blue eyes

Chapter 16

Zoe:
Zoe spent all of her free time Saturday and Sunday thinking about Brandon, replaying the whole Krispy Kreme moment in her head and panicking about the wedding. She was a woman of her word, so she had to follow through, but she hoped the whole event wouldn't be too much for her. If it was, she might have to come clean to Brandon about everything.

When Sunday night rolled around, Zoe had barely accomplished anything productive outside of editing the rest of Sam's writing. Sam wanted to turn it all in to Mr. Graham early, mostly because Sam was still worried that he didn't like them.

Zoe stirred a pot of curry on the stove absently. She'd been thinking through her outfits for the week, but that train of thought had been completely derailed when she'd realized she needed an outfit for Sunday.

A timer went off and Zoe was brought back to attention. She thanked her past self for thinking ahead and setting the timer in the first place. She tested a piece of chicken, then turned off the stove, satisfied with the dish. The pulled it off the burner to cool, then got out another pot to make a big batch of rice.

"I could just wear one of my work outfits," Zoe said out loud to Gilbert as she rinsed her rice. "But that might come off to professional. It's too cold for a sundress... Plus, St. Mary's is a really pretty building."

Zoe dumped the rice into the pot, then measured out the water and turned the  burner back on. She grabbed her phone to set another timer, then went back to ruminating about clothes.

"Basically, Gilbert," Zoe sighed. "I don't want to be overdressed or underdressed. I want to look pretty, but also invisible. I want Brandon to be proud to have me on his arm, but I also don't want him get any ideas about us... Or maybe I do. Ugh, I don't know!!"

With a groan, Zoe collapsed onto her couch and threw an arm dramatically over her face. Gilbert looked up from his cat tree and meowed at her. Zoe moved her arm and stared at the rain pattering against the window.

Of all the people Brandon could have asked to this wedding, he'd asked someone who actually knew how to function in that world. The problem is that he doesn't know that I know how to function in that world. And I know he just came from that world, but I also get the feeling that he's hiding something, too, and I don't want him to think less of me. Oh GOD, why do I care this much?!

Zoe groaned again and rolled over, smashing her face into a pillow. Gilbert got up and stretched, suddenly aware that he'd missed some of the conversation. He hopped down from his perch and strutted over to the couch. He swished his tail a few times, then hopped gracefully onto Zoe's butt.

"Ugh, Gilbert," Zoe's voice was muffled in the pillow. "Get off me."

Instead of listening, Gilbert walked in a circle and curled up on the small of Zoe's back. Zoe grounded beneath him and turned so her face was freed from the pillow. She blew up on the piece of hair that fell onto her face a few times until it finally stayed out of the way.

"Despite whatever I'm feeling about Brandon," Zoe concluded. "This is an important event for his friend. I need to wear something that can skew fancy or casual, depending on how everyone else looks. And I know just the thing."

Zoe turned just her shoulders enough to be able to scoop up Gilbert before standing up. She carried him like a baby into her bedroom. She shifted him to just her left arm as she swiped through the clothes in her closet.

"Aha!"
She pulled out a navy dress with a boat neck and an a-line skirt. Then she perused her extensive cardigan collection and found the lacy one she was looking for. She'd found it at Nordstrom on a final sale rack after she got her first real paycheck. It was one of her most prized possessions.