Page 47 of Hoax and Kisses
Except Lola and Daph, since my sister hates being outside when it’s chilly, and the evening temperatures have dipped in the past few days. Lola offered to keep her company so I could have my night free. They plan to watch the same movie we’ll be watching in the park,Pretty Woman, with a big bowl of sweet popcorn, Daph’s favorite.
“Is a movie the best place totalkwith people? That’s the goal, right?” She cocks an eyebrow, mouth curled slightly.
The sarcasm in her voice is undeniable, but I ignore it. “You’re not going to win them over if you immediately start babbling about your hotel project. The key is for them to see us together first.”
She leans back in her chair with a sigh. “Fine. What’s next?”
I scan the page in front of me. “The weekly farmers’ market on Wednesday. We should also make an appearance at Cooper’s microbrewery fundraiser party tomorrow. He and I go way back, and I told him I’d help set up the place and supply the flowers. You should help too.”
“Cooper,” she says as she taps on her phone screen, taking notes. “One of the bros.”
“What are you doing?”
“Noting names of the people I need to remember, along with who they are to you,” she says. “I assume I’m gonna meet several, so I might as well have a cheat sheet.”
“Smart,” I reply.
She smiles easily, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She does that a lot. During most of our encounters, she’s been stressed or nervous, but she’s still managed to force her lips to stretch into this thin, practiced curve. As if she’s smiling because that’s what’s expected.
It bothers me.
Daphne did the same thing when she was younger. Responding according to people’s expectations because she was scared they’d get angry if she didn’t react “correctly.”
I want Zoey to feel like she can be herself around me, smiling when she wants, not because she thinks she should.
She tilts her head. “Anything else?”
“Yes, sorry.” I lower my gaze and focus on the list again.How long was I staring?“Once a month, the kids from the local school go on a wilderness trip with Carl. Oliver usually accompanies them, but when he’s not here, I step in.”
One more task to add to my never-ending pile of things to do. Poor kids, stuck with me when they could get all the fun facts from Oli.
“Oh, I’ve heard about Carl.” She taps away again. “When I researched the town, his business came up a lot.”
I nod. “He’s very popular around here. Probably smart to pay him a visit. His vote will be important. Patty, who owns Roots and Tresses, and Sue at Willowbrook Marketare also very influential in town. Add them to your must-talk-to list. Though Patty is very good friends with Ruth, who owns the only hotel in Pine Falls, the Butterfly Inn, so she’ll be a tough sell. You’re directly challenging Ruth with that project.”
Zoey nods over and over as she takes notes. “Look at us, talking about people like they’re swing states in the next US election.”
I stiffen. The joke lands flat, even if she didn’t mean it that way. I hate having to strategize how to handle the people of my town, but if she has any chance of succeeding, Zoey needs to know who to win over.
“These people matter to me,” I say, a bit harsher than I intended. “They’re not pawns in this game, nor will I force them to agree to anything. It’s all on you. You have to do the work.”
“And yet here you are,” she retorts, her tone just as sharp. “Ready to deceive them.”
It’s funny how the mood can change so suddenly. A minute ago, I could taste the careful tension between us on the tip of my tongue. Now, her gaze is loaded with defiance, guns pointed at me, ready to ride into battle.
One step forward, three steps back.
Part of me wants to get to know her. To peel back the layers shaped by years of abandonment and loneliness, the kind I can only imagine she endured growing up with a man like Oscar. But, fuck, she doesn’t make it easy. And other times, I can’t help myself. She’s her father’s daughter, and my brain refuses to let that go.
“Fuck.” I sigh, passing a hand over my face. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
Surprise shines in her eyes, but she recovers quickly. “You’re fine. I’m the one who’s, um…” She clears her throat. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have made the joke.”
She smiles, but again, it barely stretches to her cheeks.
“The movie is at seven p.m. tonight. I’ll pick you up around six thirty so we can arrive together. Work for you?”
Zoey gets up and gathers her things. “Yes. Starting slow, right?”
