Page 24 of His Curvy Castaway Obsession - A Man Who Knows What He Wants

“So…” she begins, tactfully lifting my hand back where she can see it and closing her robe, for now I tell myself.

“I want to know all about Michael,” she says dramatically, and despite myself I feel a pang of nerves. Almost guilt.

Am I ashamed of being me? No. I just don’t like to talk about myself much, never had to. But for Zoe’s sake and to get to know each other better I know we have to do just that

“Well, I guess I do owe you one for sharing your story earlier,” I tell her, not really knowing where to start. My life’s not that interesting.

Not really.

“I was raised in several foster homes from birth. I never found out who my biological parents were…”

I wait for the standard, ‘I’m so sorry speech’ most folks like to give, but Zoe’s different, like I knew she would be.

“I got a scholarship to college, like you I picked finance… but sucked at it, then caught a few lucky breaks and here I am.”

Zoe rolls her eyes and punches my chest lightly.

“Well, Mr. Boring… thanks for that, maybe sometime you can fill in on some of the blanks,” she says, her eyes searching mine, but she lets it go for now.

“How about your blanks? I’d like to know some more about you but it’s okay if you don’t want to either,” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from me and back to her. She’s way more interesting to me than myself, that’s for sure.

She gets up and starts to clear stuff away, making me think I’ve hit a nerve, maybe I should’ve told her some more about me.

Maybe she likes to clean up?

“My story from before? College… that was pretty much my life outside of home and study. I read, I watch old movies… I moved out from living with my dad just this year. My mom was never in the picture, so dad raised me solo. I already told you about his financial thing. That changed our life, big time, but we managed… I help him out where I can but he wants me to make a go of things on my own, not for his sake, but for me. Doesn’t want me spending my life worrying about him.”

She looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs. “Maybe. Like yourself, I’m not very exciting either. Maybe people aren’t very exciting.”

I know she doesn’t mean that in a negative way, at least, I hope not. But she’s right.

“You’re right,” I tell her. “Most people only do what they have to just to get by. Excitement isn’t something most people can afford, or even want when they get it. Sometimes exciting isn’t what we think it’s going to be.”

“Like going on a Parker Investment cruise.” She quips.

“Exactly!” I call out loud, slapping my thigh and laugh like I haven’t laughed in ages.

“I think I definitely fit into the unexciting category of people, even though I don’t have to worry about much.” I tell her.

“Except meeting you Zoe, that’s been exciting.” I add, really meaning it.

“Today’s been exciting,” she admits, and I should hope so to.

“It has, and I’m glad you came… no pun intended.”

“You came too, remember!” she squeals and we can both laugh again. Our laughter echoing up the stone staircase until it’s drowned out by fresh and menacing peals of thunder again.

“Is this storm ever gonna let up?” she asks me and I only raise my brows, thinking that if I had enough food and water, plus this place I would gladly stay here forever, with her.

Just Zoe and me.

Forever.

Chapter Seventeen

Zoe

I’ve lost my virginity, hooked up with the man of my dreams, eaten lobster for the first time ever, which I don’t mention because I don’t want to look weird, but there’s something missing. I sit there, listening to the storm outside, with Michael and I just looking at each other occasionally, glancing around trying to figure out what’s different.

“I’m not freaking out about stuff like I normally would,” I realize aloud. Michael looks over to me and smiles, satisfied.

“Good. And neither should you, remember what I said, you’ve got no worries now, trust me.”

I do think about my dad, about Ranka and the agency, but I feel the space where my routine worry would sneak in empty. That habit I have where I occupy my mind worrying about everything and nothing all at the same time.

But just now, being with Michael, I notice how un-worried I am. I feel content for the first time ever, even though I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do or what tomorrow will bring.

“Shall we try and fire up this TV?” he asks and I frown, not wanting to spend our first date watching TV.

“Is this a date?” I ask him, I have to know, and save me from worrying about it later.

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