A Four Letter Word (5 page)

"Well, thanks for the dance, Miss Richards." Evan bows.

"Anytime, Mr. Harris."
I curtsy.

I suddenly feel like I'm at the homecoming dance my junior year…

"
Zoey, I'm so sorry. I didn't know," Erica apologizes.

"
It's okay I'm fine," I get out, my eyes following as Liam walks across the gym with his arm draped over Morgan’s shoulder.

My heart sinks.

Of course he would bring her to the dance—Morgan Anderson was a sure thing, after all.

"
Zoey, we can go if you want," Erica suggests, concern written all over her face.

"
No, Erica, I'll be okay. You go dance, Brandon's waiting."

Erica turns and nods to Brandon and then turns back to me.

"
Erica, seriously—go have fun with Brandon, I'll be fine. Please just go," I plead, holding back the tears.

"
Just one dance, and I'll be right back," she promises and then turns to go dance with Brandon.

A heavy weight sits on my chest when I notice not far from Erica and Brandon, Liam is dancing with Morgan. If they got any closer, they would be one person.
I hold back the droplets of moisture pooling at the corners of my eyes, and it push them back, not wanting them to spill forth down my cheeks.
Liam and I had been dating exclusively for about two months. And after the first month, he started pushing for more. He wanted to have sex, and I just wasn't ready. He kept pushing and pushing, and I finally gave in. But when it came time to "do it," I still couldn't. He yelled at me and called me a cocktease and frigid and damaged. A couple of days later, he broke up with me.
Now seeing him with Morgan Anderson, the school slut, made perfect sense; he was going to get what he wanted—what he couldn't get from me.

My heart was breaking all over again, just watching them.

"
Would you like to dance?" a familiar voice asks out of nowhere.

I look up, and I am staring into understanding hazel eyes—Evan.
He reaches his hand out to me, and after some hesitation, I finally put my hand in his.

"
What about Chelsea? Won't she…won't she be mad?"

"
Now why would she be mad? I'm just going to have one dance with a beautiful girl who just happens to be my best friend." He quirks an eyebrow.

I nod.
Evan leads me to the dance floor and spins me around. I can't help but giggle.

"
That's better. I don't like to see you upset, Zoey. He's a dickhead. He doesn't know what he had when he had it," Evan tries to reassure me.

I know he's just being nice. I know he's just being my friend.
My crush on him lingers just below the surface, but I keep it squashed. I don't want to ruin the best friendship I've ever had with stupid girly feelings.
Evan leads and I of course I follow. He's a perfect dance partner.
He's just perfect.
I hope Chelsea realizes just how lucky she is.
The song ends and turns into something too fast.

"
Thanks for the dance, Miss Richards." Evan bows.

I giggle.
"Anytime, Mr. Harris." I return with a curtsy.

Evan gives me my favorite smile before he leaves the dance
floor and goes back to Chelsea.

"
Zoey, are you okay?" Evan asks.

"Yeah, I'm good, just got lost in my head there for a second."

Evan shakes his head and laughs. "Some things never change."

"They certainly don't."

I follow Evan off the dance floor and bee-line it straight to the bar. I approach and I see Griffin and he's smiling…at me. Cue butterfly action round three. My eyes drink every ounce of him in as I approach. I hadn't gotten a good look at him when we met, but now my eyes wander up and down his body. He is wearing a gladiator costume, that much I knew when we first started talking earlier tonight, but what I didn't notice was the body attached to it. He isn't built like Brett—let's face it, no one is built like Brett "the tank" Harris—and he isn't built like Evan; tall, lean and chiseled. Griffin is slightly shorter than Evan but still taller than me. His shoulders are broad and strong. He definitely has a body that he works at, but not overly. You don't get his athletic build sitting at home eating bon-bons, but he doesn't appear to be one of those slaves to the gym types. Griffin is definitely easy on the eyes with his boy next door looks—that pearly white, yet warm smile, sparkling blue eyes, and sandy blonde hair. A look I definitely could get used to—a look I
am
getting used to.

"Hi."

"Hi," Griffin echoes.

"Oh, please," Evan mumbles, and thankfully only my ears hear him. I elbow him in the side.

"Ow," he whispers, rubbing his side.

I lean into him. "Play nice or else I will elbow more than just your side."

"Fine."

"Griffin, this is Evan, my best friend. Evan, this is Griffin."

The two exchange handshakes.

"So, how did you avoid being in the contest?" Evan asks, eyeing Griffin up and down, like he's sizing him up.

"Oh, I was luckily able to dodge that bullet this year. Usually Patrick and Geoffrey have me up on that stage. But, um, after a few years, I learned to hide. So, I hid when they were in search of contestants."

"Damn it, why didn't I do that? Oh, I know why, because
someone
handed me over to them." Evan tries his best to give me his version of a bitch brow; it just makes him look weird.

I laugh, hard.

"Don't blame me. It's 'cause you're Tarzalicious. They
wanted
you, and they were going to have you no matter how much I protested," I remind him.

"Um, I hate to say it, Evan, but she's right. Once those two get an idea in their heads, there's no letting go. They would have hog-tied you if they had to," Griffin adds.

Evan just shrugs his shoulders.

"Hey, Captain Spank Monkey, you about ready to go?
I'm tired of my ass getting pinched, and it's not just by the ladies." Brett's boisterous voice breaks the silence amongst the three of us.

"
Awww, Doctor Limp Dick, have you had enough
house calls
?" Evan teases.

"Fuck you,
Tarzalicious
." Brett glares at Evan.

"Oh, will you two
ladies
settle the fuck down," Nina scolds, coming up behind Brett.

"He started it," Brett and Evan accuse the other, fingers pointing.

Griffin looks at me, utterly confused. I smile and shake my head. This stuff happens all the time with the two of them. It's like they are two little kids on the schoolyard and the other just threatened to take their pail and shovel out of the fucking sandbox.

"Looks like it's past these two's bedtime.
Zoey, I think we're gonna take off. Do you wanna ride with us? I, uh, think Ashlee is busy," Nina asks, her head nodding behind her, while Evan and Brett pout.

I peer over her shoulder, and sure enough, Ashlee is nuzzling the neck of a very fine cowboy, and she is giggling—looking happier than I've ever seen her.

Soul mates.

A smile crosses my lips and warms my heart. "Um, just give me a sec, I'll be right back," I tell Nina and smile at Griffin.

"Griffin, wait for me here, okay?" He nods and smiles back. I make my way to Ashlee, and her giggles are infectious.

"Ashlee?"

Ashlee slowly pulls her attention away from the cowboy's neck and smiles at me, her eyes dancing. "Oh, hey, Zoey. You looked amazing on stage sorry you didn't win."

"That's okay. Um, Nina and the guys are ready to take off, and I know we came here together…" I begin.

"I'll make sure Ashlee gets home safely," Cowboy interjects.

I notice his arm snuggly fit
s around Ashlee's waist. They look happy and as if they've been together for a while, not just hours. They definitely don't look like two people who just met.

"Oh, my God, I am so sorry," Ashlee apologizes, giving
herself a V8 forehead smack.

"
Zoey, this is Collin. Collin, this is Zoey."

The cowboy, I mean, Collin, puts his hand out to shake mine.
"Nice to meet you, Zoey." His southern drawl caresses each word while he tips his hat. I notice Ashlee swoon beside him.

Yep, she's got it bad and for the long haul.

I take his hand. "Nice to meet you too."

"Collin, you sure you don't mind?" I know the answer before I finish asking the question—the expression on his face says it all.

"Not at all. It would be my pleasure." He smiles and turns his eyes on Ashlee.

"Okay. Ash, I'll just ride with Nina and the boys. Call me tomorrow…I mean, later?"

Ashlee pries her eyes off of Collin, leaves his side, and hugs me. "Thanks, Zoey. I will definitely call you later," she whispers in my ear. She gives me one last squeeze, and then it's like I never was there. All her attention is on Collin.

Wow.

"Soul mates" echoes in my head as I make my way back to the bar. I notice the little group of four I left behind has expanded to a group of six.

"Oh, Doctor Makes-Me-So-Horny, you can't be leaving already I haven't had my check up," Patrick teases.

He is relentless. Brett is squirming, turning all different shades of pink and then red. Nina and Evan are desperately trying to contain their laughter, but after a second or two, it's useless—they both burst into hysterics.

"Fuck you, fuck you, both." Brett pouts, crossing his arms over his chest.

Nina's laughter immediately stops, and she gives him the "oh you did not just say that to me" eye. I can see Brett gulp and cower; obviously he wasn't thinking. Not that he ever does.

"Lighten up Brett," I say as I make my way next to the group.

"Whatever," he comebacks.

"Anyway, are we all ready?" Evan asks, looking at me and then shifting his eyes to Griffin.

Don't get you loin cloth in a twist there, Tarzalicious.

I can't help but roll my eyes at him.

"Yeah, Collin is giving Ashlee a ride home," I inform everyone.

"Good, let's blow this
popsicle stand—no offense," Brett announces, looking to Patrick and Geoffrey.

"Doctor Beefcake, don't worry, none taken; besides, I know you'll make a house call in the near future. Don't you worry your gorgeous little head about
it." Patrick smile grows with each syllable, and he eyes Brett up and down.

"Come on, babe." Brett grabs Nina's elbow, desperate for his escape.

"It was so nice meeting you, great party, thanks for inviting us," Nina calls out as Brett drags her to the door.

"Anytime, Nurse Luscious, we'll see you soon," Geoffrey replies.

"So," Evan stammers, "I…uh…thanks for the invite…it's been different…um, Zoey?"

Evan looks lost and in desperate need of saving.

"Evan, why don't you get our coats, and I'll meet you by the door," I tell him.

Evan eyes me, giving me that "Are you sure?" look. I give him my "Yes, I'm fucking sure" look right back.

"Thanks again." He reaches out his hand to shake Patrick's and Geoffrey's.

Always the gentleman.

He hesitantly turns to Griffin. "Nice to meet you too." And like he did with Patrick and Geoffrey, he offers Griffin a handshake.

"Same here," Griffin replies, shaking Evan's extended hand.

I notice their knuckles turn slightly white—
boys
. They release their
grip
. Evan smiles at me and then starts to walk to get our coats.

"Bye,
Tarzalicious," Patrick and Geoffrey say in unison, finger waving.

Evan shakes his head while blushing.

"So, Hot Jane, we so need to get together sometime later this week—maybe lunch?" Geoffrey suggests.

"Sure, that sounds good," I easily admit.

I feel like I've definitely added two new friends to my list.

"Great, I'll text or call. Ash gave us your number already," Patrick informs me.

"Okay, I'll talk to you soon, then."

Geoffrey and Patrick
swoop me up into a big hug.

"Can't wait.
Toodles," Patrick says as he and Geoffrey walk away hand in hand.

"So," Griffin begins.

"So," I mimic.

"Um, can I have your number too? Maybe, we, um…could go out sometime?" He nervously looks around the room.

"Griffin?"

"Yeah?"
His eyes reach mine.

"I'd really like that," I confess.

"Really?" he shyly asks.