Page 59 of Something Cheeky

“The best kiss of my life.”

She snorted at his hyperbole. He’d traveled all over the country and worked with countless talented, beautiful actors. It wouldn’t surprise her if he had a secret fan club somewhere online.

“I mean it.” His eyes seemed to pierce into her doubts.

“I have no idea how many people you’ve kissed,” she said, partly to avoid what this conversation meant for their friendship and partly because she still didn’t believe him.

“Enough to know.”

“Like Katie Mai?” Zoe cringed inwardly as the words flew out.

“Fuck no.” He scowled. “Why do you keep bringing her up?”

“She looks just like me.” She shrugged, embarrassed that she was jealous of another woman when Zoe had no claim on him.

“What? Please don’t tell me you’re doing the ‘all Asians look alike’ thing.” He shook his head. “Katie Mai looks nothing like you.”

Derek uncrossed his legs and leaned forward to study her. His intense gaze was filled with desire. She shifted in her seat. His eyes crinkled as his lips turned up slightly.

“You’re infinitely more beautiful,” he said softly. There was no hint of jest or patronization in his voice.

“Are you sure?” Zoe blurted in surprise. “She’s gorgeous. And beautiful enough to be an actress.”

“You could’ve been an actress, too.”

“My performance at our freshman New Faces showcase was an embarrassment to actors everywhere,” Zoe said as she waved off his suggestion. Their theater program required all freshmen to introduce themselves to the rest of the department through a showcase. Everyone had to perform a monologue, song, or scene, even if they weren’t acting majors.

“You were nervous. Totally normal. I was, too.”

“Your rendition of ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’’ was great.Mine—ugh. I don’t know why they make us tech kids act.” Zoe was pretty sure that experience had scarred her for life. She hated being onstage for any reason.

“It was probably my only chance to play Curly fromOklahoma!” He shrugged. “Your monologue about how much you hatedMiss Saigonwas fantastic.”

“Not according to our department head’s horrified expression.”

They laughed.

“Because you tricked them. You rehearsed a completely different piece the night before.”

She shrugged. “That ‘FuckMiss Saigon’ monologue was my way of protesting. Both being forced to act and about the problematic Asian rep on Broadway.”

“That was when I knew I wanted you as more than a friend.”

“For my potty mouth?” She immediately thought about all the things she could do to him with her mouth.

“No, for standing up for our rights. It was fucking sexy. That’s what I’ve always loved about you, Zoe.” Now it was his turn to shift in his chair. “You put your heart in everything you do no matter what others may think.”

“That’s a nice way of saying I care too much about things others don’t.” The last part wasn’t wrong, but outside of the Boss Babes, he was the only one who made it feel like an asset and not a fault. She’d been accused of caring so much about her projects that she wouldn’t compromise. But not everything required give and take.

“You’re deflecting,” he said quietly. “Z, tell me you feel something between us.”

Of course he could tell.

“I feel it,” she admitted both to him and to herself. Before she’d learned of the term for it, she’d known long ago that she needed an emotional connection with someone in order to be attracted tothem. Maybe she’d felt like this about Derek longer than she’d realized. She’d ignored the signs because she had stuck him so firmly in the friend zone.

“Really? I mean, yes!” He pumped his fist into the air. “I knew last night’s kiss meant something to you.”

“I don’t just kiss anyone.” She tried to keep her tone light even though this entire conversation left her feeling unbalanced.

---