Page 61 of A Sinner's Virtue
“What’s going on?” Daisy’s voice comes from behind me a few seconds after Vin leaves.
When we walked back into the club, it hit me that Daisy was in there. I felt like shit I didn’t think of her sooner. But, in all honesty, I didn’t think of anyone but Zoe in that moment. I turned to Gio in a panic and he said that she’d left when Zoe and I went down to the dance floor.
“Hey, I’m so glad you’re here.” Eloise tugs Daisy into a tight hug.
“What’s going on?” Daisy repeats.
“Nothing, come on. Help me make dinner.” Eloise takes Daisy’s arm and drags her farther into the kitchen.
Daisy was always a happy girl. She used to have a brightness to her. But ever since Gabe got locked up, it’s like that light has just been turned off. “Did you see him today?” she asks me.
“I did,” I tell her while taking hold of Zoe’s hands. To stop them from roaming all over my body.
“Is she okay?” Daisy looks at Zoe, then back to me again.
“Oh, I’m better than okay,” Zoe says.
“Vin got her stoned,” I grunt.
Eloise and Daisy share a laugh, which has Zoe laughing as well. Am I the only one who doesn’t think it’s fucking funny that my girlfriend is as high as a kite right now?
“Gio’s on his way back, El. You two gonna be okay if I take her up to bed?”
“We’re fine,” El says. When I don’t move, she adds, “Promise.”
“Okay, I’ll be upstairs if you need anything,” I tell them. “Come on.” I take Zoe’s hand and lead her out of the kitchen.
“Wait,” she says while digging her feet into the ground. “What about the cake?” she asks with such seriousness it’s hard for me not to smile.
“I’ll bring some up to your room for you,” El tells her.
“Oh, awesome. Thank you.” Zoe grins.
When I finally get her back to my room, I shut the door and lock it. I don’t need anyone barging in. “Zoe, you feeling okay?” I ask as I watch her eyes flick around the room, not really focusing on anything.
“Uh-huh. I’m so good, Marcel. Did you know you’re really pretty?” she tells me.
“Pretty?”
“Mhmm. So pretty. Too pretty for me.”
“Definitely not too pretty for you, babe.”
“I think you’re too good for me. Or too bad. I don’t know which. But I know I’m not good enough for you, Marcel. I can’t be the kind of woman you need.” Zoe sits on the edge of the bed.
I walk over and kneel in front of her. “Zoe, you are exactly the kind of woman I need. You are everything I need and want.” I take her hands in mine.
Zoe shakes her head. “I’m not okay, Marcel. This is hard. I want to be good for you because I really like you and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not losing me, ever. I’m hard to get rid of.” I smile at her. “Zoe, this is love, not war. You don’t need to be anything but yourself with me because you are enough. You don’t need to be anything other than you.”
“Love?”
“Yes, love.”
“Vin thinks you’re in love with me.” She gives me a sad smile. “I told him you’re not.”
“You’re wrong,” I correct her. “I am very much in love with you, Zoe Petrov. So much so that your last name is going to have to change real soon.”
