A Four Letter Word (11 page)

His arms go up defensively. "Oh no, I am not tagging along for a girl's lunch. I've experienced Geoffrey and Patrick at lunch before, and let's just say once is enough—for me, that is. You, on the other hand, will enjoy it immensely." He shakes his head, a smile pulls at his lips, and a small laugh escapes him.

"That good, huh?"

"Believe me, I love Geoffrey and Patrick, they're like family, but I can only handle so much of them,
ya know? Small doses."

"Got it."

I can't help but wish I wasn't having lunch with them and having it with Griffin instead. My shoulders slump. I am covered in disappointment.

Griffin pulls me into his arms.
"How about we meet up for dinner later, at a totally different place than last time. Unless you have plans already?" He quirks an eyebrow, questioning me.

"No, no dinner plans until now. Dinner—I'm all yours."

I wrap my arms further around him, gently squeezing. Trying to drive home my point.

"Perfect. So, I'll pick you up around seven? Here or at home?" He nudges me before his arms tighten around my waist.

"Seven, and here is great. Sorry about lunch." I shrug.

"Don't be—it was last minute. Next time, I'll plan in advance."

And before I can respond with some sexy, snarky comeback, Griffin's lips are on mine, and this time it's not sweet, not tender; it's anything but. It's deep, passionate, and full of everything we are both feeling at the moment. My body hums in response. My brain is fuzzy. My knees weak.

Seriously falling here.

And just when I think things are going to go a little further—further like I want to, like I think he wants to—he slowly, but surely, pulls away. My lips tingle.

He rests his forehead against mine. "You are going to be the death of me, Miss Richards."

"Back at ya, Mr. Cooper."

He gives my tender, buzzing lips one more peck before pulling away. And all I want to do is pull him by the lapels and devour every gorgeous inch of him.
Later. Definitely later.

"I'll see you at seven?"

I nod.

"Have fun at lunch."

I nod. He shakes his head.

"Bye,
Zoey."

I wave. His laugh grows. And just as he passes the threshold, I come back
to Earth. "Bye, Griffin. Seven."

His laughter trails behind him as he leaves.

"The death of you? You'll be the death of me," I say to no one in particular.

"Okay, Richards, back to work, then lunch and then dinner, with Griffin."

My smile grows and my lips continue to tingle. Dinner. With Griffin. Gah, I have so much to share with the girls.

Chapter 11

"Albert, I'm going to lunch. You okay here?" I ask, making my way past the counter.

"
Zoey, Zoey, Zoey, when will you learn? Albert always—always—has things under control. You needn't worry your pretty little head about anything. Go—enjoy your lunch with your friends," he tells me, his hands swooshing me away.

"I know, I know. Please forgive me?" I jokingly beg, my hands pressed against my heart.

Albert winks at me, and again, motions for me to leave. "Go."

"I'm going. If you need me…"

He gives me his evil eye.

My hands go up defensively as I back away towards the exit. "I'm going."

Albert's deep laugh follows me as I make my way out of the shop and easily find a cab.

****

I enter the restaurant, shaking off the cold, and before the hostess can ask me anything, I hear Ashlee's signature cackle-slash-snort. I smile at the hostess who looks amused. "I'm meeting them." I point in the general direction of the inhuman-like laugh. She nods, and her hand sweeps to the right, showing me the way. As if she needed to do that—Ashlee's laughter was like a trail of breadcrumbs. I navigate my way past a few tables when I spot them.

Actually, they aren’t hard to miss. Ashlee has her head thrown back, still cackling and snorting. Patrick is, well, the Patrick I remember from Halloween, but instead of wearing a bright-ass pink flower costume, he is wearing
a bright-ass pink shirt, gold glasses strategically perched on top of his head so they don't interfere with his perfectly spiky do, and a beaming smile. It not only lights up his face, but the entire room. And it's infectious.

Then there's Geoffrey. He has a straw between his lips, the other end submerged in a vibrant orange cocktail. A small smile tugs at his lips, while his eyes…his eyes are fixed on Patrick, and there's this glimmer in them, expressing how much Patrick means to him, how much he loves him.
Love. That four letter word has definitely not eluded those two. There's a strange pang in my chest. Love. Will that word ever stop eluding me? Maybe Griffin? Could it be like that with Griffin?

Before I can get lost in my own pity party, Geoffrey's gaze meets mine. His eyes light
up, and a smile overtakes his features. He motions to me with a nod of his head, and I have three sets of eyes on me—all on me. I suddenly feel as though every single set of eyes in the restaurant are on me. Watching me and my every move.

Patrick bounces in his chair, as if he's turned into a baby in one of those jumpy things parents attach to the doorway. Yep, he's beyond
Tigger. Ashlee seems to be his twin at the moment. Geoffrey starts flailing his arms, calling me over. Those eyes—that I thought were all on me—are probably, if not definitely, focused on Geoffrey—a very exuberant Geoffrey.

"
Zoey! Come on, hot stuff. Get your pretty little ass over here," Geoffrey demands, so not only I hear him, but half the place does as well.

I quickly make my way over to them, avoiding all eye contact with the other patrons. I feel the heat creep up my neck, and I just know I am blushing like there's no tomorrow. Geoffrey's massive arms wrap around me, and his hug lifts me off the ground. If the patrons of this place didn't notice me before, when I first walked in, they definitely notice me now. My legs dangle and sway like I'm a ragdoll.

"Geoffrey, put her down," Patrick chides.

Geoffrey complies and pulls a chair out for me.

"Boo, you are such a gentleman," Patrick coos.

Geoffrey gives me a wink and takes his seat as well. Ashlee side-hugs me; it's been a while since we've seen each other. Our waiter comes over and takes my drink and our food order.

"Oooo, isn't he just scrumdiliumptuous?" Patrick remarks.

Geoffrey simply rolls his eyes and gives Patrick a nudge.

"No worries, Sweetcheeks, you're all the man I need."

And just like that, they are lost in each other's eyes and coming dangerously close to having a full-on make out session. At the same time, Ashlee and I clear our throats before the make out session can begin.

"Sorry," Geoffrey and Patrick say in unison, Patrick slightly pink.

"So, what's new?" Patrick asks, waggling his eyebrows and staring straight at me.

I shrug my shoulders. "Not much."

"Oh, don't give us that,
Zo. No use pretending, like we don't know," Geoffrey begins.

I immediately turn and glare at Ashlee.

"Don't look at me. My lips have been sealed." Ashlee zips her lips.

"Oh, who are you kidding, Ashlee? You know damn well that, since you've met your cowboy, those pouty lips of yours have not been sealed," Patrick adds.

Our waiter chooses that precise moment to deliver my drink, and he nearly chokes when he hears Patrick's remark. He hightails it before I can even apologize.

Geoffrey continues, "Oh it wasn't Ashlee. After all, he is
our
neighbor. And as neighbors, we do talk from time to time. And it just so happens our neighbor has been a little giddy over a certain little auburn brunette."

Now it's my turn to nearly choke.

Wow, Griffin's been talking about me?  Talking about me to these two.

I feel my face heat up, and a tingly sensation builds inside at just the thought of Griffin.

"I think someone is just as giddy," Patrick comments, nudging his chin towards me.

"Although I am a little surprised," Geoffrey remarks.

"Why?" Ashlee asks what I was about to.

"Oh, it's just that the night of the party, I could have been certain that there was something going on between
Zoey and Tarzalicious ," Geoffrey responds.

Patrick nods.

"Why would you think that?" I beat Ashlee to the punch.

"There was fierce, hot, lust going on between the two of you. I mean, you two totally gave off this sexing vibe. Both of your auras screamed it—burning hot, bright red. And
Tarzalicious’s chakras were all outta whack when he left you to come with us.  I swear if that man could have you, he would have swung on a vine and swooped you right up and away.  I would have bet our five gallon tub of Mr. Wang's Love Rub on it." Patrick smiles.

I choke—again. Mental note to self: no drinking around him.
Ever. Yep, Patrick should come with a warning label—comments induce frequent choking. Ashlee chokes a little too.

"Oh, Ashlee,
puh-lease. I get why Little Miss Not-Too-Innocent choked, but you? Seriously? First, you've been around me—us—long enough to not be the tiny bit surprised by what comes out of our mouths," Geoffrey starts.

"Or goes in," Patrick adds, taking a long-ass sip through his straw.

Geoffrey smiles and then continues, "And second, don't act all innocent over there. You so can't pull it off. You know damn well you dipped into Mr. Wang's Love Rub for a certain cowboy. Actually, if I recall, you asked for the website so you could get some of Mr. Wang's fine products."

I turn and stare at Ashlee, my mouth hanging open. Obviously, she's left out some details about her cowboy.

"Okay, okay." She puts hands up defensively. "What can I say? I'm a big slut." She shrugs and then takes a big gulp of her drink.

"Huge, ginormous slut," Patrick amends.

"Fine…huge, ginormous, whatever. It was so worth it. Collin is just…everything." Her eyes glaze over, and she gets a dreamy far off look in them.

Ashlee Adams is in love, and I am not surprised. But why didn't she tell me any of this? We are supposed to be best friends. I have been busy and so has she—obviously.

"Ashlee?" I finally ask.

"Sorry,
Zo, I was gonna tell you everything, promise. It's just that, well, you've been busy… I've been busy. There just wasn't a right time. But, I swear I was gonna tell you as soon as there was a right time, honest." Ashlee crosses her heart, gives the Girl Scout salute, along with those big, brown puppy dog eyes and pouty lip.

She's got me. "You're forgiven."

She squeals. "Besides, you haven't told me everything about Griffin, so it's like we're even."

"
Oooo, Zoey, do tell, do tell. Is he hung like I think he is? You can just tell. He sooo fills out those jeans he wears. I bet…" Patrick eyes glass over.

"Um, I don't know exactly. Unlike my friend here, I am not a huge, ginormous slut. We've only gone out a couple once and talked on the phone a bunch of times.
So, yeah, not a slut." I nudge Ashlee, silently telling her I'm joking—about her being a slut part, not me not being one.

"Fine, fine.
But when the big moment happens, we…" Patrick motions around the table…"we want details."

I
kinda nod. I've never been one to kiss and tell.

"So, you and Griffin really hit it off, even though
Tarzalicious and you…" Geoffrey begins, but I have to stop him before he says anything else.

"Evan and I are just friends," I state matter-of-factly.

"But at one time?" Geoffrey pushes.

"Yes, at one time I had a crush on him…"

"Huge, ginormous crush. It even turned into love for Zoey here," Ashlee adds.

"Fine…huge, enormous crush, and yes, I love—I mean loved—him at one time, but I learned early in our friendship that that's all it is— was— at least on my side. Evan has never thought of me in any other way. We're friends, best friends, and I'm totally not his type," I admit. A knot twists in the pit of my stomach. Even after all these years, for some reason it still hurts to say out loud. I shake my head.

"You okay, Zoey?" Ashlee inquires, her hand slipping in mine.

I nod.

"So what is his type?" Geoffrey asks, his eyes wide with anticipation like he's hoping I say Evan's type is him.

"Tall, blonde, leggy, beautiful, big boobs, so not me," I easily respond.

Total no brainer.

"Well, there was this one girl," Ashlee starts before she's interrupted.

"One girl what?" Geoffrey and Patrick ask in unison, their fruity drinks forgotten. They are mesmerized all of the sudden as their hands intertwine under their chins waiting for more.

"Ashlee," I warn her. Not sure why, but I feel I need to.

"What? There was this one girl, Paige, who totally didn't meet that criteria, and he was totally serious about her. In fact…"

I glare at her. She shuts up.

"Ashlee! Go on, please, we are sooooo dying to know," Patrick begs.

Ashlee shrugs and looks to me. Then Patrick and Geoffrey give me Ashlee's puppy dog stare. It's not
gonna work. They keep staring, their eyes growing bigger. Forget the puppy dog stare—they are giving me Puss in Boots' pathetic cat-eye stare—all saucer-like and glassy.

"Fine," I acquiesce after I get the pouty lip too.

"Paige soooo wasn't like Evan's usual plaything. She wasn't a plaything at all. She was sweet and smart, and pretty—beautiful even—with long, dark hair and glasses. He dated her for like a year and half, a total record, and then one day she was gone," Ashlee tells.

"Long, dark hair, huh?
Smart, huh? Sweet, huh? Beautiful even, huh?" Geoffrey repeats and clarifies.

"Sounds like someone we know, doesn't it,
Pookie?" Patrick teases, taking a long drag from his straw.

"Sounds like," Geoffrey agrees.

"I know, right," Ashlee follows.

"You guys, I know what you're getting at, and you are so wrong. Paige was Paige and so not like…it doesn't matter. They broke up, probably because she didn't fit the profile." Evan never really told me why they broke up, just that they wanted different things. We still
doesn't talk about it. It hurts that we never talked about it. I feel a pang in my chest—it's the one thing in my best friend's life I don't know about. What else could he be keeping from me? Ashlee looks to me, and her eyes show nothing but concern.

"Well, it sounds to me like his type isn't his type, and from what I saw and felt, and his aura was screaming red hot…I don't think…" Patrick starts.

"Patrick, drop it," Ashlee demands.

Patrick looks to me, then Geoffrey and Ashlee. "Fine, it’s dropped. But I feel the need to say something on behalf of Griffin here, okay?"

Patrick has all of our eyes focused on him, he has our undivided attention, commanding it like never before.  His playful mood is replaced with a seriousness I’ve never experienced in the short time I’ve known him.  Geoffrey grabs his hand giving him a firm squeeze of encouragement.  I almost get the feeling the two of them have already talked about this.

“I know, we know, you say there’s nothing between you and Evan.  And Ashlee has totally confirmed that,  so…I believe what I hear,” he rolls his eyes, “but I also believe what I see, and whether you want to admit it or not or whether Evan wants to admit it or not; we get the feeling that there could be something there, and before you say no again hear me out.  Griffin is an amazing guy, sometimes I wish he would switch teams so we could set him up with someone that would be just perfect for him.  Anyway, he’s like family and I am fiercely protective of my family,
Zoey, and I consider you family now too.  Griffin has been burned in the past…” Patrick is all business; the flamboyant nature is hidden at the moment.