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“It wasn’t true. Even if it was, it doesn’t matter. Nobody deserves to be talked about like that, Zoey. Nobody. Do you understand?”
She nodded, but her eyes were filled with sadness, and I was devastated that the night had ended in such a horrible way. What was supposed to be this fun, wonderful adventure for both of us had ended in anxiety and pain and disappointment.
“I understand.”
“Good. Go to the locker room and get your shoes, your bra, and your panties,” I told her. “Meet me in the lobby as soon as you’re done, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered. I didn’t make her call me “sir” or follow any sort of protocol. We’d come on a whim, and my only goal was to make sure that Zoey made it back to my place in one piece. I didn’t need her to be hurting or broken for the wedding tomorrow. I didn’t need her to feel bad about exploring her sexuality.
When I reached the lobby, Kyle was still there. He was standing at the door and looking outside.
“They’re gone?” I asked him.
“Yeah. I kicked them out and they got in their car and left. Crazy people,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Do they come here a lot?”
“I’ve only seen them here once before. They caused a bit of a scene and pissed off a couple of people, but they left right after.”
“Well, it seems as though they won’t be a problem anymore.”
“Good,” he nodded, satisfied. “Good.”
Zoey appeared, and I took her in. She looked terribly sad. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her makeup was smeared. Her hair was a mess, and her shoelaces were, once again, untied. She had her shoes on, at least. Her bra and panties were clutched firmly in her right hand.
“Will you please take me home?” Zoey whispered.
I nodded. I’d never turn down a request like that. Never. Not from Zoey. I reached for her and lifted her up into my arms. She snuggled against me. Kyle grabbed the door for us and let us out of the club. Without a word, Zoey and I went to the car. As soon as I reached the vehicle, I opened the passenger side and set her down on the seat. She was perfectly still as I buckled her in. Then I walked around and got in, started the car, and drove off into the night. We were halfway to my place before she spoke again.
“I never talked to Anna again after Eric and I split up,” she said.
“Why not?”
“When I told her what had happened, she blamed me. I never told anyone about that. She thought it was my fault for being too easy.”
“She’s an idiot.”
“You can say that again,” Zoey muttered.
“Some girls are jealous of what others have,” I finally said.
“No, David, some girls are just bitches. I thought Anna was my friend, but a real friend wouldn’t have cared whether I kissed too soon or gave it up too easily. A real friend wouldn’t have called me a whore just because some guy said we slept together or that I blew him. You always believed me, and we weren’t even close friends.”
“Of course, I believed you.”
“When I realized that Anna didn’t, and worse, that she was upset Eric got punched, I didn’t feel the need to speak to her again. She transitioned easily into the popular crowd and I was left by the wayside.”
“You weren’t left by the wayside,” I corrected her. I didn’t want her to doubt herself. She was incredible, and she’d done wild, fantastic things.
“Maybe not,” she admitted. “I think I worded that wrong. I just mean that it was easy to blend in after that. You and Felix were gone, so it wasn’t like I had any sort of legacy to live up to. As far as everyone knew, I was just the weird transfer kid who kept to herself. I bided my time, and after graduation, I decided to go live my dreams and be the high-powered businesswoman I wanted to be.”
“I’m sorry,” I told her. I hated that I hadn’t known about her isolation after Felix and I had graduated. Zoey had done so well for herself, but it sounded like there had been an incredible cost. “I wish I had been there for you.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I didn’t want you there for me. I didn’t want anyone there for me. I was still hurting and sad after Mom died. I felt lonely and you know, honestly, I kind of just thought everything would be easier if I dealt with it on my own.”
“And how did that work out for you?”
