AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But still, her insecurities forced her to ask, “What were you afraid of?”
He hesitated.
“I was worried I’d ruin our friendship,” he finally said in a low tone that told her how hard it was for him to admit it. “Ruin the memories of what we’d had, or worse, not be able to compete with your memories of me as a nerdy dork.”
Zoe couldn’t help but laugh.
“But I was a nerdy dork, too,” she reminded him.
“You were gorgeous. Sexy, unique, self-possessed,” he argued.
Shock left her speechless. He’d really seen her that way? She gave a little sigh and shook her head.
“Later,” he continued his confession, “I was worried that you’d get pissed. That you’d think I’d been trying to trick you when I dressed up and didn’t tell you who I really was. Or that once you knew, you’d…well, reject me.”
“Why would I reject you?” she said, trying to reconcile in her mind that such a strong, sexy guy could have insecurities just as she did.
Even as she asked, a part of her, that tiny mistrusting voice in the back of her head, warned that there was more to this. There had to be. The voice mocked that no guy was going to worry that much about her rejecting him. But for once, Zoe didn’t listen to the doubts. She trusted Dex.
Still, she raised her head off his chest and peered at him in the dark. She couldn’t see anything, but it made her feel stronger, even as the blackness made it easier to confess, “I get that. Rejection sucks. I feel as though I’ve been running from it all my life. First from dealing with it. Then later, to prevent it from happening.”
She paused, then put her heart out there in a way that terrified and exhilarated her. “Except with you. I trust you, Dexter.”
“I’ll never give you another reason not to,” he assured her, making her smile in delight when he pressed a kiss against her hair. He was just so damned sweet.
“Good,” she murmured as exhaustion finally overtook her. “We’re good. Just as long as you don’t lie to me anymore, of course. I’ve never trusted anyone like I trust you. If you tell me there are no more secrets, that’s all I need.”
His arms stiffened against her back. Dex made a sound low in his throat. But Zoe fell asleep before her mind could register his discomfort.
12
NOT CARING THAT SHE was in the inn lobby, Zoe curled her feet under her and settled into the cushions of the comfy couch in the corner. Her body was still warm and loose from an all-night pleasure-fest, but she wished her mind was a little less foggy. If she’d been thinking straight, she’d have let her phone go to messages instead of rolling over to answer it this morning.
But she had answered, so here she was. Whatever news Brad Young had deemed vital enough that she had to meet him here right after lunch had better be good. Not that she’d be much of a judge, Zoe thought with a sigh. She was operating on about three hours’ sleep.She tapped her fingers in an impatient rhythm on the edge of the small side table. She shifted a little in her chair and gave a hum of pleasure as muscles, not used to such vigorous workout, reminded her of last night.
When she’d wakened in her own bed this morning, the sunlight warming her satisfied body, she hadn’t remembered getting back to her room. Had Dex carried her, or had she wandered her naked self on down the hall in a fog of sexual satisfaction?
Before she could do more than wonder about that now, her cell phone rang.
“Hi, Meghan,” she answered, smothering a yawn.
“Hey, girly, how’s the reunion ?”
She glanced around the lobby, noting faces that now had names smiling her way. Two people actually waved. Another sent her a thumbs-up sign. For the first time, Zoe felt like part of a group—felt as though she belonged. And she kinda liked it.
She’d been so upset about the queen nomination last night, sure it was a setup to humiliate her, that she’d run off before she could hear the career hints they’d promised to announce. Tonight was the big event, the unveiling of everyone’s real careers and the crowning of the king and queen.
“Apparently, the reunion is pretty good,” she said, realizing it actually was. She’d met people like Julie. She’d participated in a few events in the name of asking about Gandalf. People hadn’t been disdainful or dismissive, but had actually seemed to enjoy hanging out with her. And she’d enjoyed them, too. When a few had suggested keeping in touch—something Zoe had never thought to do with anyone from high school—she’d even agreed.
“We’ll do dinner next week and you can tell me about it,” Meghan said. Her words were rushed, as though she was trying to get the social niceties out of the way before she launched into something major.
