Page 82 of Snowballed

“So, I’m a clown to you?”

She drives out of the parking lot.

Whoa. What’s going on? “Why am I in trouble here? I’ve been on the other side of the country.”

“Oh, I know. California. Where you’d rather be.”

I am genuinely confused as to what is going on here. And Zoe’s usually so low drama, that’s one of the things I really like about her.

“You’re upset because I went home? Or is this because I didn’t call you enough?” It’s the only thing I can think of. But I messaged her.

Suddenly Zoe explodes. “I had a lousy Christmas!”

“Oh no,” I say. “Hey, could you pull over? I want you to look at me when we talk.”

She pulls into a strip mall parking lot. When she faces me, I ask, “Tell me about your Christmas.”

“Well, first my mother went over the household budget. The farm is losing even more money. She really wants to sell now.”

I reach over and squeeze Zoe’s hand. I know how much the farm means to her. Now she’s staring out the windshield, her expression miserable.

“And she’s dating this guy, Carl. He came over for Christmas dinner. So naturally, she wants to move into Burlington.”

“That’s really tough,” I say. For Zoe, it must feel like everyone is forgetting her father.

“And I’ve done everything she wanted. It’s so wrong,” she says.

“I’m not sure I follow,” I reply. From what I know, the sale of the farm has been delayed but inevitable.

She turns and glares at me. “Of course you don’t get it. Everything comes so easy for you. Like your wonderful holiday—out partying every night with Lauren.”

Excuse me? I have never discussed my ex-girlfriends with Zoe. That’s not what I do. “I’m confused. How do you know about Lauren?”

“Before you got here, Rocky and I looked you up on Instagram. We saw the two of you together.”

I still don’t understand this. “But that was months ago. Oh wait, did she post photos from that big New Year’s Eve thing?”

Now Zoe goes ballistic. “What? You saw her on New Year’s Eve too? I only knew about Christmas Eve and then her coming to your house.”

Honestly, I’m getting a little pissed off here. I have done nothing wrong, and I’m getting into shit. “Jesus, Zoe. Do you not trust me?”

“Of course I trust you. But I don’t trust her.”

“I think you’re being unfair,” I say.

This is completely the wrong thing to say, Zoe’s voice goes all quiet. “Oh, excuse me. Unfair? I’m here at home having a pretty crappy Christmas while my boyfriend is out partying with his beautiful ex. That’s what’s unfair.”

“I’m not quite sure what Lauren’s appearance has to do with this. She’s also a very nice person, but that doesn’t mean I’m still interested. What have I ever done to make you think I’m the kind of guy who cheats?”

I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I don’t mind apologizing if I’m in the wrong, but I’m not.

Finally Zoe seems to realize this. She visibly deflates. “I’m sorry, Noah. I know you’re a good guy. I was having a bad night, and I stalked your Insta. And that made me more upset.”

“Okay, but having done it, you could also ask me—in a calm, normal way—what happened, instead of this.”

“I’m so, so sorry. I missed you so much. I can’t believe I’m taking everything out on you, when you’re the one person I wanted to see.”

Poor Zoe looks so upset, that I reach over and squeeze her hand.

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