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I abandoned my cocktail, mad at Drunk Zoe for making plans that Sober Zoe has to follow through with.
“Yeah, that was my first party without my ex too,” he said, his voice trailing off.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” Despite everything, I felt bad for him. Divorce is rough.
He nodded, forlornly, for a moment. “But, you know, my ex was always kind of a stick in the mud at those things. She’d get up my ass for drinking. And she was always whining about the food. Or whatever. She’d find something to whine about. I mean, she—”
“Are you really sure you’re ready to be out on a date?” I asked, bluntly.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you talk about your ex a lot and you seem kind of bitter.”
“Bitter? Really?”
“I don’t mean it as an insult. It’s perfectly understandable. I mean, I was pretty bitter at first too…”
“I’m not bitter,” he said, clearly offended. “And I’m fine to start dating again, thank you very much.”
“Okay.”
“And I never said this was a date, Zoe. It’s just drinks.”
I put my hands up in abacking offgesture and said nothing.
“You’re the one who called it a date, you know,” he continued. He was getting flustered. “You’re the one who showed up in a skanky dress and started ordering booze.”
I stood up. “Mark, I don’t think I want to be here anymore.”
“Where are you going?”
I shook my head. I took some cash from my wallet and tossed it down on the table.
“This should cover my drink and tip for the waitress,” I told him without further explanation. “I’ll see you at the hospital.”
“Zoe, wait—”
“Mark, I don’t think I’m the person you need to talk to right now. I can give you the name of my counselor—”
“You mean like a therapist?” he scoffed. “Great, another woman who thinks everything can be solved by crying to a fucking shrink. You know, my ex—”
I turned on my heel and left him, mid-rant.
I stood by the bar and opened my Uber app. I was about to call for a ride home when I heard a familiar, hearty laugh. I looked over, immediately locking eyes with Carter Kane.
Right. He mentioned that he was going out tonight.
I also spotted his brother, Elias, who I recognized from that night atPizza Pizzaand two women, clearly a couple, wrapped around one another lovingly. There was a fifth person there, a tall, burly guy with red hair and a barrel chest, who was likely the best friend he was talking about. Kieran, I think.
Carter waved me over. I waved back, but didn’t approach. He excused himself from the group and walked over.
“Zoe, you look…” his eyes roamed over me, appreciatively.
“Considering I’ve been called hotandskanky in this dress in less than ten minutes, I’m not sure how to take that,” I said, more snarky than necessary.
“Sorry,” he said. “You look really beautiful tonight.”
He said it almost shyly and I couldn’t help but let my guard down a little. I felt my shoulders relax.
