“Give me your phone.” Max reached out his hand. They were showered, sexed up and now finally dress. It was six in the morning. She had to rush home to change her clothes then get to work. Zoe wasn’t looking forward to today. Though, one good thing was she was on a massive afterglow high which she hoped would get her through the mountain of work which would be waiting for her. And the fact she’d turned down seeing Max tonight. She so wanted to see him, but there were feelings she knew she couldn’t ignore. The shower sex had been like they were more of a couple, they were getting to know each other’s bodies quickly and easily, and were feeling more like one together. She could feel the difference, and it churned in her stomach.
“I’m not into having photos taken of me.”
Max rolled his eyes. “I want to put my number in it.”
“Oh.” She pulled out her phone from her clutch. There were two missed calls from Jen and a text message or two from Ellie and Billie. She unlocked her phone and then pulled up the contacts. “What’s your number?”
“Don’t trust me.”
Zoe glared at him, pretending to be unhappy. “I would’ve thought I’d shown that I do.”
“You did just that.” He grabbed her phone.
“Oi.” Zoe tried to get it back, but he turned away, quickly punching at the screen.
“You better—”
The familiar sound of a photo being taking cut Zoe off. She put her hands on her hips.
Max stood back taking another photo or two. “So are you going to get naked again, then I can take some more.”
“No way.” Zoe stopped short of saying anything else as she realised he was taking the piss out of her. The glint in his eye, the bloody cheeky grin, and the fact he wasn’t coming any closer to pull off her dress, she knew.
“Had you there.” He handed back her phone.
She quickly took it, feeling much better with her phone in her own hands.
“So, if you change your mind about tonight you can text me.”
“I won’t, sorry. Though, surely you’re worn out from the extra session we had this morning.”
“Never.”
Zoe laughed. It was so easy to be comfortable around Max now. She knew she was going to miss him.
Don’t think about it.
“Well, you’ll just want me more Thursday night, and that will be a good thing to wait for.” She put her phone back in her clutch and zipped it up.
“You got that damn right.”
Zoe knew that she had to see her friends, Billie and Ellie, which took up her Wednesday after work. Her friends had sneakily arranged to meet at a bar in the city, which meant even once she’d finished seeing them it was unlikely she’d then go to the show. If they had gone to the Goody or the Jumbuck, then perhaps she’d have bumped into Max. Then she’d have the perfect excuse to go off and spend some more time with him. But this was less likely to happen now. It had taken all her self-control not to text him today and ditch her friends. But she couldn’t do that. Besides he hadn’t messaged her either. The lack of contact with him didn’t do anything to cool her feelings towards him. And it was becoming more and more obvious that she was falling for Max. Having a night not with him, the first in four days, well sort of five but then did today really count when they started it together.
“It’s good you’re having tonight off from seeing Max,” said Ellie. “He’s going soon and you’re not a country girl, so might be best not to see him again.”
Ellie’s words hurt. Zoe took a deep breath. “I know.” But she also knew she was going to see him again, she couldn’t not. Besides they had arranged to meet at Goody tomorrow night at eight. A little bit of absence would be good, Zoe was sure it would cool things down. So far it wasn’t working for her. Zoe’s main issue right now was also to keep these feelings, ones that were surfacing way too soon and defying logic, from her friends. Based on that comment she didn’t think she was doing a very good job.
“I could see him next year,” Zoe added, trying to stir up her friends.
“He’s a complicated man, a bit of a reputation being abrupt, I don’t think he’s really the right man for you,” added Billie.
He might not be the right man, but then again he is. She’d not seen this abrupt side of him anyway, he’d been strong in some of his comments, but so had she. He’d treated her just fine so far. And there was no indication that he’d do anything different to make her think otherwise.
“Hey stop ruining my fun,” said Zoe. “I’m being careful.” She swallowed hard.Except for one thing. She made a mental note to book in with her doctor next week.
“Good. We’re just making sure.” Billie reached over and squeezed Zoe’s arm.
“And you know it’s just a few days fun.” The words felt more like a lie than the truth.
