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Zoey looked at the women walking on the sidewalk as they waited at a stoplight. They were all dressed so differently. She had no idea what her style was. All these years she dressed the same: below-the-knee skirts, or slacks in either gray, black, or tan, and boring button-up blouses, in the same colors as though she was an executive ready for a business meeting. The last thing she wanted was another year of the same. Turning back to Lena she said, “Something fun.”
“Fun. You do know I’m a mother. I’m not sure I remember what fun looks like.” Lena laughed as she raised her hand to her shirt. “Why don’t you tell me where you’re going, and I might be able to help?”
“I don’t know where our next date will be.” I’m not even sure there will be one.
“Okay, tell me where you’ve been recently.”
Her face lit up just thinking about their dates. “We went bowling.”
“I love bowling. How was it?”
Zoey laughed. “He bowled and I tried to keep the ball in my lane. Okay, on the lane. If there was any dust in the gutter, I got it out. Again and again.”
“That sounds like you had a great, fun-filled time.”
“It was. And then another time he took me to a... small diner.” She wasn’t about to confess to going to a truck stop. Although Bennett was right; the food was fantastic. If she ate breakfast on a regular basis, she’d do it again. Not without Bennett.
Zoey noticed Lena’s expression changed. She couldn’t read it. Did she think like her brothers that Bennett wasn’t good enough for her? If so she didn’t want to hear it.
“I’m... surprised.”
“I can tell.” Zoey’s tone was sharper than she’d wanted it to be.
“Oh, that probably didn’t come out the way I wanted it to. I’m surprised, but in a good way. At the party I was concerned that things were not as... good between the two of you as you were making them out to be. Something felt... off. But looking at you now... I see something has changed.”
Oh, it has. But that doesn’t mean we are... a couple. It’s still all a lie. No matter what Lena thinks she sees.
“It’s still all very new. But it’s... nice.”
“It should be. And don’t let your brothers interfere. I had a long conversation with Brice on our way home the other night. His intentions are good, but his actions sometime leave a bit to be desired.”
Zoey honestly had been impressed at the control Brice seemed to have that night. She had thought he would’ve been as bad as Dean was. Either way, Zoey was happy to know she had someone watching out for her. I think I can get used to this sisterly stuff. That didn’t mean she was ready to bare her soul to her. Zoey hoped they were building a friendship that moved forward and didn’t look back. There was nothing she wanted to think about in the past. Nothing that Lena could understand. If Lena knew, Zoey was positive she’d never look at her the same. Who could blame her? I wouldn’t want my children spending time with an aunt like me either. Why can’t the truth be as easy to believe as the filthy lies my father told? I’m tired of telling myself as long as I know the truth it doesn’t matter. Because it does. More now than ever. But I’m not ready to have that conversation with anyone. Maybe one day. Maybe not.
“I think we have bigger fish to fry today. Like my wardrobe.” Zoey laughed as she changed the subject.
“I know just the place.”
Lena gave the driver the address, and they were off on their adventure. The rest of their outing was spent shopping and laughing. By the end of the day, Zoey was dragging in bags of clothes that were versatile enough for any outing. She’d gone overboard on her purchases, but it was the first time she’d ever shopped without a plan. If it called to her, she bought it. There was no thinking of what pants, what shoes, or where she’d wear it. If she liked it, she bought it. She tried on things she’d never worn before, and if she didn’t burst out laughing at how ridiculous they looked, she left the dressing room for Lena’s opinion. Thankfully, Lena had no issue with stating the truth because no woman wants to hear, “Sure, wear that if you want to look like you’re ninety.”
If trying things on at the store wasn’t enough, Zoey found herself doing it again in her room before she put all the items away. They’d even stopped at the lingerie store and picked up some sexy undergarments. Her cotton briefs were going in the trash. No more granny panties for me.Next time Bennett decides on a spur-of-the-moment date, I’ll be ready. Ready for anything.
