Page 17 of Hoax and Kisses
Now that I’ve got five minutes to myself, now that there’s no noise to pull me away from my thoughts, now that I’mbored, I don’t even know what I’d do if I had the freedom to choose.
My brain has gone blank. Crickets. Tumbleweeds rolling with the wind in the desert.
I’m paralyzed. Frightened, really, to earnestly think about that answer and its consequences. To pull the curtain back onwhat might be awaiting me on the other side. The quiet has stripped away the security blanket I’ve clung to since joining my dad’s company, and now, with nothing left to distract me, the mere possibility of a different path grips my throat.
Head resting against the edge of the tub, I close my eyes, trying in vain to stop the tears.
What am I doing with my life?
Despite how hard I work to make it look like I have my shit together, I’m a mess. I’m falling apart. And it didn’t even take twenty-four hours.
I lie in the bath until the water turns cold, until I’m shaking again and the silence screams too loud.
Gathering what’s left of my mental strength, I pull myself up. I’ve just made it to my feet when three sharp knocks sound on the front door.
My heart slams against my chest and my ass hits the bottom of the tub with a splash.
“What the fuck?”
I take it back. I like silence.
The knocking starts again, this time harder.
Maybe I should call 911. Yes, that’s exactly what I should do. I stand and wrap a towel around my body. My fingers are inches from my phone when a voice comes through the door, loud and powerful.
“Zoey, it’s Matt.”Bang. Bang. Bang. “You forgot your sunglasses in my truck. Open up!”
“For fuck’s sake,” I seethe.
What do I do?I turn in a circle and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Panic sweeps over me. My hair is a wet, tangled mess, my eyes are red and puffy from crying, I’m still dripping water from the bath, and I’m wearing nothing but a flimsy towel.
“Zoey, are you in there? Are you okay?”
I grunt. “Yes, yes. I’m coming!”
This is just my luck.
Fuck it. I make sure the towel is secured around me, then trudge down the stairs.
On the last step, my wet foot slips on the wood, and I throw my arms out for balance. I catch myself on the kitchen chair. The move sends my towel tumbling to the floor, leaving me stark naked.
“Are you okay?” Matt says from behind the door.
“Yes, I’m coming, two seconds,” I croak, thanking my lucky stars that the front door is solid wood and not glass.
Once I’ve secured the towel again, I cross the room, steadying my breath along the way.
I open the front door to find Matt standing there, smiling. “Hi,” I say, forcing a cheeriness I don’t feel.
Inch by inch, his eyes travel down my body, lingering where my towel clings to my upper thighs.
Every place his gaze caresses bursts into flames.
He curses under his breath and looks away.
Yeah, I really didn’t think that one through, did I? How worked up and turned on his scrutiny could make me.
“You, uh… I… I’m bringing…” He holds out my sunglasses, clearing his throat. “You forgot them in my truck.”
