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Will I regret this forever? Definitely.
Chapter Twelve
Wes
I wake up and instinctively reach for Zooey. I was expecting her to be next to me the moment I opened my eyes. Now, I’m clutching at empty sheets. As I open my bleary eyes, I see that she’s not there. I sit up quickly, the world spinning around me as I look for her. I was hoping maybe she was in my ensuite bathroom, or maybe getting dressed. But now, I can see that she’s nowhere to be found.
I wipe the sleep from my eyes, feeling frustrated. Why would she leave me without saying goodbye? Sure, I get that she has to be cautious. Getting caught in bed with me could be disastrous. But she could have woken me up to let me know where she was going. She could have given me a little sugar before she decided to do a runner on me. Instead, she’s slipped away as though she’s embarrassed about what happened between us.
To go from fucking all night long to being left alone in bed doesn’t make sense. Surely a woman who showed so much interest only a few hours ago can’t have changed her mind about me already? I showed her what it means to be with a real man, and this is how she repays me?
I have to try and give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she’s scared, or intimidated. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman has been nervous around me. But I’m the one who always walks away, not the other way around. What have I done that could possibly put Zooey off? Last night was one of the best of my life. Is it possible she doesn’t feel that same way?
I get up and dress as quickly as I can. I’m going to get to the bottom of this one way or another. After all, girls like her don’t come around every day. She’s so sweet and sexy at the same time, timid but self-confident in a way. She’s funny, but not cocky. She’s a fucking gem, and I’m not about to let her slip through my clutches so easily. She’s mine now, even more than before, and I’m going to make sure she knows that.
Besides, after what happened, there’s no way she can ignore me all day. If I catch her eye across the room, I know she won’t be able to look away. Even if we don’t speak for the rest of the time we are here, there’s no way we will be able to deny the connection between us. I feel it pulling on me like a magnet, drawing me to wherever she is in this crazy mansion. She’s not going to slip away, I won’t allow it to happen. And when we finally get around to talking, she will have to admit that she can’t stay away from me as much as I can’t help my feelings for her.
This need is growing within me. I’ve got this hunger for conversation with her, for sex with her, for everything she has to offer me. She’s the only woman who has ever made me feel like this, and now, I have to have her. I need to find her right now.
I storm out of my bedroom, my head aching a little from my hangover. I head to her bedroom, which is a pretty rash decision, so it’s lucky when I find that neither she nor her friend are in there. I check my watch and find that it’s nine am. I suspect they will have been drawn into the preparations for the finale party later tonight. I thunder down the stairs. Her beautiful naked body spurs me on when I think of it. It reminds me that a goddess like her is worth chasing down, no matter the sacrifice.
When I get downstairs, there are guests milling around, but there is no sign of Zooey or her friend. I do, however, see Lawrence. He’s chatting with a bunch of women, feeding them some of his corny jokes to make them laugh. He’s got a glass of champagne in his hand, as though the party has already begun. It probably never stopped for him. I wonder if now might be a time to discuss Zooey with him. If Zooey is scared of her father’s reaction, then maybe the best thing to do is come clean to him about everything. I could even leave her out of it and just tell Lawrence what I feel for his daughter. I will hold back my desperation for her, but if I express my interest, maybe I’ll get his blessing. I mean, who better to take care of your daughter than your best friend, the person you trust most in the world?
But who am I kidding? I know what he’d do if I told him. He’d want a fight. He’d want to end me for even thinking about her. He would call me out for my inappropriate thoughts and cause a scene in the middle of the party. That’s the last thing I want, even if I do hate these yearly extravaganzas. I don’t want to ruin this for our business, or for Lawrence himself. Maybe I should wait until tomorrow, when this torture comes to an end. But will I even see Zooey again before then? Will bringing last night up even matter if she doesn’t want to see me?
