Page 33 of The Fire Walker
“What did whodo?”
“Jessie. I assume she didsomething.”
“Didn’t work out.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was my spectacular used and abusedevening.
“Really?”
“Why so surprised, hot legs? Wouldn’t have worked outanyway.”
“Whynot?”
“Can you teleport?” She narrowed her eyes. “Neither canI.”
“Dee, what’s goingon?”
“How was Disneyland? Throttle anykids?”
“It was fine. By the looks of it, you should have comewith.”
I sighed sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I can’t deal with your questions today, Zo.Please.”
“She really did a number on you, didn’t she?” she asked, sinking down onto the couch next tome.
“Zoe.”
“Okay, okay, but getting drunk is only going to give you a hangover. It won’t fixanything.”
“Then what does?” I whispered, staring across thebar.
“Time.”
Snorting, I picked up my glass of scotch and downed therest.
“Tomorrow, you’re coming out with us,” Zoe declared, and I suppressed a groan. When did she become me? Wasn’t this my role in ourrelationship?
“Is thatso?”
“Dee, I don’t ever remember you looking so beat. If anything, it’s time for me to repayyou.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I saidsullenly.
“I owe you everything.” She said it so quietly I almost missed it in my self-centered depression. The band had saved her life in so many ways. It had brought Zoe back to life and delivered her happy ending. It had delivered all of us to something better in a way. If it weren’t for me, who knew what we would have been doing now. I’d been the one that pressured everyone into joining in thebeginning.
“I didn’t do it so you could repay me,” Isaid.
She placed her hand on my thigh and squeezed. “I know. But let me help. I want to be able to do the same for you for exactly the samereasons.”
I stared into her familiar brown eyes, and despite myself, my lips curved into a slight smile. I’d known Zoe thirteen years, and we’d been through some heavy shit in our time. I would believe anything she had to say.Anything.
“Okay,” I said. “Tomorrow.”
She planted a kiss on my cheek. “Then no more wallowing in a glass of scotch. Let’s go get something to eat. You, Will, andme.”
I glanced up at Will, who was still sitting at the bar. I would have preferred just Zo and me, but he was a part of our little unit now for as long as Zoe was in love with him…which would probably beforever.
“Just gimme a minute,” Imuttered.
“Sure,” she said. “We’ll wait for you in thefoyer.”
