“So, you’re in the clear?” Hazel asked. “All this is over? You can finally move home and start fresh?”
Like a world of pain had suddenly been shed from her skin, Zoey smiled, feeling more honest than she had in a year. “It’s done. Over.” A sudden, unexpected lump formed in her chest, but she cleared her throat and pushed past it. “I can finally move home.”
At whatever crossed Zoey’s face, Elise cocked her head. “That’s good, right?”
Again, Zoey smiled, only this time, it didn’t feel so honest. “It’s good.”
“I’m just so happy for you,” Hazel said, still bouncing on the couch. “And so proud of you.” She jumped up and all but threw herself at Zoey again, hugging her tightly. “That took some balls, to do what you did tonight.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Zoey said, resting her chin on Hazel’s shoulder. “Without either of you.”
Elise gave a rare soft smile from across the room. “That’s why we’re here, babe. We got you.”
And this…this was good too.
Chapter 4
Late into the next afternoon, Zoey was covered head-to-toe in dark-colored dog hair. The veterinary office always smelled somewhere between wet dog and sanitizer, and she never could get it out of her nose. And now, with Charlie, the big brown Labrador on her grooming table getting a blowout, her nose was also covered with fur. The dog pressed his head against Zoey’s chest as she finished up drying him. By the time she was done, Charlie was wagging his tail and he had his tongue out in the biggest smile she’d ever seen on a dog. She kissed his nose. “Yes, you are the most handsome boy in the whole wide world.”
He wagged his butt at her.
“And you know it too, don’t you?” She laughed, helped him jump onto the stool, and then down onto the floor, and waited for him to stop his dancing before she reattached his leash and opened the door. Charlie went full steam toward the waiting room, promptly yanking himself out of Zoey’s hold.
His owner caught the leash and reined the dog in with a laugh. “Was he a good boy?”
“Always a fantastic boy,” Zoey said, finally reaching them.
Patty, Charlie’s owner, stroked the dog’s head and gave Zoey a curious look. “Any chance you’ve changed your mind on moving away?”
“No, sorry,” Zoey said, aware that, like with last night’s lump in her throat, her chest tightened whenever this subject came up. “Sadly, this is our last appointment, but have no worries at all. The lady replacing me is amazing.” Well, Zoey thought so. She’d only met her replacement once, but she seemed friendly.
Patty gave a heavy sigh, still patting Charlie on the head. “Well, if you ask Charlie and me, no one can replace you, but we wish you the absolute best.”
“Thanks, Patty.” Zoey gave her a quick hug and Charlie another kiss on the head before they headed off to the receptionist, Betty, to pay their bill. Moving away from Brooklyn would be hard. She really did love her job and her clients. Most of all, she wasn’t quite sure how she could live without Hazel and Elise. But Manhattan was too close, a harsh reminder of the NYU days she hadn’t been able to escape. She needed freedom from the pain. She wanted to be the woman who wanted love, who wanted children, who wanted that quiet life. All she had to do was find her again.
She returned to her room and set to cleaning it up to leave for the day. Charlie had been her last appointment, and tonight was a girls’ night. She quickly rinsed off, changed into skinny jeans, a black blouse, and black heels in the adjoining bathroom, and applied some darker makeup, throwing her hair up in a messy high ponytail before she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
“Have an awesome weekend, Betty,” she called as she headed for the door. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Bye, sweetie.” Betty gave a quick wave before turning back to her monitor.
Zoey focused on the front door again, noting how different she felt than the last time she’d left work. Stronger, maybe. Sexier, for sure. The shy girl from Sacramento had had sex in the most exclusive sex club in New York City. She laughed and shook her head to herself. Even she had a hard time believing it.
When she took a step outside, into the early evening, she nearly tripped at seeing Phoenix’s head of security, Archer, leaning against a big black truck. He was the one who’d interviewed her and met her on the night of the show. She’d liked him then. It worried her that he was here now.
He gave a lopsided grin. “I’m sorry if I’ve surprised you.”
She gathered herself enough not to stumble and hurried to his side, a million questions rushing through her mind. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yes, of course,” Archer said with a soft smile she was sure was meant to reassure her. It didn’t work. As if he knew that, his voice softened. “Rhys would like to see you again and requests I bring you to Phoenix.” He hesitated. Then his expression went utterly gentle, which on a face with such striking features looked pretty dreamy. “Believe me, Rhys only wants to have the talk he requested last night. Nothing to worry about.”
“Ah…” She blinked, processed, and then managed, “Hold on a second. The man I was with last night was Rhys Harrington, the owner of Phoenix?”
Archer smirked. “Yes.”
She had to pick her jaw off the ground. What in the holy hell? She thought the masked man had been some random guy. Albeit, she didn’t know the ins and outs of the sex club. “Does Rhys always do the shows?”
“Not always, no,” Archer explained, his thumbs tucked into the pockets of his jeans. “But he always handles any sensitive ones, so he knows everything is being done correctly.”
Like a woman offering up her virginity, apparently.
Zoey blinked. Again. “Am I in trouble?”
Archer laughed softly. “No. Why would you be in trouble?”
Ah, because my best friend hacked into your security system and I manipulated and lied my way into a very private club.
Archer watched her thoughts play out on her face before he offered, “Let me give you a piece of advice. I have known Rhys for a very long time; when he says he wants to talk to you, it’s not a suggestion. You either come now, or he’ll come to you later. Trust me on that.” Archer moved to the passenger-side door and opened it. “If it makes you feel better, there are security cameras there.” He pointed above the clinic’s door. “And there.” He gestured across the street. “There’s evidence you are with me. But also, text your roommates, let them know you are going to the cigar club and who you are going with. Let them know I’ll bring you home after, I promise.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his drivers’ license from his wallet. “Take a picture and send it to your friends.”
From the first time she met Archer, he’d done everything and anything to make her feel safe and comfortable. And the truth was, she did. “Okay,” she said, reaching into her purse. She took the photo then fired off a text to the girls in their group chat.
I’ll meet you at the restaurant tonight. Rhys Harrington wants to see me. I’m going to the cigar club now.