Page 31 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

Twenty-Two

“I t’s here!” Tiffany exclaimed, rushing up to the circulation desk and slamming her laptop on the counter. Zoey looked up briefly before looking at Tiffany.

“I have no idea what I’m looking at. Care to elaborate?”

Tiffany huffed but turned the computer around so she could read it.

“It’s the results from the board. I’m looking at my newest permanent coworker.

” Tiffany’s grin was wide, but Zoey could hardly crack a smile.

Not after being effectively dumped a couple days ago.

Zoey hadn’t realized you could be broken up with before you even officially started dating.

“It’s the board item that we needed to get approval on in order to hire you full-time on a permanent basis. It finally came through and we are good to go.”

That was fantastic news. Then again, did Zoey even want to stay in Peach Blossom?

She had been so sure before, but that was when she thought she would have someone to share it with.

Now, she was all alone—minus her few friends and book club.

Getting back out on the road seemed daunting, but maybe it was the best course of action.

She hadn’t yet talked to Mason about the way things had gone because she didn’t want to worry him, not after the conversation that they’d had last week.

Even though Dani had essentially pumped the brakes on their brewing relationship, she had still provided her with books that she thought would be helpful when dealing with the recent changes in Jordan’s life.

She had dropped them off at the Williams house the day after their failed date night.

Dani had been there and although she was as beautiful as ever, she did look a little worse for wear.

For a moment Zoey wondered if she was feeling the same way about the pause in their relationship. Did Dani regret it?

“I don’t know,” Zoey said slowly and gently, broaching the subject. “I’ve been talking to my brother and considering making a move to spend some time out where he is.”

“What?” Tiffany’s smile started to fall as she digested Zoey’s words. “Why? I thought you were ready to settle down here.”

“I was,” Zoey assured her. “I suppose I still am, but I would need some time to myself to let my feelings for Dani fade away.”

Tiffany crossed her arms. “But you can do that here. You don’t need to leave town just because Dani was here first.” Tiffany waved her hand at the computer screen. “We secured funding specifically for you. You can’t leave me so soon after that.”

“Maybe they’ll use the budget to hire someone who doesn’t have a connection to the town, even if it was just in the form of another person,” Zoey said.

She hadn’t thought seriously about where she might go if she didn’t stay in Peach Blossom.

There were plenty of small towns in Georgia that could be quaint places of peace.

Maybe Zoey should try some of those before she made a decision.

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

Zoey turned to look behind Tiffany and saw Jordan standing there with books in his hands.

She hadn’t expected to see him and couldn’t help but look around to see if Dani was the one who brought him.

She and Dani hadn’t really talked or texted since book club.

Zoey had wanted to reach out multiple times, but she had restrained herself.

“Hi, Jordan,” Zoey said beckoning him to the counter. He walked up before placing the books on the counter. “Returning all of these already?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Thank you for helping me find them and letting me borrow them.”

“You’re totally welcome,” Zoey said mustering up a small smile as she pulled the books closer to her.

“Are you leaving because of my mom?” His question nearly sent her reeling and Zoey had to fight hard not to let her surprise show on her face. Jordan was a very observant kid, and she knew she would need to play this very carefully.

“No. Your mom is a great person. She’s been a really good friend to me,” Zoey answered diplomatically. “Sometimes, things just don’t work out the way we hope. That’s all.”

Jordan nodded slowly but he seemed to be thinking about something. Zoey and Tiffany exchanged looks before Tiffany excused herself and headed toward the office. “Do you like my mom?”

“Of course I do. She’s a very nice person.”

Jordan shook his head before moving closer to the counter. “No, I mean do you like her like her? Like, as a girlfriend?”

Zoey sucked in a sharp breath. She didn’t know how to answer this. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she also wasn’t sure what Dani had really told him about them. She didn’t want to overstep and cause trouble for Dani down the road.

“Yes,” she finally answered, simply and honestly. “I like your mom a lot.”

Jordan nodded as if he’d expected it, and maybe he had. Kids were very observant when they wanted to be. “I thought you did.”

“Are you okay with that?” Zoey asked. She was genuinely curious to hear his thoughts. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to replace your dad, or that you aren’t the center of your mom’s world.”

“I know, and I’m okay with it.” Jordan smiled and Zoey felt almost effervescent.

She hadn’t expected to get Jordan’s blessing to date his mom, but she could admit that the whole thing had impeccable timing.

“It’s actually a good thing, I think. She needs new friends but if you leave, we can’t go with you. ”

“Jordan—”

“No, seriously,” he said, cutting off her words.

“For a while, my mom was just kind of existing. She was always fun and took me places, but other than that, she always just seemed sad. It wasn’t until she started hanging out with you that she really started smiling.

I want her to always be happy, and she’s happy with you. ”

Zoey didn’t know what to think about the declaration.

On one hand, she wanted to simply fade into the background of Peach Blossom’s populace.

On the other, she wanted to be front and center—and hand in hand—with Jordan and Dani.

That was the hardest part about trying to be self-aware.

She knew she had an almost pathological need to be in a stable familial structure.

Zoey wanted the family dream so much it almost made her teeth hurt.

She wanted to get married, have kids, and maybe a pet or two.

Sometimes, that was hard to find, even more so when you lived in a small town, or wanted to.

But here, Zoey seemed to have found something that she couldn’t help but want to cling to.

She didn’t want to let Dani go.

“Jordan. Are you ready to go?”

Zoey looked up in time to see Dani walk around the corner.

When their gazes meet, Dani came to a stop in the middle of the hallway.

Time seemed to stand still as they stared at one another, and the sounds of the library faded away, leaving only one thought: Zoey wanted Dani and she would fight like hell to make this work.

“Not yet,” Jordan said, his voice breaking through the fog Zoey seemed to have fallen into.

She blinked quickly and looked away. Tiffany was looking back and forth between Dani and Zoey with a knowing smile on her face.

She looked like she was enjoying some prime entertainment and if not for the way her mind was buzzing, Zoey would have told her to stop it.

“Zoey…hi.” Dani spoke first, breaking the spell that had charmed Zoey into saying nothing at all. “I’ve been meaning to call you.”

“Really?” Zoey couldn’t help but ask. She hadn’t meant to sound so hopeful, but days of no Dani in her life had left her feeling ravenous for even the smallest glimpse of her face.

Having her whole and real in front of her was like a fever dream, and one that Zoey didn’t quite want to wake up from. “What did you want to talk about?”

Dani glanced at Jordan before giving her a small smile. “Just some things. Maybe we could have dinner? If you want to.”

“I do.” Tiffany’s snicker made Zoey want to elbow her, but she resisted. “You could come by mine if you want.”

“That would be great,” Dani said, her voice sounding achingly sincere.

Her smile was little more than a slight twist of her lips, and yet it gave Zoey the type of hope that should be illegal.

She had to curb her excitement. A simple dinner should not have her already planning out what to cook.

“Are you free tonight? I know it’s sort of short notice. Tomorrow works too.”

Zoey jumped at the chance to talk so soon.

It was better for her to get the talk out of the way as soon as possible, given how she tended to spiral when she was left to her own devices for too long.

“Tonight works. I’m actually getting off in about thirty minutes, so we could do around eight if that works for you? I know it’s sort of a late dinner.”

Dani nodded. “Eight is perfect. I’ll see you then.”

“Right. See you…” Zoey trailed off as Dani and Jordan walked away from the desk.

Zoey couldn’t help the way her eyes traced Dani’s frame, greedy for every little bit of her.

When Dani turned back with a smile, Zoey couldn’t help the twist of her lips as she gave a little wave.

If not for Tiffany jostling her shoulder, she might have stood there staring at the door until her shift ended.

“So, what was that about you potentially leaving Peach Blossom?” Tiffany asked, her voice taking on a knowing tone.

Zoey couldn’t even deny it. She was foolishly letting her future location ride on whether or not this thing with Dani was salvageable.

It should have left her unnerved that she cared this much and was willing to change things up just for a person who she’d only really ever kissed a couple times, and yet it just felt right.

Mason would no doubt have had some choice words for her, but damn it, Zoey was a grown-ass woman.

If she wanted to follow her heart and see where it led, she would.

That was her decision and one she knew she would regret if she didn’t take.

“I still might leave,” Zoey said finally, not wanting to give Tiffany false hope even as her own took flight. “I can’t make any promises.”

Tiffany snorted softly. “Sure, friend. I’ll go ahead and put in for new equipment for you. At least training you will be a breeze.”