Page 90 of Hoax and Kisses
“You can’t avoid raindrops,” she states, ignoring my question. “You’re too big and there are too many. Maybe don’t go outside next time.”
“Thanks for the advice,” I say with a laugh. “You didn’t tell me how school was, though.”
She groans, flipping her backpack over her shoulder. “Not so fun. We did a lot of math, and I hate math. I need help with my homework.”
“Math, huh?” I tap a finger against my chin. “I think I remember how to add and subtract. Maybe even multiply, if you’re lucky.”
She rolls her eyes. “I know you can do all those things. You do math every day at the store.”
Busted. But I love teasing her. “You’re getting me confused with Uncle James, honey.” I wink. “He’s the math wizard.”
“If I have to be stuck with you when you stink in your bumpy van for the next thirty minutes,” she says, her tone brooking no argument, “you can help me with my homework later.”
“Deal,” I say, surrendering as we stride across the parking lot. “But only if you promise to stop telling me I stink.”
“Fine. But you have to take a shower when we get home.”
“It’s a deal.”
As I slip her backpack from her shoulders, Zoey pushes the passenger door open and steps out.
“Before you hop in my bumpy van,” I hedge, “I need to tell you something.”
“Did you get photos from Mom and Dad’s vacation? Did Dad text you about the flower species he saw?”
I shake my head. Our parents have barely checked in all week. Though last weekend, Dad sent Daphne a photo of several tropical flowers he found. She’s been obsessing over them ever since. “No, it’s not about Mom and Dad. I brought a friend with me to pick you up today.”
Her brows crunch in an adorable frown. “Who? Lola?”
“No, not Lola. Her name is Zoey. That’s her.” I point in her direction, and she waves. “She dropped pastries off for us the other day, remember? You told her you didn’t like her shoes.”
“Yes, I remember,” Daph nods.
“She gave me a hand at the market today and is helping me out with the store. She’s very nice,” I add, my heart pounding. “And I believe she’s good at math.”
By the time the rain cleared, I had no choice but to bring Zoey along with me to pick up Daphne. It should have made me pause, but asking her felt terrifyingly natural. No churn in my stomach. No tension building in my chest like it always does when I introduce people to my sister.
Truth is, I didn’t want to leave Zoey’s side. Not after we’d poured our hearts out. I could have spent the whole evening talking to her. Or kissing her.
Fuck, that kiss.
My mind will forever recall The Day I Kissed Zoey Delacroix. Kind of like those pivotal events where, decades later, you still remember exactly what happened. A before and an after. A turning point where once you’ve tipped over to the other side, nothing can ever be the same again.
Kissing Zoey felt like that.
A defining moment in my life.
A permanent mark on my timeline.
I didn’t want it to end.
I suppose I could have asked Rosie to take her home when she was done, but I didn’t give that option a second’s consideration.
For one, I didn’t want to repeat my movie-night blunder.
But mostly because I wanted her with me.Neededher with me. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand the feeling myself, but it’s too real to deny any longer.
So if we’re going to do this right, she needs to meet my sister. We don’t have to rush it. A small, no-pressure evening, just the three of us, feels like the perfect place to start.
