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“You disappeared.” Zoom counted off on her fingers. “Said nothing to him about where you were going. He found out that you took your gun with you and vanished at the airport so effectively, Tex’s facial rec software couldn’t even find you. Then he finally gets a hold of you and you’re in Australia with some naked guy in your place.”
I blinked.
“I mean.” Zoom picked up her drink. “How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot?”
“What are you—” I paused. “Wait, what naked—shit.”
“Get it now?”
I rubbed my eyes.
“I get you’re not into him.” Zoom pointed out. “But he’s trying to get over you and to see you already with someone else.”
“I’m not with Darby!” I grunted. “He’s a friend. He’ll always be a friend.”
“Will Storm always be a friend?”
“I don’t want to lose him.” I sighed, exhausted.
“Can I be honest?”
“Zoom, what kind of question is that?” I asked. “Of course, you can.”
“I think he wants to be more than friends.” Zoom leaned forward to whisper. “He wants to be more than friends and he knows that can’t happen. And to see you wish someone else, kills him. But even though he’s hurting and even though he has to be around the man he thinks you’ve chosen, he showed up. He set aside his pride and his heart, and he showed up. Just remember that.”
That was the measure of a man—when he put away his pride and his feelings to be there for his woman.
I blushed.
“You’re blushing—what’d I say?”
“It’s not what you said.” I admitted. “It’s what I’m thinking.”
“Of him naked?”
That only made my cheeks burn more.
“I wasn’t until you said it.” I eyed her. “Now, I can’t stop.”
Zoom laughed. “Perfect.”
“You’re bad.” I accused, shaking my head.
“Listen, you should clear the air before the storm comes.” Zoom advised me. “You don’t want him going into a fight muddled.”
I nodded.
“Let us know if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
After hanging up from Zoom, I wondered if she was right.
Was Storm jealous?
I wasn’t sure when it happened, but I fell asleep.
It wasn’t until footsteps sounded in the hall that I sat up and looked around. The room was dark, except for bits of moonlight shining through the window since I hadn’t closed the blinds.