Page 21 of We're One

“That damn town,” I mutter.

Callan laughs. “I hear you, bro.”

“How long will she be upset?” I ask as if they can actually give me a timeframe. Both of my brothers laugh at this question.

“That might be a much better question for Courtney or Sasha,” Blaze says.

“I’m not admitting to them what’s going on. I’ll get a lecture for an hour on how I need to treat women better,” I gasp. My brothers laugh again.

“That might be true,” Callan says. He’s still wearing stars in his eyes because he’s so absolutely head-over-heels in love with Sasha. It’s a bit scary to think about. I don’t want to be wrapped so thoroughly around a woman’s finger. I have a feeling I might not get much of a choice in the matter though.

“It’s the damn boxes. They have some magic spell woven around them. The second Sia’s name was in your box, you were screwed,” Blaze says with a twinkle in his eyes. He’s enjoying my misery way too much.

“Yep, welcome to the box-game club, brother,” Callan says. “We’ve each been there. The one thing I can say is that the game won’t last forever.”

“You aren’t helping me feel better at all,” I tell them. I’m actually eagerly awaiting the women’s arrival. Then the subject can change. I’ve gone from wanting my brothers’ help to wanting to punch them each in their pretty little noses.

Callan gives me a somewhat serious expression. “When I first met Sasha, I didn’t know what to do with myself or what I was feeling. I’ve never wanted to be with a woman as much as her, but she kept turning me down. I was flabbergasted by it. I wasn’t used to it at all. The more she pulled away, the more the rope tightened around my entire body. I couldn’t run from her if I wanted to. I had to accept it was so much more than simply another woman in a long line of women, it was about more than fate. I couldn’t stop thinking about her night and day, and I loved how I felt when I was with her. It scared the living hell out of me, but in the end, it’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Blaze gives a shrug and a sheepish smile. “Yep, same with me, Bro. I know it’s a shocker, but this wanderer got hooked real good. Man, falling in love is like jumping off a cliff. It’s terrifying and a lot of times it hurts like hell. But there’s a lot of joy and discovery about yourself as well. In the end it’s the biggest joy you’ll ever feel. You just have to get through all of the crap first, and what is ever worth having that you don’t have to fight for?”

I listen to both of my brothers. I’m not falling in love. That’s absurd. But I am feeling a lot for this woman. Maybe this can lead to more. I’m at the age now that I need to settle down. I want kids and a life. This is a huge change from nine years ago when I first met Sia. I do know for sure that she’s worth fighting for. I enjoy a challenge as well. It’s been a very long time since anyone’s thrown down the gauntlet for me, or waved a red flag. It could be fun.

My soon-to-be sisters-in-law arrive, and we table all talk of Sia. I don’t need them to know about my current situation or they’ll find her. I’m not sure any advice they give her will benefit me. Sure, they love me, but they also know all of my flaws. Sia doesn’t need to know about those quite yet. I have to have her on the hook nice and secure first.

They all go home and then the games truly begin. I message Sia, but unless it’s about work, she doesn’t respond. She’s either ticked at me, done with me, or working so much she doesn’t have time to play. I don’t let it discourage me.

For the next five days I send her a bigger and better bouquet each day, even when she tells me to stop. I ignore her. What woman doesn’t want her place filled with beautiful flowers? None that I know of. I also keep messaging her, not at all discouraged by her replies. I can be a patient man when it’s called for. I have to admit I’m getting pretty anxious by the fifth day when I still haven’t been able to see her. It’s like she’s drawing me to her and then hiding behind a curtain I can’t get through.

Just when I’m about to go to her place and break down her door, I send her a message asking how the plans are coming along. The sun rises when she responds with a message saying she has a plan ready to go if I can meet with her to go over them. I grin so wide my face hurts. I don’t hesitate before replying.

Come to my place and we’ll go over them.

I sit back and wait as the dots appear on my screen. Her message doesn’t come in for a full minute which feels like an eternity. I want to do this today, not wait any longer. Five days of not seeing her feels like five months. I’m becoming a teenage girl at the moment, and I don’t like it. I’m also not doing anything to stop it.

Meet me at Café Mocha in one hour.

She doesn’t add more to this, assuming it’s going to be a foregone conclusion that I’ll meet her where she’s demanding. I’m sure she’s a lot more accommodating to her other clients. It’s better if I don’t go down that train of thought though. At least I’ll finally see her. That’s a bonus.

I grin as I walk to my room to change. I don’t want to be formal, or too casual, so I opt for a polo and nice pair of jeans. I don’t fret over my shoes, choosing comfort in case she wants to take a walk after lunch. If we’re going forward with the redesign, I can also be patient because she’ll have zero choice but to come to my place. She can’t exactly do her job without being here. I’ll get her alone again. It’s only a matter of time. Patience is quickly becoming my new mantra.

I arrive fifteen minutes early to the coffee house, which thankfully serves lunch as I’m starving. She’s not here yet, just what I was hoping for. I pick out a table in the back corner of the room, a table meant for someone wanting to work in privacy. I couldn’t care less about the privacy of our discussion, but I want her all to myself.

I know the moment she opens the door without having to look up. There’s something about Sia that simply pulls me in. She looks around the room for a moment before spotting me in the back. I grin at her as I stand, watching her walk forward. She looks to the floor as she moves across the somewhat busy room. Damn, she looks amazing in her suit that could be a little more fitted since she sports a delicious body, and her hair is all snug on the back of her head. Her glasses are once again firmly in place. She’s trying to build barriers between us, but I’ve seen her naked, and no amount of protection she puts in place will erase my memories of her. She’s fantastic.

“Thanks for meeting with me, Zach,” she says in her professional tone of voice.

“It’s my pleasure,” I tell her as I hold out her chair. I notice her fingers are slightly shaky as she sits, immediately placing her bag in her lap to pull things out. “Are you hungry?”

She seems to think on this a moment before she nods. I’m well aware she’s hoping to get in and out as quickly as possible. That’s not going to happen, though, and she’s probably well aware of it. She might as well eat while trying to dodge me.

We figure out what we’re going to eat and drink, and I leave her at the table while I go up to the counter and order. I quickly return to see she has several things laid out on the table.

“I have a few different ideas, but I really like the theme and how it’s coming out. It’s a more modern design, while still keeping in mind it’s a ranch. I know you like comfortable furniture so this collection should be perfect for you,” she says as she lays a catalog in front of me. “I use them a lot, so I do get a slight discount when doing large orders. It isn’t the cheapest furniture, but far from the most expensive.”

“I love this couch,” I say as I point one out that looks a bit like hers at home. I see the blush in her cheeks as she hides her gaze from me at this comment. Damn, it feels good to be sitting across from her. She quickly turns the page and points out another option, not even attempting to let me steer the conversation to what happened between us at her place. She’s doing her best to pretend it never happened. I’ll have to remind her all about it, but I’m well aware I can’t do it here.

We’re interrupted when the waitress drops off our food and drinks and Sia immediately grabs a French fry and pops it into her mouth. I lift my coffee and take a sip. My coffee at home is better, but this isn’t bad.

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