CHAPTER EIGHT
David
Even though I’ve gotten very little sleep these last few days, I feel lighter and more alive than I have in a while. There’s just something about a new relationship that wakes up parts of your soul you started to think didn’t exist anymore—especially when you’ve been through the same shit I have.
I have an extra kick in my step as I walk to work, wearing my headphones, which I haven’t worn in a long time. Starting my day listening to music just adds to the smile I already had on my face.
When Morgan Wallen’s “Crazy Eyes” comes on, I pause my steps and really take it in. I don’t care one bit about the people who are yelling at me because they now have to walk around me. This song just hit me like a brick wall, and the world can wait while I take the lyrics in as it says so much of what I’m feeling right now, except one thing … I don’t know if her eyes will affect me the same way the song describes.
It starts off talking about not getting any sleep because the girl you’re with is keeping you up at night, yet you don’t mindone bit, but then it goes on to talk about how her crazy eyes are your kryptonite.
I can’t believe I’m falling for this girl, yet I have zero clue what she looks like or if just seeing her eyes will affect me this way.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and continue on my journey to work feeling like I have a big question mark floating above my head that I won’t be able to answer for a few more days.
Zoe
Thank God it’s Friday. This lack of sleep from staying up and talking to David two nights in a row is starting to catch up with me. I will definitely be sleeping in tomorrow!
I set my stuff down and go straight for the coffee in the break room. Jana bursts into laughter as I walk back to my desk, clinging to my cup of coffee and drinking from it as though it’s the elixir that will power me through the day.
“Another long night with the mystery man?” she asks, eyeing me over her laptop.
I grin before I take another sip. “Maybe.”
“Jeez, two nights in a row. Do you think you’ll start going steady soon? Don’t tell Emma; she’s going to get jealous.”
I giggle at her antics of pretending like we’re in high school again with all the drama that goes with that time in your life as I take my seat. “I know this is all very different, but I like it. I like him. You remember those days of new relationships when you were younger, right? Your sleep calendar went straight out the window so you could stay up way too late to talk to them.”
“Yeah, but you aren’t sixteen anymore!” she teases. “Plus, what if he turns out to be this ogre with black teeth and smelly armpits?”
“I can’t tell you about his smell, but one of my friends already signed off on his looks. Remember, that’s how the app works.”
“Ifhe uploaded a real picture. What if this is a total catfish situation?”
“Joey ensured us they vet every person through ID.me software so there would be no catfishing.”
“Okay … just don’t get your hopes too high until you know who this guy really is.” Her face softens, and I know she’s coming from a place of love.
I nod, taking another sip from my cup, not wanting to go down that road yet. I like this bubble I’m in, where I’ll be for a few more days.
I sit at my desk and just happen to look up when I see both my boss and David sitting at the conference table, staring at me.
“Shit,” I whisper under my breath. “I forgot I had an early meeting to go over the tallow branding.”
I rush to grab my things and shuffle my feet faster than I should to where they are waiting for me.
“Sorry,” I say, pulling out the chair to sit down. “Our meeting slipped my mind.”
“Obviously,” David says under his breath, to which I roll my eyes as I open my binder to pull out the final drawings.
“Well, now that we’re all here, talk to me,” Christina says, her voice not hiding her annoyance with me.
“I’ve been?—”
David cuts me off, “These are what I’ve drawn up for the market analysis.”
Excuse me, I was just talking before you rudely interrupted …
