Page 119 of Love Is an Art
And Zeke doesn’t want to date a workaholic is her unspoken reminder.
I pick up the two glasses of wine.
“I certainly hope Zeke is more open with you,” she says.
“He seems pretty open,” I say. She raises an eyebrow.
We walk back to our respective tables with our drinks. Tom and Paisley have returned to their assigned table.
I don’t believe Paisley hopes we work out.
I place our glasses on the table and look for Zeke. Lindsay has claimed him on the dance floor for a slow song. They look like they are having an intense conversation. Dylan comes over and asks me to dance. I say yes, of course.
He pulls me over next to Lindsay and Zeke. Dylan takes me in his arms, holding me very loosely. As we dance, I hear snatches of their conversation—“But Paisley is really sorry,” “You guys were so great together”—until Dylan suddenly seems to overhear Lindsay’s remarks. He steers us across the room, away from Lindsay and Zeke.This doesn’t make me feel better.
I shouldn’t feel so threatened by Paisley. Zeke said he was serious about me. He looks at me like I’m the only one. That passion at night. That’s not fake.
But.He planned toproposeto Paisley.
I’m the girl whose childhood best friend had to sneak around his mom to see her. And maybe Wyatt wants me back now, but he was quick to dump me when he met Marla.
I have to trust Zeke and my feelings for him. But it’s not my usual modus operandi.
Chapter thirty-seven
Zeke
Thelightsintheother cabins are off as we drive up to park in front of ours. It’s late. We let ourselves into our motel room.
I want to focus on the night ahead with Tessa, but I also need to respond to Arthur. Just thinking of him dampers any other thoughts.
I reluctantly pull out my laptop. “I have to check in and do a bit of work. I’m sorry. Just so I keep Arthur satisfied.”
“I have to ask,” Tessa says. “At the office?”
Paisley and her innuendos. I knew that was going to come up, but I like that Tessa asks me directly. “Paisley kissed me, and Ben walked in. It was a lot tamer than she made it seem, although Ben was surprised.”
An emotion flickers in her eyes, but I’m not sure what.
She nods slowly. “It’s horrible when your boss is a nightmare. Is this the guy who wants you to fail? I’m afraid I read that correspondence too with Ben.”
I like that we’ve already moved past Paisley’s remark. Like when Tessa didn’t even blink an eye when she found Paisley and me in the gazebo. Paisley had teared up when we were dancing, whispering that she was sorry, and I freaked out that she was going to create some scene—exactly what I didn’t want to happen—so I suggested we take a walk, and then she pulled me into that freaking flower-covered gazebo. When I saw Tessa’s face, I thought for sure I was going to have to do some serious groveling to make it up to her. But she’s not the jealous type, I guess. She’s totally cool.
Then I focus on what Tessa said.
“Oh no. I hope Arthur hasn’t read it,” I say. “I should be more careful what I put in emails.”
“You should. For sure. And don’t use your work account for any personal emails. I’m going to change.” She takes some clothes and disappears into the bathroom.
I don’t get to slowly slip off the strapless dress.
Maybe.
No. I can’t give Arthur any ammunition against me.
I stare at the email Arthur sent. Okay, it’s not that bad. It’s make-work. Obviously, he’s trying to hassle me but couldn’t think of anything substantive for me to do.
She comes back out in a soft-gray T-shirt and baggy, blue pajama pants—still cute—and plops on the bed next to me. No bra.I’m not going to get any work done.
