Chapter 14
Zoe hoped Gavin was okay. She hadn’t seen him since Wednesday night. He hadn’t been at the gym since then either, apparently taken with that flu going around. She did some work on the circuit, then took a long drink of water, trying to stop harping on Gavin.
Mac walked up to her. “Hey, Zoe. How’s it going?”
“Good, thanks.” She didn’t trust his smile. “What’s up?”
“Could you do me a favor?”
“Ah, sure.”
“Tell Gavin we’re doing another self-defense session in another month. Same thing as the first one, unless he wants to change it up. But it should still be for beginners.”
“Why tell me?” Zoe asked.
At Mac’s knowing look, she threw up her hands. “Seriously? You too? Whodoesn’tlisten to gossip?”
“I don’t!” A perky, handsome guy popped out from behind her with a wide grin. She recognized him because he always seemed to be at the gym surrounded by people. Mr. Popular, apparently. “Listen to gossip? Please. I start it! Hi, I’m Elliot, and I want the 411 on you and Gavin.”
“Oh hell. You’re on your own,” Mac warned her, then nodded at her new pal. “Elliot.”
“Adonis. You have my number,” he mock whispered and winked. “Use it.”
“Jackass.” Mac flushed and walked away, trying to ignore Elliot’s whistle.
“Don’t worry. His wife asks that I harass him when I can. It’s good for him.”
Charmed into laughter and a fun time at the gym, Zoe ended up making friends with Elliot. Who just happened to be Ava’s cousin.
Small world.
They swapped some Gavin stories. Hers revolved around Gavin and his siblings. Nothing Gavin wouldn’t have minded her sharing, she was sure. While Elliot told her all about the bitchy women still wanting a piece of “that fine tail.” He sure did know everything about everything.
But he didn’t know if Gavin was feeling up to dinner tonight.
She’d texted him just once since receiving hisI’m sick and can’t talknote, not wanting to bug him but wishing him well. It hadkilledher not to have heard from him for a few days. But who wanted a clingy lover? Not her. So she’d left him alone, content he’d call to cancel or confirm their Saturday night dinner at his parents’—but he hadn’t.
She said good-bye to Elliot with a promise to text him for lunch or drinks some time. Another friend to add to Ava, Cleo, and Piper. She was on a roll. Zoe grinned and left the gym. After arriving home, she forced herself to clean and do her normal Saturday chores before sending Gavin a text.Hope you’re feeling better. Tonight? Yes or no?
He immediately returned it.Still on 4 tonite. Pick you up at 7:30. Wear something with cleavage. G.
She laughed. Typical Gavin. Elliot hadn’t told her anything she hadn’t already known about her sexy man, except that now she liked him even more. According to Elliot, Gavin had tolerance for everyone—gay, straight, and in between. He treated the old and young with respect. Man or woman, it didn’t matter. Everyone at Jameson’s loved him. Even Michelle, his “spurned” one-nighter, would say nothing bad about Gavin. About Zoe, on the other hand…
Michelle didn’t care for Zoe much. But since they had nothing to say to each other, Zoe could give a rat’s ass. Dwelling on Gavin’s exes didn’t do much but annoy her, so she spent her remaining hour figuring out what the heck to wear to meet Gavin’s parents.
After a shower, she dressed in a nice pair of cotton capris and a long, flowy, floral top.
A dark-blue Charger pulled up in her driveway. Showtime.
Gavin got out and walked to her door.
She watched him, thinking he looked thinner. The poor guy.
She opened the door, not prepared for the huge hug he gave her. “Oomph.”
“I missed you.” He tucked his head into the crook of her neck and breathed her in. “Ah. Eau de Zoe.” He pulled back and looked at her with smiling gray eyes. “So, after my parents, we on for another round of Mistress Z Schools Her Naughty Schoolboy, Volume 2?”
She studied him. Something was off. “You named our sessions?”
