Page 46 of Meant For Love
“Maybe when he’s out of town,” Derek says to Zoey, “we can go out and get to know each other.” If we weren’t in the office, I think I would punch him in the face.
“That sounds good,” she replies, but even by her tone, I know it’s never, ever going to happen. I also know that as soon as Derek is out of this office, we will be having words. “I’ll let you know.” She looks at him and then at me, and I don’t have a chance to do that because Lulu comes in with a brown take-out bag, and then Kailyn walks in, telling me I have a call with my parents in thirty minutes.
Derek and Kailyn start to chat when the phone rings from beside Zoey’s computer, and I look down in time to see it’s Josh. His name is on the top of the screen with a red heart beside it and the picture of the two of them together. Zoey steps forward and presses the side of the phone and turns it over, pissing me off. The whole thing from the time Derek opened his mouth to now seeing Josh call her and she turned it over, not sure if she was hiding it or not, I don’t even know. I’m feeling like I’m at the edge of the cliff, and someone just pushed me off.
“Everyone out.” My voice is tight and louder than I want it to be. “Out”—I motion with my hand—“except you.” I point at Zoey. “You stay here.” They all look at us with big eyes before they walk out and close the door behind them. I walk out to the middle of the tables and grab the remote that is there, pressing the button that frosts the windows to give you privacy.
“What are you doing?” Zoey asks as I walk to her without saying a word. Instead of saying anything, I take her face in both my hands, and I kiss her. Wet, long, and hard, not giving a shit if this is not allowed on her list. I need her to know she’s mine, and I especially need for me to feel like she’s mine.
Nineteen
Zoey
I put my hands on his hips as he slides his tongue around and around in my mouth. My tongue fights with his even though I’m pissed he’s kissing me at work. I savor it, trying to drown out Derek’s words: “he likes to keep his options open.”
He lets my lips go, and my eyes flutter open a bit. “Don’t say it,” he warns. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“What is it you don’t want to hear?” I ask as he drops his hands from my face, but I keep my hands on his hips. “No kissing you at work and all that? The windows are tinted.
“I don’t think we’ll need to draw everyone a picture of what we are doing in here,” I tell him when my phone buzzes once and then stops. Both of our eyes go to the phone, and he steps out of my touch to grab the remote and press the button, making the privacy go away, and everyone can see in.
“That’s your lunch.” I point at the bag. “I ordered it this morning when I got in.” He just looks at me, not sure what to say. “I hope you eat what I got you.”
He looks at the bag, stopping in his tracks. “I’ll be back in fifteen for the call with my family.” He walks out as if he’s not leaving me here breathless from a fucking kiss. A kiss I didn’t even know I needed but then suddenly wanted.
I sit down in the chair, my legs shaky, when the phone buzzes yet again. I turn it over and see I have a missed call from Josh with a voicemail, which is weird since he’s never left me a voicemail before. If I didn’t answer his call, he would send me a text.
I press the voicemail and the woman asks, “Who’s calling?” I enter my code zero-two-five-seven, and she tells me I have one new message.
I press one to hear it, and then his voice comes through, “Hey, Zoey, just calling to see how your day is going. I miss you. Call me when you get off work.” His voice stops, and I think he’s hung up, but he didn’t. “I love you, Zoey.”
To replay this message press one, to delete press two, to save press three. I press two, deleting the message from my phone. My stomach sinks when I look up and see Nash standing next to the receptionist's desk, talking to Derek. I know Nash saw he called, and with that, I pull up his contact and change his name to just Josh without the heart beside his name. I also change the picture out, opting to leave it blank, before I text Zara.
Me: Josh just called me again and left me a voicemail, asking me how my day was going and to call him when I got off work.
I know she’s by her phone all day long, so it’s not a surprise when she answers right away.
Zara: Did you say you’re doing amazing and then send him a picture of Nash’s big dick?
I snort, thinking it might be something she would do if she actually got burned by a guy.
Me: No, I deleted the message.
Zara: Are you going to tell Nash?
Me: He was here when he called, so I turned over the phone.
Zara: The tea is piping hot… What did he say?
Me: Nothing, he kicked everyone out of the room so he could make out with me.
Zara: Did you block Josh’s number?
Me: No.
Zara: Dumb, dumb, and dumb.
Me: I’ve never blocked someone in my life.