Page 2 of 4th and Goal
I ignore whatever’s going on with Conner, and smile at Brody. “Did you have a good time?”
“We did.” I swallow hard as an unfamiliar female voice cuts in, a tanned slender arm looping through Brody’s. He has a girlfriend. Of course, he does. He’s handsome, smart, successful, handsome…I mentioned that already, didn’t I? Also, I have a boyfriend. Conner…oh, my God, I’ve forgotten his last name!
“I didn’t know you had…uh…that’s great. Your family always sounds like a lot of fun.”
The woman, beautiful and curvy and confident, grins up at Brody with blindingly perfect teeth. “Wearea lot of fun.” Brody shakes his head at her and looks back at me. His smile falters before he barks a laugh.
“My cousin!” He points to the goddess still attached to his arm. “This is my cousin, Zoey. Zoey, this is—”
“Lilly Geddes. PR extraordinaire.” Zoey drops Brody’s arm, pushes him aside and brings me into a hug I’m ill-prepared for. “Finally! I get to put a face to the name. Not that I haven’t seen your picture before, but not in real life. You’re gorgeous online, but they don’t do you justice!” Zoey pushes me back by the shoulders, winks at me and pulls me back in. She’s a hugger. “You’re so tall.”
“Everyone is tall, Zoey, except you.” Brody meets my eyes, his own crinkled from his smile. “We think someone married into the Lollipop Guild at some point in our lineage.” She is short. Probably close to five feet, maybe a couple inches over at most, meanwhile, I’m 5’10” and solid.
“Jolly Green Giant is purported to be a distant cousin of mine.” I joke. Brody, Zoey, and I laugh…Conner does not.
“Uh, Zoey. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is my boyfriend, Conner.”
Conner frowns at me, before adopting his business persona. “Conner Hughes. Senior Investment Analyst with Lion’s Den Investment Firm.”
My mouth opens before I can think better of it, my head snapping to stare at my boyfriend. “You’re still a junior analyst.” That was the wrong thing to say. Conner’s face reddens alarmingly fast, his jaw clenching, nostrils flaring.
“It’s only a matter of time.” He lifts his wrist to check his watch. “Speaking of time, I’m afraid we need to finish our meal, I have an early morning meeting. Nice to see you again, Mr. Zeigler. Enjoy your evening, Zoey.” He dismisses them just like that. He never said anything about an early meeting. Was he embarrassed because I called him out? He lied!
I shake my head and plaster on a sweet smile. “Glad to have you back, Zeigler. I’ll see you next week. Nice to meet you, Zoey, you’ll have to swing by the stadium sometime for lunch if you’re in town for a little longer.”
Brody glares at Conner, who’s retaken his seat, then smiles at me. “Good to be back, Lils. I’ll see you in a few days.”
I sit back in my seat, keeping the smile on my face until they’re seated at their own table, thankfully, on the other side of the restaurant. “Conner? What was that?”
He smiles at me and it’s like nothing ever happened. “Oh, you know, a little posturing among men.”
“There’s no need to compete with Brody.”
“I’m well aware.” He responds smugly and I really don’t like it.
“You’re right, we should finish up here. You have that early meeting…on a Saturday. And I’m getting a migraine.” Truthfully, I am. I don’t know what any of this was about, but I didn’t like it. I’ve never seen that side of Conner in all the months we’ve been dating. Perhaps he’s having an off day.
“Are you safe to drive home, sweetheart? Or I can call you a ride?” Not take me home himself?
“I’m ok. I haven’t even finished my first glass of wine. Thank you for your concern.” In strained silence, we finish eating, though I’ve lost my appetite. He pays the check, leads me to my car, kisses me on the cheek, and shuts the door. He waits until I drive away before moving to his own vehicle. My stomach churns the entire drive home, and it has nothing to do with the wine.
Brody Zeigler 2.
“Boy…that gurl lurves you!” Zoey teases as we take our seats on the other side of the dining room at the restaurant. I had no idea that Lilly would be here, so it was a happy accident to run into her, though I could have gone without seeing Conner again…ever. He rubs me the wrong way, always has. I thought for a while that it was because of my feelings for Lilly, but after what just transpired, my instincts are telling me there is more going on than he lets on. I’m worried for Lilly.
“Shut up.” I tell her, picking up my menu and pretending to read it over. She laughs, looking over her own menu.
“Your ears are all red! I haven’t seen that in years. Since…since…what was that woman’s name, oh right!” She snaps her fingers like the answer just came to her. “Lilly!”
I set my menu down and glare at her, her smile only grows wider. “I don’t like you. Why did I invite you to stay with me?”
“Because I’m your favorite cousin.” She is, I can’t deny that.
“Seems debatable at this point.”
Her expression evens out, her dark eyes pinning me in place. “It’s been 6 years, dude. How long are you going to wait?”
“She was too young. Interning and finishing her degree. It wouldn’t have been right.” I’m 11 years older than Lilly.
