Page 77 of Something Cheeky

“Ten times,” Trixie deadpanned.

“Trixie, stop it. You’re not a murderess and this isn’t ‘Cell Block Tango,’” Zoe said, trying to keep a straight face.

“What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t threaten him at least once?” Trixie shrugged and smirked.

Derek laughed nervously as he squeezed past Trixie to set the bags down in the kitchen.

“Don’t wait up for me,” Trixie sang as she shut the door behind her. They heard her laughter through the door as it echoed down the hallway.

“I had no idea Trixie could be so intense. Will your other friends threaten to stab or poison me, too?”

“I can’t say,” Zoe replied honestly. “We Boss Babes are very protective of one another.”

“They sound like wonderful friends. I hope to meet the rest of them soon.”

“You will on opening night.”

“Perfect. I can hide behind you all when the board comes looking for me. I hate schmoozing.”

“They’ll love you. Whenever you talk to people, you make them feel as if they’re the only ones in the room,” Zoe said quietly. “You make them feel important.”

“Are we still talking about the board?”

Embarrassed, she shook her head. After Greg had caught them making out like teenagers, she thought it’d been a mistake to take her friendship with Derek to the next level. But when they were alone together, he made her feel safe and loved.

Derek set everything down and sat down next to her to hold her hand. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. Those deep brown irises never strayed from her.

“You’re the most important person in my life. Except for my mom,” he added.

“Is she coming to opening night?” Zoe asked, relieved to move the conversation away from herself. She wouldn’t have to deal with her conflicting feelings about their relationship.

“I bought her a nonrefundable ticket hoping her frugality guilts her into coming.”

“Ooh, you know how our moms hate wasting money.”

“Fingers crossed. She’ll be more excited to learn that we’re dating than seeing my bastardization ofT?m Câm.”

“Retelling,” she corrected him. She hadn’t realized how stressed he’d been about his mom. “Even if she doesn’t like it, she’ll be proud that you’re telling our stories.”

“I hope so.” He placed a hand out for Mr. Bobbins to sniff. “I almost forgot, I brought tuna for Mr. B.”

“Mr. B?”

“A cool cat needs a cool name. Right, Mr. B?” He scratched the cat’s chin.

The orange tabby meowed as if in agreement. Zoe gasped in joyful surprise.

“Now how about that tuna, Mr. B?”

Mr. Bobbins’s ears perked up at the magic word. He stood up and arched his back into a big stretch before hopping off Zoe’s lap. He nudged Derek’s leg and trotted to the kitchen.

“He approves.” Derek grinned and rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Let’s get you some tuna withwater.”

Finally, her two men were getting along. If Mr. Bobbins could let go of the past, so could she. Dealing with Greg was already hard enough but to be surprised the way they’d been? Derek had done his best to handle the situation.

It was best to focus on the present. Zoe told herself not to worry about their future until after opening night.

Chapter 34

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