“Oh, baby.” I clung to her, my wet hair dripping on her shoulders.
“Shhhh. Ty, it’s okay.” Zoey quietly led me back into the bedroom. We lay down on the bed and just held each other tightly for a while. My mind raced, I thought I had dealt with all my insecurities in therapy and it would be easy to just jump right in and erase all the years in between us being together. My heart was beating out of my chest, scared shitless that I was fucking things up for good with Zoey.
After a while both of our stomachs were growling. Grabbing some board shorts, I gave Zoey one of my T-shirts to wear and we padded into the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat. I prepared a fine meal of cold cereal for both of us and waited for the kettle to boil for tea. Zoey folded up our discarded clothes from the night before. Reaching in her purse, she plucked out a medium-size box wrapped in black-and-white paper with a red bow.
“This is for you. Happy birthday.” She held it out to me, her wary smile not quite reaching her eyes. I took it from her and opened it. Inside was a fountain pen and a notebook with a handmade cover made up of red and orange butterflies. “I made it, who knows, maybe you can write some new songs about us.”
“It’s perfect.” I traced the butterflies with my finger. Touched at her thoughtfulness, I folded her into my arms. “I’d love to write new songs about us.”
Zoey looked up at me, adorable with no makeup and damp hair curling around her face. “I’m sorry for being an asshole. What we did last night and this morning, how incredibly connected we are when we make love is special. I know there is no one else for either of us.”
“I’ve never had anything close. I’ve never brought any woman to this house. Well, other than the cleaning service, my publicists, and our management team.” I held up a finger and gestured between us to emphasize a point. “How we are together, the connection, the intensity is beyond anything I even remembered.”
“It was so hot, watching you inside me. If I wasn’t so sore from your big dick, I’d be climbing you like a tree right now.” Zoey always had a knack for breaking a tense mood with humor.
“Well there’s plenty of other things we can do while you recover.” I waggled my eyebrows at her, scooping her into my arms, when my front door swung open and I scrambled around to shield my pants-less girl from whoever dared enter without knocking.
“Wakey wakey, you never answered my texts and it’s time to hit the gym, big guy.” My trainer Eric waltzed in through the door, stopping when he saw me in front of Zoey.
“Tyson Rainier, I never thought I’d see the day when I caught you with a woman in your house. Who is this lovely young lady?”
“Eric, meet Zoey. Zoey meet Eric. Now, get the fuck out. I’ll get changed and meet you outside.”
Right before he exited, Eric turned around and screamed, “Holy shit, are you Z?”
“Out!” I yelled with a smile, and Eric shut the door.
Zoey looked at me with utter confusion. “You have a training session today?”
“Yeah, I’m on a strict routine to make sure I’m in shape for the movie premiere in New York and Christmas show in LA so we can go out with a bang before our long break,” I explained.
“Oh. You didn’t mention going on a break.” Zoey tugged my T-shirt down to cover herself.
I’d forgotten that she didn’t know my schedule, how could she? Shit. I took her hand as we walked back into my bedroom so I could get changed.
“Yeah, we are taking a year off next year. At least. We are all exhausted.” I shrugged.
“Wow.” She watched me as I pulled on my gym clothes.
“Yeah, being on the road isn’t as glamourous as it might seem, it’s strenuous. And I need to live a little, work on the foundation, recharge.”
“No, I get that. It’s just that after Joe took me off your foundation, a headhunter contacted me with a lot of potential opportunities. I’m hoping to find a new job where I’m appreciated. All I’ve done for three years is work, work, work and I’m ready to capitalize and make more money.” Zoey flopped on the bed.
“Will you stay in Seattle?” I wrinkled my brow.
“Well, it depends.” She stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
I sat down on the bed and took her hand. “Huh. Um. Well, I’ve got to hit the gym.”
“Okay, well I’ll call a Lyft.” Zoey sat back up.
“No, stay. I won’t be long. We can go get you some clothes from your place when I get back.” I gave her a quick smile but the weird feeling from earlier reared up again at the latest line of conversation. Crap, I was disappointed that she might be leaving Seattle. It wasn’t her fault that I was going full speed ahead in my mind, but I was eager to make up for lost time, and it didn’t feel like she was on the same page as me.
“It might be easier if I go home now and you come to get me later.” Zoey’s expression was unreadable.
“I told you, I plan on keeping you here all weekend.”
“I don’t want to interfere with your schedule, Ty. You already had other plans.”
“You’re not interfering, I just forgot about Eric’s workout.”
“I—I just don’t want you to have to be on a timeline for me,” Zoey tried to explain. “I want to be here with you, but if you have something else to do . . . I’m just trying to be practical.”
“I’m not on a
