Page 41 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

“You expectedworse? This is terrible! They’re worried sick!” I cry out. “This is getting complicated. I didn’t think it all the way through.”

Nicholas loses the smile and reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “No, you didn’t but you’re not alone in this. You have all of us. And not just our immediate family, but all the Cocker clan. Don’t be…”

“…like Ben,” I finish for him. “I won’t.”

Nicholas smiles, “We just want you happy,” and I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of uncertainty hanging over me.

Under the table he doesn’t see that my fingers are crossed, and that I crossed them right before I made that promise to Dad. If I have to run away to marry Caleb then I will!

EIGHTEEN

Tom

Ipush open the door, and a rich, warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops me. It’s the promise of something to look forward to, which I need. Wow. Wall-to-wall people in here. Relaxed and looking forward to hitting the books, I scan the room, my heart stopping when I spot her. Zoe sits in the corner and, for a moment, I’m lost in the way her hair catches the light, a cascade of brown with honey that frames her ethereal face perfectly.

But she’s not alone.

Dang it. She’s with that guy she’s engaged to. My hackles sharpen as I take a couple steps, not sure if I’m going to approach them or get my coffee and get out of here before they see me.

Wait a second.

No.

I’m wrong.

It’s not him.

Her brother, Nicholas Cocker — who I haven’t seen in years — leans back in the chair opposite her, arms crossed.

My heart resumes a healthier rhythm as I remind myself that I’m just here for a quick caffeine fix to get some studying done,not to swoon over my boss. She’s taken. I’m too late. I blew my chance. Approaching the counter, I focus on my order. “One Americano, please.”

A purple-haired barista asks, “Room for milk?”

“No thanks.”

“For here?”

“Make it to-go, thank you.” I steal another glance at Zoe. She looks right at me and her face brightens, a smile breaking the room in half like the parting of the sea between us.

She waves me over, “Tom!”

My heart races again despite my telling it to calm down, as I stroll my way to her table, fighting the urge to run to her. Fall to my knees. Beg her not to marry that guy.

“Hey Boss, what’s up?”

“Oh um, nothing,” she shrugs as Nicholas stays fixated on his phone, thumbs tapping out something that, from the look on his face, is important. “Just um…grabbing a quick coffee before Nicholas takes me home.”

Is there an undercurrent of tension between them? I can’t get a read on it but she looks uncomfortable, so I frown, “You okay?”

“That’s a really good question,” he mutters without looking up.

“Good to see you, too, Nicholas,” I offer, forcing a grin. The atmosphere feels charged, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m intruding on something private that wasn’t fun.

Nicholas blinks up to me, lowering his phone as he squints in recognition. “Tom Bennet?” A grin spreads and he rises to shake my hand. “Good to see you! How long’s it been?”

I give it a firm shake, “Good to see you, too.” We drop our hands. “Last time I ran into you was at The Punchline comedy club years back. Don’t think we’ve run into each other since.”

“You in this part of town?”

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