Page 127 of Hoax and Kisses
First: drink the coffee Matt poured for me. He cleaned up, rejecting my offers to help as he gathered all the candles and blankets. And my lacy bra stuck in one of the rose pots.
This man literally opened his store late to let me sleep.
Yes, I’m keeping him.
Then, he fed me the pastries he picked up from Mia’s, convinced I would forget to eat for the rest of the day and insisting he wouldn’t let me leave with an empty stomach.
I left Daphne’s Wildflowers around eleven and headed straight to the mayor’s office to sign the sale agreement. Heart pounding, I scrawled my name on the dotted line as if I was accepting the rights to the beginning of the rest of my life.
Once that was done, I drove back to the cabin, showered, and attended a one-p.m. meeting with Corey.
Dad hasn’t tried to call me since this morning. And I have only one thing left to do before I call him back.
I scroll through the University of British Columbia website and navigate to the admissions page.
Okay, so I’m really doing this.
Deep breath. The sky won’t fall on my head and the floor won’t open up under my feet.
I click on the link for the pediatric nursing specialty and fill out the required fields. The program is set to start this winter, which gives me a few months to get my things in order. Talk it through with my dad and find a replacement.
I inhale and hold the air in my lungs, then force it out sharply. I don’t even know how to approach this conversation. Probably with a ten-foot pole. Full-on knight gear, definitely. Maybe I could be as brave as a man who’s trying to get out of a situationship and text himI quit.
With a heavy sigh, I rub my eyes. As complicated as my relationship with my dad is, as flawed as he is, he’s still my father, and I love him. The last thing I want is to shut him out of my life.
I fumble in my bag, and once I’ve found my phone, I snap a photo of my screen.
Zoey
Look what I’m doing
Not two minutes later, his response comes through.
Matt
I was just thinking about you. Someone walked into the store wearing ridiculous shoes. It’s October, for fuck’s sake.
I’m so proud of you, beautiful. Are you feeling okay? Do you want to call me?
I’m your support system now.His words echo in my mind, wrapping me in his safety, as though he’s standing next to me.
Zoey
I’m okay. A bit scared, but mostly excited.
Matt
It’s okay to be scared, but I’m excited for you too. I can’t wait to see you tonight and celebrate.
I frown.
Zoey
Celebrate?
Matt
Your application. That’s a big step. You deserve to highlight it properly. With frozen pizza and hot sex for dessert. And by dessert, I mean you. On my face. So basically, a celebration for me.
