed type.”

“What’s the matter, none of those available last night?” Zoey wanted to talk about Tristan. Ask if Ruth noticed him staring at her with longing or displaying some sudden outburst of jealousy. Anything to suggest that he was harboring feelings for her. But Zoey knew her sister. Ruth was all about Ruth. If it didn’t concern her, or you didn’t specifically send out an SOS, it didn’t hold her interest.

“It was an off night.” Ruth yawned and kicked off her shoes. Zoey lay back down and Ruth curled up beside her, just as she had when they were kids. “Once Blake left, his bachelor party friends all became animals. One of them grabbed a handful of my ass near the end of the night. I kneed him in the nuts before the bouncers tossed him out. They didn’t show me the door, since I was the offended party, but they did make it clear it was time for us to call it a night. We all went out for breakfast. I think Erin and Abbie took those young guys home.”

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