Page 33 of Something Cheeky

“What was it you wanted to say?” she asked as she grabbed a different marker.

He opened his mouth right as his phone buzzed. MouthingSorry, he pulled it out of his jean pocket to check his messages.

“That was Th?o. She’s on her way and wants to go over some lyrics together. Is it cool if we work back here with you? The change in scenery might help.”

“Let me make some space for both of you.” She began clearing the sewing tools off the table next to hers.

“Thanks. She’s waiting outside.”

Zoe chuckled. “In that case, why don’t you two walk over and pick up dinner? I’ll order a little of everything.”

“It’ll be good to see your mom.”

“They’re not there. They take Wednesdays off.”

“Oh.”

He was slightly disappointed and relieved at the same time. Cô H?ng always treated him well when he’d come down to visit. But she’d definitely grill him about everything, including his nonexistent love life.

“I haven’t told her you’re in town. She’d kill me if I sent you over there by yourself.”

“Cool. Maybe next time. You keep working and we’ll take care of the rest.”

She handed over her shop keys and shooed him away as she called Ph?-Ever 75. In rapid-fire Vietnamese, she placed an order for them. He understood enough to make out his favorite dishes. When he finally opened the front door, Th?o was tapping her foot with her keyboard under her arm.

“About damn time. Were you two making out back there?” Th?o smirked.

“Shhh. Not so loud,” Derek whispered. “Set your keyboard inside. I almost told her, but I chickened out.”

“Wuss,” Th?o whispered back.

“Shut up and come with me.” He pointed to Zoe’s parents’ restaurant on the other side of Eden Center. “We’re picking up dinner.”

Chapter 15

Zoe shifted in the chair, trying to keep its arms from skewering her sides like a kabob. Meeting with Greg was already nerve wracking, but now she was also squished in a chair clearly designed for smaller people.

The five minutes of waiting felt like fifteen. When Greg finally walked in, she smiled as if she wasn’t being tortured by his furniture.

“Zoe, it’s nice to finally meet you,” said Greg. He shook her hand before sitting behind his desk.

“We briefly met during the opening night ofLysistrataa few weeks ago. My team and I were commissioned to make some of the costumes,” Zoe reminded him.

“Oh gosh.” He squinted at her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember. Opening nights are a blur for me. So many important donors to schmooze with.”

“I understand. We only talked for a minute.” She regretted bringing up their initial meeting. It was silly to think that she’d made an impression on him when there had been more important theater people to talk to.

“Hey, we’re talking now.” He flashed a toothy smile. “You were first on Derek’s list for our creative team, which is a pretty big deal.”

She glanced to her left at Derek, who wasn’t in any danger of being compressed by his chair. He gave her a thumbs-up. He was either agreeing with Greg or telling her that she was doing great.

“I’m excited aboutT?m Cám, too,” Zoe said tentatively. Greg’s bright but flippant manner threw her off-balance.

“Good. You should be. Derek is doing something groundbreaking.”

“Thanks, Greg,” said Derek. “It’s an honor to hold theT?m Cámworld premiere at Prestige Rep.”

“Anyhoo, sorry for my lateness. One of the board members stopped me after our meeting. He couldn’t stop telling me how excited he is about yourT?m Câm, Derek.”

---