Page 11 of Break Away
“If anyone could un-gay me, it would be you,darling, but your offer of sexual favors doesn’t even tempt me.” Heset the dish on the counter and gave her a warning look. “Don’ttouch.”
“No one offered me sexual favors for bringingmy perfect pizza,” Diego complained.
“That’s because your wife,” Zoey pointed toEva, “would stab me with a spoon if I did.”
“Sure I would, but it wouldn’t be personal. Ilove your skirt, by the way.”
“Me too. I got it from that shop that openeda couple of weeks ago across from the Mexican restaurant on Main.”Zoey had paired the swishy multicolored skirt with a sleevelesspeasant blouse of deep garnet and several beaded bracelets of thesame color. She handed a stack of plates with cloth napkins andutensils stacked on top to Justin. “Take these out front. It’s toowarm to eat inside. We’ll stuff our faces on the porch.”
“Got it.”
“Out.” Zoey pointed to Lucy, who made thealready crowded space more crowded. “Out of the kitchen.” Headhanging in dejection, the big dog moved to the dining area andsprawled belly down in front of the fireplace.
Diego slid the pizza onto the prewarmedstone, then into the oven. Eva grabbed wine glasses while Zoeyuncorked the bottle.
In minutes they were sitting on the porch inmismatched chairs and loveseats, the tray of crostini on the littletable she’d found at a yard sale set in the middle of theircircle.
Eva bit into her crostini choice and groaned.“This is wonderful. You make the best bruschetta in the world.”
Justin popped an entire appetizer in hismouth, then leaned back in the loveseat he shared with Zoey, thebottle of the beer he preferred over wine resting on his knee.Given the angle of her house, she could barely make out Leviopening the back of his Suburban.
Justin nudged her shoulder. “Who’sthat? He’s hot.”
“My neighbor, Levi.”
“Straight or gay?”
“Hmm, he hasn’t said, but I’m getting astraight vibe.”
“Oh my god, Levi.” Eva set down her wineglassbefore bolting down the steps. “Levi,” she yelled, running to wherehe stood by his monster vehicle, throwing her arms around him. Zoeywatched Levi gather Eva to him in a warm embrace.
“Good thing they’re related,” Diegogrumbled.
Eva was tugging Levi’s hand to lead him upthe steps to the porch. He glanced up and caught Zoey’s eye. Theyhadn’t spoken since their conversation on the hike the day before,and she thought she detected reluctance in his posture, but thereweren’t many who could resist Eva.
“Zoey, did you know your neighbor is mycousin?”
“I kind of figured that out since Maddy andBrad are also your cousins, and he’s their brother.”
Diego rose to shake Levi’s hand. “Good to seeyou, bro.”
“And this is our good friend, Justin,” Evamotioned to Justin. “He’s a firefighter and is on the same crew asDiego.”
Levi leaned over to shake with Justin.“Cool.”
“Join us for dinner.” Eva handed him a plate.“We’ve got these amazing crostini Zoey made, and Diego is baking apizza as we speak.”
“Damn, my pizza.” Diego ran for the door.
Justin rose to follow Diego. “You want beeror wine, Levi?”
“Ah.” Levi locked eyes with Zoey, and sheknew he was waiting for a signal. They hadn’t parted onparticularly amicable terms, and he was letting her decide if shewanted to him crash her party.
Zoey hesitated. Despite his chosenprofession, she liked him. Maybe she should get to know him as aman, and not the fantasy she’d built from her high school crush ona teenage boy. His expression closed like he was sure she was goingto make an excuse and give him the boot. Instead, she made herselfsmile. “Please stay, Levi.”
He glanced at Justin. “Then I’ll have beer.Thanks.”
Eva pulled up another chair to widen theircircle, Levi tugging the cushioned wicker wingback chair closer toZoey’s end of the loveseat. He selected a crostini, white teethshowing when he bit into the appetizer.
