Page 7 of Something Cheeky

“Derek, shouldn’t you be in New York directing a show?” Zoe asked.

“Trying to get rid of me already?”

“No, it’s— Didn’t you just open a play off-Broadway? I thought you were supposed to hang out for a few days after.”

“Nah. That’s what stage managers are for. A good SM is—”

“Worth their weight in gold,” Zoe finished.

They laughed.

“You still remember that from school.”

“How could I not? They drilled that into our heads for four years.”

“Never, ever”—Derek deepened his voice to imitate one of their professors—“piss off the stage manager. They’ll make your life hell.”

“That was perfect!” Zoe clapped her hands.

“How could I forget our technical director and his weird stories.”

“One time during a performance ofClue,” Zoe said in a deep voice, “I had to hold up a broken door for ten minutes while—”

“Standing behind it onstage,” Derek finished.

“It’s the equivalent of those stories about walking to school in the snow uphill both ways,” Zoe said in her normal voice.

“You’re still terrible at accents,” he teased.

“Shut up!” But she chuckled. “That’s why I wasn’t an acting major.”

“You had terrible stage fright during our New Faces rehearsal.”

Derek recalled the first time they met. He didn’t know anyone at the freshman show, but his classmates were already laughing and joking with one another. He later learned that they’d arrived at school early for orientation. It hadn’t been mandatory, so he’dstayed in his hometown to work and save money. The professor had partnered him with Zoe because they were the only Asian students that year.

That microaggression gave them something to bond over. The two of them were inseparable for the next four years. Technically three and a half because the last semester—

“Here’s your boba,” TJ said, interrupting Derek’s foray down memory lane. “I made you a fresh one, too, Zoe.”

Derek turned his attention back to Zoe, whose eyes were dark. Had she been recalling the same memories he was? He dug out his wallet without looking away from her.

“Nope. My treat since you two are old friends.” TJ pushed Derek’s hand back.

“Thanks.” Derek grabbed a ten-dollar bill from his wallet and stuffed it in the half-empty tip jar.

TJ nodded approvingly.

“If you’re still looking for Something Cheeky, I can write down directions for you,” TJ offered. “Along with my phone number in case you get lost again.”

“I don’t need them anymore.” Derek turned back to Zoe. “I found who I was looking for.”

Chapter 4

Derek’s stomach swirled. He meant to let TJ down gently. He was here for Zoe and no one else. She was why he’d taken an unintended scenic tour of northern Virginia. Instead he sounded like he was stalking Zoe.

He ignored the heat creeping to his cheeks and flashed Zoe asave melook. She bit her lip to hide a smile as if she found joy in his discomfort.

“Oh la la,” TJ trilled. “I know when I’ve been dismissed.”

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