Page 37 of Keeping Zita

Looking over, Obi-Wan was relieved to see Zita heading out of the area. It was taking a hot second, because of how many people were stopping her to thank her and to say how impressed they were with what she’d done.

Obi-Wan hurried after her, looking over his shoulder to make sure Silas and Carmen weren’t coming, as well. They weren’t. Silas had his arm around Carmen’s shoulders but she wasn’t leaning into him. She was glaring at Zita as if she hoped daggers would come out her eyes and strike her down where she stood.

The level of hate in her expression made Obi-Wan extremely uneasy. And he was very glad the woman would be heading back to California in the next few days.

Rushing after Zita, he caught up to her outside the small break area. “You okay?” he asked.

She looked at him. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That was intense.”

To Obi-Wan’s surprise, she laughed. “Sage, this is what I do. The Heimlich? It’s like Paramedic 101. I mean, I’m glad the woman is all right and that I was in the right place at the right time, but seriously, it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Only Zita would say that saving someone’s life wasn’t a big deal. Although he supposed that it probably wasn’t for her. Just like flying most missions wasn’t a big deal for Obi-Wan. He was good at what he did, and Zita was obviously just as good at what she did. She didn’t hesitate to do what needed to be done in order to help that woman.

“Carmen’s not happy,” he said unnecessarily.

Zita rolled her eyes. “She’s never happy. I don’t care. She was honestly hurting that woman more than helping her. If she’d been doing the Heimlich right, I wouldn’t have interfered. I would’ve stood by to help if needed, but I wouldn’t have yanked her away. But she wasn’t, so I did. I’m not going to apologize for that.”

“And you shouldn’t. You want to come over tonight for the first part of our movie night?”

It was an awkward transition, but Obi-Wan didn’t care. They could be interrupted again, and the right time to ask her out might not come again. He was old fashioned. Didn’t want to ask her out over text. Or even over the phone. He could read her expressions face-to-face. See if she truly wanted to go out with him again or not.

Zita stopped walking. She hugged her laptop to her chest and looked up at him. “Tonight?”

“Sure. After today, the set will be closed down for a week while they go and set up in the mountains. It’s the perfect time for us to get to know each other better. You are going to the secondary location, right?”

“Of course. Are you sure you don’t need a break from all this?” she asked, putting her hand up and circling it around, as if indicating the entire set…and herself.

“I do. But I don’t need a break from you,” Obi-Wan said simply.

“Oh, that’s…that’s nice. Sure. I’d like that.”

The tension Obi-Wan was feeling lightened, now that she’d agreed. “Great. I can pick you up at your motel again. How does five sound? Is that too early?”

“No, but is it for you? What time do you usually work until?”

It would be a little tight, and he’d have to leave work a bit early, but he hoped his teammates wouldn’t mind. The last mission they’d been researching was scrapped, and hopefully it would stay quiet. His leave started in a week, and he’d be able to give all his attention to the more complicated set and the choppers that would be flown in for the movie. Not to mention Carmen and her sidekick wouldn’t be on set, which would be a huge relief for Obi-Wan. And probably everyone involved with the project.

Carmen was a diva, and while a very good actress, she was a pain in the ass.

“Sage?”

“Sorry, we usually work until five, but we don’t have anything going on right now, so I’m sure I can leave a bit early. We can order dinner once we get to my place. Sound good?”

“Sure.”

“And this goes without saying, but you’re safe with me, Zita. Just because we’re going to my place doesn’t mean I expect anything other than a nice evening getting to know a woman I enjoy being around very much.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the reassurance.”

“Of course.”

“But does that mean we’re friends?”

Obi-Wan frowned. “I’d like to think so.”

“I mean…are we just friends? Because I have to admit, I liked that kiss we shared too, but I wouldn’t really consider it a friend thing. And don’t think I didn’t notice how you had my back when Gigantor wanted to take me out for daring to touch his sugar mama. Thank you for that.”