Page 43 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

“I’ll wait while you get your coffee.”

In silence we walk to the counter where an array of coffees and teas await those who ordered them. It’s so busy nobody’s taken the time to clean spilled liquid off the counter, and there’s a lot of it. I grab my takeout cup and pause as Zoe reaches to gently pick up a folded and damp dishrag. She mops up the spills, returns the rag to its home, and walks past me for the door. I smile as I follow her, thinking that Nicholas might think his wife is a saint, but has he noticed his sister?

We step outside, cool air hitting us. Zoe hugs herself and shivers.

“Hold this,” I mumble, handing her my coffee.

“Ooooh, warm!”

I slide my jacket off and place it on her shoulders. “Here ya go, Boss.”

She beams, “Thank you!” and hands me my coffee.

“Tom!” Nicholas calls out as he walks up. “Take the little fluff ball.”

I grin, “Sure! Heya Ralphie,” retrieving the carrier from him.

“You got it?” he asks.

“Got it.”

“Cool. It was good seeing you again.”

“You too.”

Heading toward what looks to be a brand new Audi, Nicholas Cocker waves over his shoulder, announcing, “We’ll be there when everyone meets your new guy, Zoe!”

My chest boils up.

“Okay, Nicholas,” she returns without enthusiasm.

“Ready? My Jeeps around the corner.”

She reaches for the carrier. “Can I hold Ralphie?”

“Of course.” I angle my shoulder to enable her to slide the strap easily down from it. “You seem a little sad, or is that just my imagination?”

She hugs the carrier to her heart. “Yeah.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Side by side we walk in no hurry.

“My parents want to meet Caleb, and now Nicholas just said he and Maddie will be there, too. I’m sure that means Wyatt and Nathan will come, too, and they can be so…aggressive.”

“Wish I could help.”

Her green eyes drift up. “You mean that, don’t you?”

“I really do.”

She bumps my arm with hers. “I wish you could. I’m not sure what to do except show up and… how do they say it? Go with the hits?”

“Roll with the punches.”

“That’s it,” Zoe smiles, but there’s pain behind it. “Let’s hope there are no actual punches.”

I offer a smile to make her feel better, even though it’s hard for me. What I want to say iscancel the wedding. “If you needto talk to someone before, or after...” We stop at my Jeep, and I open the passenger door for her, “…please call me.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

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