Page 81 of Crazy Thing

My sister is grinning in my face like the Joker. “Ziggy!” She shakes me again. “I think it’s pretty obvious that Darius is falling for you, too. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. And Felix said he hasn’t either.”

Now, I’m vigorously wagging my head from left to right. “That’s insane, Daphne. Things could never go anywhere between Darius and me. We’re just too different. We’re polar opposites. We live in different worlds.”

My sister tilts her head to the side, observing me knowingly. “You’re going to make this as difficult as possible, aren’t you?”

“I’m not the one making it difficult. It justis,” I argue. “It’s impossible.”

Daphne sighs. “Well, at least do me a favor.”

“No promises,” I say hastily.

She glares at me again, curling her lips and flaring her nostrils.

Curiosity gets the better of me and I relent. “Fine. What is it?”

My little sister reaches across and gently squeezes my arm. “Enjoy this. Wherever it leads—or doesn’t lead—just enjoy this. You’re so intense and intentional about everything in your life. But for once, just have fun without worrying about the astrology or the synastry or whatever algorithm of the universe you’re always trying to figure out.Ziggy, youdeserveto be looked at the way Darius is looking at you. So, enjoy it.”

I exhale slowly, allowing some of the tension in my shoulders to dissipate. I smile at my sister. “I…I think I can do that.”

33

DARIUS

The moment Ziggy is dragged away, Felix grabs his plate of half eaten breakfast and drops down at my table. Uninvited. I glare at him immediately, because I know exactly what he’s doing here.

But I’m in too good of a mood to send him away.

Instead, I unlock my phone and open my photo gallery, pulling up my newest image of Ziggy. Because I miss her.

“Let’s hear it,” I mutter, working on a bite of bacon.

“You and Ziggy…” Felix starts.

“Yes…” I respond simply, still staring at Ziggy’s picture on my screen.Fuck—she’s cute.

I create a new folder in my photo gallery. I label itThe Ziggy Stashand I add the pictures I’ve taken of her. I grin.

“You’re on a date…” my brother goes on, interrupting me.

“Yes…”

“A working date? ‘Cause she’s your secretary?”

I let out a heavy sigh and tear my eyes away from my phone to glare at my brother. I expected questions. But Iwasn’t expecting dumb questions. “No, Felix. Adate, date. Because she’s a girl. And I like her.”

He’s silent for a while.

“Are you sure?” He narrows his gaze on me.

“Yes, I’m sure. Why the fuck wouldn’t I be sure?”

A contemplative look comes over Felix’s face and he shoves a sausage patty in his face hole. Then he looks around the table for something to drink, but when he realizes that nothing here belongs to him, he leans back in his chair and reaches over to his table to grab his own juice glass. Then he slowly chugs it down.

I age a few years just watching him. I shake my head. Such a typical doctor. Absolutely no respect for people’s time. In my line of work, time is money, and wasting it gets you blackballed.

“Are we done here?” I ask, sounding as impatient as I feel.

“Well, you don’t date,” Felix says finally. “And you especially don’t date your assistant. Hell, most days you can’t even keep your assistant from quitting on you. Oh, and, what’s up with all the PDA? I’ve never seen you kissing a woman in public. So watching you sit here and practically chew on the girl’s ear, that’s definitely new.”

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