A Four Letter Word (12 page)

“Olivia,” Geoffrey adds.

“Right, Olivia. Olivia and Griffin dated for about two years and Geoffrey and I were sure we were going to be helping to plan a wedding, when one day she just said she was done and left him.  To say he was devastated would be an understatement.”

“I so remember that day. It is forever engraved into my brain,” Geoffrey interjects, “Griffin thought he had found his forever and when he came home from work she was gone.  All her stuff had been moved out.  I came home from work to see the moving truck pull away and Olivia get into her stupid
Fiat and follow right behind.  Griffin came home and was completely blindsided.  She never gave him any indication that she wanted to end things at all.”  Geoffrey looks to Patrick to continue.

Patrick nods and continues, “So after giving him some time we went over to help him out and we found him sitting on the floor against the bed with a note in his hand.  His eyes were red and swollen, and his cheeks were tear-stained. I’ve never seen a man so broken. Anyway, he wouldn’t say a word; he just kept staring out into nothing, gripping that note.  With some persuasion he let go of it,” Patrick takes a shuddering breath before continuing, his eyes tearing up, “
all it said was good-bye Griffin.  No explanation, just those two pathetic words and his name.  It took him a long while to recover.  I still think a part of him will always love her, but he’s moved on.  I just hope you’ve really moved on too.  Because if you haven’t and you really do have deeper feelings than you’re willing to admit for Evan than you do, and you end up dating Griffin seriously, and then end up breaking his heart because you realize Evan is truly the one for you…I will…I will…shave that beautiful head of hair of yours and…and…make a wig out of it and give it to some bald homeless man and rename him Zoey.” Patrick finishes with a slight wink, but there is still a seriousness behind his words.

I put my fork down and reach across the table touching his hand. “Patrick, you have nothing to worry about.  Just like a part of Griffin will always belong to Olivia, I’m guessing, a part of Evan will always be in my heart.  But, that high school crush I once had died a long time ago.  I’ve moved on and I’m ready to see if there is something really there between Griffin and myself.  So I promise you won’t need to break out the shears and make me look like Mr. Clean.”

“Good.” Patrick replies.

I nod.

"Great. Now that that is settled, when are you and Griffin going out again?" Patrick asks.

I feel my cheeks heat up, and a smile easily pulls across my lips. "Tonight—he's taking me out to dinner."

"Oh, no, no, no, that just won't do. We—I mean you—are changing your plans. You need to change things up a bit since your first date was kinda at our party and your second, from what we’ve heard wasn’t a complete bust, but it wasn’t the love connection it should have been. You two need a quiet, romantic, dinner alone at home," Patrick insists.

"
Ooooo, you are so right, man-o-mine. Yes—a nice quiet, romantic evening at home is just what Dr. Wang orders," Geoffrey adds.

And before I can utter a word, Patrick whips out his phone and is pushing buttons.

"Patrick, what…" His finger is immediately silencing my lips.

So, I am sitting here, in the middle of a crowded restaurant with Patrick's finger perched against my lips shushing me, while he has his cell phone glued to his ear. Geoffrey and Ashlee bounce in their seats. Of course they know what evil, sinister plan is brewing in Patrick's brain. You have to share one to know, and at this very moment, I feel they do—share a brain, that is.

"Griffin? Patrick. Change of plans for you and Zoey. Tonight, you will have a nice, quiet, romantic dinner—cooked by Zoey—at your place. Yes, of course I have a key, duh? I copied one when you weren't looking. Geoffrey and I will arrange everything…"

Ashlee clears her throat.

"Sorry. Geoffrey, Ashlee, and I will arrange everything else. You just have to come home, and voila—instant romantic evening. I can't believe you were going to take this beautiful woman out again and not be alone with her. What in the hell were you thinking? Thank God we are your neighbors, otherwise…never mind. Just be home by seven…"

Geoffrey clears his throat this time.

"Oh, before you come home, stop off at Mark Shale's and ask for Madeline. She will beautify you, make you all sexy and hot. Well, sexier and hotter. Anyway, ask for Madeline…she'll know what to do, but be home no later than seven. Got it? See you, well, Zoey will see you later. We'll see you tomorrow sometime. Bye, Griffy." Patrick removes his finger from my lips finally and puts away his cell.

Suddenly, the thought comes to me—where has that finger been? I start to slightly squirm.

"Oh, Zoey, please…I washed this little ol' finger after it tickled Geoffrey's love canal last night. No worries…it's totally germ and Geoffrey free."

Our poor waiter has such bad timing—again. He nearly drops our plates after he heard Patrick's comment. He doesn't even bother to ask us if there is anything else we need—he speed walks back to the kitchen—all eye-contact avoided as he does.
Poor guy.

Patrick, Geoffrey, and Ashlee find it amusing, and a giggle erupts from each of them.

"Guys, that's just mean. The poor guy doesn't know how to…how to…shit, I don't even know what to say," I try to explain.

There is no comment that quite fits the situation.

"Don't worry, Zo. We will tip Mr. Tight Ass well," Geoffrey remarks.

"Very well," Patrick adds.

Then silence blankets our table, and not because everyone has their mouths full of food. No, so not the case; Patrick, Geoffrey, and Ashlee are all silently speaking with their eyes, and I am totally left out of the conversation. Fear ripples through me. If they sent Griffin to get, glamified—their word not mine—then I say it is a safe bet that I'm next. What the hell are they going to do to me? Fuck me.

"The blue one, right?"
Geoffrey asks.

"Just what I was thinking," Ashlee and Patrick say in unison.

"We will have to swing by and grab it," Geoffrey informs.

The three of them are totally ignoring me, as if I'm not even sitting at the same table as them. I try to say something, but I am effectively cut off before
a single syllable is uttered.

"
Oooo, and the black suede Gastone Lucioli boots?" Patrick interjects.

"Definitely, and she needs to see Martin. Some fresh highlights are in order," Geoffrey continues to add.

And while they continue to create my look without my input, my brain is stuck on one thing and one thing only; I am cooking dinner— our first romantic dinner. My heart sinks to my stomach.

Sure, I can cook, like, eggs and toast, but I've never attempted to cook a dinner that means so much, and it's in his apartment. I mean, if it were at my
place, that would be a totally different story. I know my way around my kitchen. Not his. Hell, I've never been inside his apartment before. This is not going to go well. It may be winter outside, but I feel like I am on the beach, with the sun scorching me. Damn, my pits feel awfully wet. I guess, during my inner ramblings, Geoffrey made another phone call, and now I have the Bobsey Twins and their evil designer label wielding sidekick staring at me. Three pairs of twinkling, mischievous eyes stare at me, waiting for a response.

Awww
, hell.

"Fine.
Do what you gotta do, but there's one thing you are forgetting." I stab at my salad, welcoming the distraction of eating.

"
Zoey can't cook," Ashlee informs her cohorts.

"Already taken care of.
Antonio's will deliver a spectacular dinner. All you have to do is dish it out and serve it to that delicious man of yours," Geoffrey enlightens us.

Patrick smiles; he's beaming, actually.

"He's not exactly my man." At least not yet, I think.

"Oh, after tonight,
Sweetcheeks, he will be, if he isn't already. And we think he is already,”  Patrick interjects.

I have three sets of eyes roll at me. A little bit of their over-confidence finds its way across the table and slithers into my skin. "Okay, when does the torture begin?" I ask, slightly squirming in my seat. To have Ashlee make me
up is one thing, but now I will have the three of them poking, prodding, and spackling.

Let the fun begin.

"We finish eating, and then we are off to pick up the things we need, swing by Martin’s and then back to our place to do you over," Geoffrey answers.

Once again, our poor waiter hears the tail end of our conversation, drops the check, and quickly makes an exit.

"He so needs a big tip," Ashlee recommends.

"
Oooo, we've got a big tip for Mr. Sweetbuns," Patrick coos, eyeing our waiter as he retreats.

"Sorry,
honey, that set of buns is closed up tighter than Fort Knox. I don't think our magic or talent could crack that crack," Geoffrey adds.

I just look at the two of them, while Ashlee continues to munch away on her lunch. If I'm going to be hanging around these two I so need to…I don't even know. We finish eating, and the four of us make our way out into the cold. I so can't wait for what's to come.

Joy, oh joy
.

****

Four long-ass hours later, and the three of them are finally finished with me. To say it was an experience to rival anything I've ever done or been through would be an understatement.  One thing to come out of all this—I am no longer shy sitting in my bra and panties in front of two men who are somewhat strangers. But after the time we spent together this afternoon, we are like one big family now, especially since Patrick and Geoffrey saw my left boob. To say I was embarrassed when it popped out of my bra wouldn't be an exaggeration. I mean, apart from Ashlee and the few guys I've been with, no one else has ever seen my boobs. Patrick commented that they were nice, and he liked that they were natural and all. I guess that was a compliment. Geoffrey said Griffin would definitely enjoy them. Gah, yep…embarrassed just doesn't cover it.

But I must say the blue sweater dress with black knee high boots they picked out is to die for. I don't think I ever want to wear anything else. I mean…cashmere; whoever decided to make clothes out of a goat is a genius. Yep, I love me some cashmere. Maybe I can make my whole wardrobe cashmere. I might have to go shopping with my new family very soon to remedy this.

Anyway, I sit in Griffin's apartment. I feel kinda weird being here when he isn't, especially since I've never been here before. Geoffrey and Patrick insisted. Ashlee left with them about ten minutes ago, and now it's almost seven, and Griffin should be home any minute. Butterflies assault my stomach

Dinner was delivered as Geoffrey and Patrick promised, and it smells fantastic. I've never been to Antonio's, but it is now on my list of places I will eat at. Geoffrey was adamant about the menu, saying garlic for a romantic dinner at home was a no-no. Who am I to argue? Garlic and kissing really don't go well together, and I hope tonight Griffin and I will be doing a lot of kissing.

For about the thousandth time, I check the clock on the microwave. Six fifty-nine. Just as the clock turns seven, I hear keys wrestling in the lock.

Griffin.

He's home.

He's here.

Gulp.

I hope he doesn't get mad at the fact that I am here waiting for him. I hope Geoffrey and Patrick were right about this. Why did they have to have a key? Why did they have to get involved? Before I can answer any of my questions, the door opens, and I immediately stand up from the coach, smoothing down my dress and hair. All my questions are answered when I am met with dancing blue eyes and a gorgeous smile. My heart flutters.

"Zoey," Griffin's voice breaks the silence in the room, except for that of my pounding heart.

"Hi, I hope
it's oka—"

Knowing what I am going to say, Griffin is in front of me in an instant, his lips on mine. I smile against him. He smiles back, effectively ending our kiss.

"It's more than okay. I'm thrilled I came home to find you here. Remind me to thank Patrick and Geoffrey."

"Oh, I will." I press my lips against his and eagerly claim his tongue with mine.

Our tongues wrestle and tease each other for what seems like forever, and I am so not complaining. Kissing Griffin is like nothing I've ever experienced before. If he was my first kiss, it would have ruined all other kisses for me. The man knows how to work his lips and tongue. I shiver as his hand splays against the small of my back, pulling me closer to him. And that's when I feel the effect I have on him. His hard length presses against me. My fingers find their way into his hair, weaving their way through it as I pull him closer to me. Unfortunately, air is a necessity and the both of us pull away, panting as we do.

"
Zoey…I…just…wow…" Griffin says between pants.

Rightbackatya
, is all I can think; my lips are too numb to form words at the moment.

"Dinner is waiting," I manage to get out, my breathing calming.

He swallows and adjusts his tie, loosening it as he does.