Page 51 of Drive Me Wild
She said they’re all hanging out in the living room of the house and to just come over, so I beeline to my truck and haul ass over there, my hands thrumming a beat on the steering wheel to release some of the tension I’m holding onto.
I pull up next to Zoe’s car and amble up the walkway, not sure what I’m going to be dealing with on the other side of the door. I rap my knuckles on the door, and Cole answers with no response but a dumb look on his face.
“Hey,” he finally mumbles.
“Hey.”
“Come in, we were just having coffee and trying to drag out of Zoe where she was last night.”
I shoot her a look and then swallow the lump in my throat. “Got any more coffee?”
“Help yourself.” He points to the pot on the counter next to some freshly baked scones.
“If I’d known you were baking scones, I would have skipped breakfast at The Dose.”
“Have some. We’re all stuffed.”
I realize I’m stalling.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“So, Zoe,” I catch her eye again. “These two are acting like the old married couple and worried about where you were last night?”
She stifles a grin and nods.
I walk my mug of coffee over and sit in the chair next to hers.
“She was with me.”
Cole and Renée look at each other, and I see a whole unspoken conversation pass between them in the silence that follows. At that moment, I know more than any other. They are meant to be together. They’ve already formed their own silent language like Cody and I have.
Renée tucks her legs underneath her and then looks at Zoe. “Are you two seeing each other?”
“Yes. And I know you warned me against him, and Cole, you did the same to Caleb. But we—” she looks at me, and I know I need to step in.
“I’m not the man you think I am. I have been that man in the past, but not anymore. Not since I met her.”
“She’s only been here for a few weeks.” Cole is low-key simmering.
“No. When I met her last spring before the summer season kicked off. When you two were busy falling head over heels for each other, Zoe and I—”
“Bonded. We found common ground on something that is important to both of us. And ever since I’ve been back in town, we’ve been…bonding some more.”
Zoe grabs my free hand.
“Look, I know you two were only looking out for my best interest, but that was based on some old assumptions about Caleb. And I appreciate how much you care, but I am asking for both of us that, as my friend and his brother, you update your assumptions. Let him be the man he’s trying to be. Let us find our way forward together without your concern. If he breaks my heart,” she squeezes my hand playfully, “then I’ll take it on the chin like a grown-up. But it’s time you let the old gossip die.”
Cole and Renée exchange another look, then Renée jumps out of her chair and hugs Zoe.
“If you are happy, then I’m happy.” Then she turns to me. “Caleb, I’m sorry if we did anything shitty. We were only looking out for Zoe.”
I nod and look at my brother, who has a softened expression. He gestures toward the door, and I follow him outside.
We walk down to the dock that sits out over the water. It’s too cold to swim anymore, even though the sun is high in the sky, burning off the morning dew.
“Buzz says you’ve been spending a lot of time with Cody and at their house.”
This is not the conversation I thought we were going to have.
