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“As for the job, it’ll come to you. I don’t doubt it. You’re welcome to work part-time at the shop.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d made the offer, but tattooing wasn’t my thing either.
“Thanks, Lucas. I’m gonna hit the sack.”
“Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t.”
Hanging up, I picked my phone back up. Stared at Zoe’s text. It would be the easiest thing in the world to make a joke back. Ask who the hell Tyler Lockwood was. Or if I really wanted to make her laugh, Lady Gaga. I could lure her into the ladies’ room. Say any number of things.
And then what?
She’d want to know when I was coming back. Where I was staying. What was next. And the truth was, I didn’t know the answers to any of those questions. I loved her, that I didn’t doubt. But love wasn’t going to pull my weight in Zoe’s well-ordered life. I needed a plan.
And so instead of any of that, I simply replied, “Have fun. Off to bed.”
Then I turned off my ringer and the lamp and went to sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
zoe
“Look at this.” I showed Charlee the text. “Weird, right?”
Charlee took my phone. “I dunno. Is it?”
“For him? Yes. Very.”
“What are you thinking?”
I’d just clinched the win for us and tried to enjoy the free drinks I’d earned with my superior knowledge of all things TVD, but my preoccupation with Nate had me in a chokehold.
“I’m thinking he’s shutting me out. That’s what it feels like anyway.”
“He’s going through a lot,” Charlee said, swirling the straw around in her drink.
“I know. I keep telling myself that. And to be patient. But little by little, I can see him pulling away, and it sucks.”
“You know what they say about chasing things.”
“Sure. Give them space, and they’ll pick up the pace. Yada yada. But Nate is different. He might end up with so much space there’ll be no Nate and Zoe at all.”
“So the alternative is?”
I tried to catch what Charlee was throwing but wasn’t sure I got it. “Is what?”
“Telling him how you feel.”
“Oh, sure. Great idea. Hey, Nate, I can see you aren’t really wanting to talk to me, and even though we spent weeks wishing we were together and now you can be here with me, you’re not. . . can we talk about how I’m madly in love with you?”
Charlee shrugged. “Seems like a good plan to me.”
Smiling, I took a sip of my drink. “I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”
“I’m only half serious.”
“Hey, ladies.” Owen came up to us. “Congrats on another win,” he said to me. “I really am going to have to insist on a new topic for next week.”
