“Stenton?”
I turned my neck to find her standing in the middle of the floor tentatively. She still looked young, but now coated with far more sex appeal than when I met her at twenty. Zoey’s wild hair was in a messy arrangement on top of her head, she wore a loose white ribbed tank t-shirt, short denim shorts with a lumber button up wrapped around her waist and Converse sneakers. A white powdery substance splattered about her body, I’m sure an occupational hazard. When I fully pivoted, excited by her presence, I noticed she inspected me from head to toe. I didn’t know why, I hadn’t been hurt. Then when I saw her eyes close and her chest descend from exhaling, I found myself doing the same. I found my body floating over to her and wrapped my arms around her small shoulders. Within seconds, little hesitation, I felt her arms encircle my waist as she melted into me.
Thank you, Ni?a…
I didn’t need her resistance or stubbornness. I needed her comfort and loving arms. My arms ascended and hooked her at the back of her head. I buried my face in her shaggy mane, inhaling her vanilla fragrance.
“I’m glad you’re okay. Srey told me what happened,” she spoke into my chest, the reverberation extending to my core. My grip on her tiny frame tightened, and I held on to her for moments long. Zoey lifted her head, her doe eyes framed with concern. “Jordan’s staying over Karen’s house tonight. I can go pick him up early. I know he’d love to see you. I don’t think you should be alon—” Her words abruptly halted. “I-I don’t mean to imply you’d be alone. I know Jenna would like to see about you. I just know how you and Jor—”
“Jenna’s out of the country. Won’t be back for a couple of weeks.”
Processing my words, with wide eyes, Zoey murmured, “Oh…” She was beautiful, even when at a loss for words. I was yet again confusing her. “Do you want me to have Karen get him ready for me to pick up? I can bring him to your place, or you could come over. Maybe you two can bake cookies and have some milk?”
Stoically, and getting lost in her eyes, I shook my head. “I don’t want to kill his sleepover. But I would like to be there when he gets home. I prefer merlot with my cookies.”
How that shit came out I didn’t know. I couldn’t believe I was fucking asking her if I could go to her place. Just twelve hours ago, I was planning on having drinks with a few teammates and participants from the charity event, and now I’m asking to go over to my son’s house in his absence because I don’t want to be alone with the memory of a lifeless Quincy in my arms.
With her mouth still open, Zoey whispered, “O-okay…”
Once we were down in the basement of the hospital, we were led by security to the transportation docks, apparently where Zoey was told to park. I ducked into the tented backseat and stretched down as much as was possible with my long legs. There was total silence on the drive to her place. I wrestled with my torn thoughts of alone time with Zoey. It’s not like I’d wanted to fuck her. I just didn’t want to be alone. I hoped I wouldn’t be imposing. Did she have a man? If she did, would he be okay with me being there? Shit! If he did, would she put my black ass out?
“I hear your stomach back there. Don’t chew the leather. I can give you real food before your cookies.”
I saw Zoey’s eyes trying to focus on me through the rearview mirror. I smiled on the inside. Same Zoey.