Page 73 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

I caught Zoe’s fall, bending to get a better hold on her lax body, sliding my hands under her knees to cradle her in my arms carry-over-the-threshold style.

The bell wails an announcement of what would normally be a new customer, but Perry, Amelia and I turn to discover Samantha and Lexi Cocker walking into Florist Shop, both with jackets over dance clothes — yoga pants and tops. The latter explodes with, “Oh no! What happened?!” as they race forward, worry for Zoe etched into their faces.

Perry shakes his head. “Tom shocked her.”

Breaking a palm frond off a nearby tree for sale, and waving it at Zoe’s unconscious face, Amelia blurts, “Tom shocked us all!”

“To the point where she fainted?” Samantha frowns, “How?”

Lexi commands me, “Tell us what you did that shocked herthis much!”

I don’t say anything, so Amelia and Perry shout at once, “He kissed her!”

The Cocker sisters blink at me, then at Zoe, then back at me.

Lexi gestures with her hands, asking me, “Youkissed herkissed her, or likemuah… a peck kiss?” long red fingernails spread.

Perry scoffs, “You think she’d faint over a peck kiss?”

“She might.”

Samantha chides her sister, “Lexi, come on.”

“What? This is Zoe!” Lexi Cocker whispers, like she’s afraid of waking Zoe with the proclamation, “She might!”

Amelia is happy to clear the air, jumping in to announce, “Hekissedherkissed her. Like one of those movie smooches right before the credits roll that leaves you crying and floating out of the theater.Thatkind of kiss.”

Perry tells me, “And then Tom said,You’re mine, Zoe Cocker.”

Lexi grabs Samantha’s arm, knees buckling. “What?! Wow! I wish I’d seen that!”

Samantha is blinking heavily at me. “Tom Bennet! You are amazing.”

Lexi grins, “I feel like I’m going to cry!”

Samantha correctly deduces, “That’s why you were chasing her that night,” adding quietly, “What made her faint?”

Lexi smacks Sam’s arm. “The kiss! The claiming of her by saying she’s his! All of that! What, are you not paying attention?”

“But fainting?” Samantha tilts her head.

I explain,“Zoe’s not used to being treasured,” bringing her forehead to my lips and tenderly kissing her soft skin. “I’m going to change that.”

Amelia sighs, “Oh Tom. We’re leaving something out. You need to remember what she saidbeforeshe fainted.”

I’m not going to say it aloud. Samantha and Lexi are staring at me, waiting to hear but I am not going to say it. I won’t give it that power.

Perry takes over, parroting, “But I’m getting married.” He sighs, adding a sad, “That’s what she said.”

“Wait…” Samantha whispers, “She’s going through with it?”

“Of course she is going through with it! This is Zoe we’re talking about!”

The front bell roars, turning all of us toward the door, again expecting a customer, but instead find Caleb himself strolling in, no suit jacket over his button-up shirt and tie. At seeing all of us, his casually confident expression changes to annoyance. “What’re you doing with my fiancé? What happened to Zoe?!”

Lexi and Samantha exchange a surprised and suspenseful look before turning toward me as I begin to say, “She’s alright — she just…”

“What’s going on?” Zoe whispers, opening foggy eyes. “Is that a customer?” She looks over, sees Caleb and darts a quick look up to me, shock and shame crossing her features. “Oh! Oh my gosh. Did I faint? Please put me down.”

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