While I Was Away(25)

And then it didn't seem so strange anymore. It seemed ... exhilarating. Hot. He speared his hands into her curly hair and took control of the kiss. She groaned and moved so she was straddling him, her knees on either sides of his hips.

He took advantage of the situation and shifted his arms to her waist, wrapping them tightly around her. Once she was as close to him as she could possibly get, he worked his hands under the back of her shirt.

He didn't care that everything was fucked up, or that he was drunk and lonely and depressed. He also didn't care that Zoey possibly had even more issues of her own. For the first time since he'd gotten the call about Adele's accident, Ocean felt good. Good about life, and really good about the woman sitting on top of him.

And he was excited to find out just how “good” things could get between them, but then it all came crashing down.

“Hey, Ocean,” Charlie's voice called from outside the door right before he pushed it open. “Your mom wanted me to check on you and bring you some wa–, holy shit, is that Zoey!?”

Whoops.

Ocean completely froze with one hand up the back of her top, and the other hand down the back of her skirt. Hmmm, when had that happened?

She, however, didn't seem bothered at all. He was beginning to wonder if anything rattled Zoey fucking Blanke. She kept her arms around his neck and settled down on his lap, making him uncomfortably aware of just how little clothing separated them.

“It is Zoey,” she sighed. “Thanks for the water, Chuck.”

“Charlie,” he corrected her, then he dashed into the room and sat a large tumbler on the nightstand. “And no offense to either of you, but do you really think this is the right time for this?”

Ocean was ready to agree and apologize, but Zoey cut him off by barking out a laugh.

“Are you shitting me?” she guffawed. “You're gonna lecture me on what is and isn't appropriate behavior?”

It was very dim in the room, but Ocean was still able to see Charlie's blush.

“Just shut up, Blanke,” he growled, then he stomped away, slamming the door shut behind him.

While Zoey crawled off him, Ocean fumbled with a lamp. By the time he got it turned on, she was back on her feet, her clothing all put to rights. Like nothing had ever happened.

“I was being serious before,” she said.

“Serious ...?” Ocean asked, racking his brain to remember everything they'd said to each other. Nothing came to mind, though; all he could recall was the way her mouth tasted.

“I'm leaving, I just came in here to give you a kick in the ass and say goodbye. Goodbye,” she said, then she turned and headed for the door.

Nonchalant wasn't a strong enough word to describe Zoey, and it was a couple moments before Ocean collected himself enough to dash after her. He caught up with her at the top of the stairs.

“At least let me walk you out,” he offered in an awkward voice.

“Ooohhh, such a gentleman. Who knew you had it in you,” she teased, and he scowled at her.

While she searched for her jacket amongst the pile by the door, he glanced around the living room. Something odd caught his eye and he did a double-look. A mop of light red hair, standing near the kitchen doorway. The girl, whatshername – Adele's coworker. He'd only met her once, when she'd been at the hospital dropping of a large bouquet from Adele's boss. Why was she at River's birthday? Who had invited her?

She was standing with Charlie Kassen, and they looked like they were having some sort of intense conversation.

“It's annoying, right?” Zoey asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“What's annoying?” he asked back. She rolled her eyes and yanked open the front door.

“Tabitha and Charlie.”

“Them talking annoys you?”

“No – how good they look together annoys me.”

“What do you mean, 'together'?” he asked. Zoey shrugged and led the way down the porch steps.

“He hasn't said it to me – Charlie's never been a big fan of me – but I think he likes her.”

Ocean grabbed Zoey's coat sleeve and pulled her to a stop.

“You think Charlie's fucking someone else while Adele's in a coma?” he demanded.

“I doubt it,” she replied, tugging free from him. “Charlie's not that insensitive. But I do think Tabitha likes him.”

“Why does everything have to be so complicated?” Ocean groaned and rubbed his hands down his face.

“Well, this was fun, but I gotta get going before it gets really awkward,” she sighed as they came to a stop next to an old VW Beetle. He frowned, suddenly realizing she'd been trying to get away from him since Charlie had interrupted their kiss. He didn't want her to think he was gonna make things weird between them. He cleared his throat and tried to act casual.

“Got a hot date?”

It slipped out before he could stop himself, and he'd only meant it as a joke. Said in his voice, though, it came out flat, as if he were bothered by the idea. She laughed anyway, thankfully.

“Oh yeah, really early in the morning. It's with this super sexy brunette. Kinda lazy, though, she's always just laying around,” she joked. He laughed, as well.

“Well then. Say hi to my sister for me.”