Zora Monroe rubbed her arms as she looked up at the old building wishing she took one more shot of tequila before she left the house. “Brr. I’m freakin’ freezing.” Her top lip curled as she sighed. “Tell me again why we couldn’t meet somewhere else…indoors, brighter, maybe less sketchy-looking.”
She and her best friend Olivia were at some place a few blocks off Burnside Street near the concert hall, but she’d never been to this particular spot. From the outside it looked like any other gray, unmarked hole-in-the-wall. Nothing fancy that would have caught her attention otherwise. If not for the glare of the neon lights from the Portland sign, Zora’s guards might have been raised higher than they already were. Shoot, aside from the skimpy blue dress Oli forced her into, the building left the hairs on the back of her bare neck standing taller than the spikes of her pixie cut.
“Try to remember this is a night for celebration and not some deranged plot to get you out the house. We’re going to toast to you getting the best agent out there for your cookbook and then we’re all going to dance and drink way too much, and hopefully…we won’t remember any of it in the morning.” Oli flashed her a wide-eyed, batted-lashes, pleading expression that read, please let loose for a night.
Though she was still feigning irritation, a smile crept across Zora’s face because all of it did sound amazing. Well, except for the whole drinking way too much part. She and alcohol were a slightly less greasy version of oil and vinegar: they did not mix.
She blew out a sigh, but then her mind snagged on the word her friend was obviously trying to glaze over.
We.
“Wait a minute. Who is ‘we all’?” she asked.
Oli grinned and moved forward in the line before she turned back and settled her gaze on Zora.
“The thing is…Sophia’s too scared about going out with her little baby bump and Everett goes where she goes, so they won’t make it, but Kara, Steph, Remi, and Lexi said they should be here.” Oli’s brows danced and she bit back a shit-eating grin like she was going to burst if she held the rest in too long. “And…you’ll finally get to meet Andre,” she sang. Yippee!
Andre. As in the dude Oli met at a concert a few months back, smashed, friend-zoned, and apparently decided was the perfect leftover to re-gift to her best friend.
Yay me!
“Yeah, no thanks. I’m good. Who else?”
Oli folded her arms and aimed a pointed stare at Zora. “Oh you mean, is Mike coming?” She cocked her head and her brows braided together. Zora studied her as she pursed her lips and lightly tugged her earlobe. Then, way too adamantly she answered Zora’s unasked question. “Nope. I didn’t invite him.”
I hate it when I can tell you’re lying?
“I almost believe you.”
With an extra dramatic eye roll, she avoided meeting Zora’s scrutinizing glare. “Seriously, I didn’t.” Zero conviction. “I could be wrong, but you seem super concerned about it considering the man’s with Kate.”
Yes. The current, likely flawless, stand-in.
Zora pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and narrowed her gaze on Oli for a sec. “We’re friends, so relax. I was just asking.” Zora shrugged and rubbed her arms deciding to leave well enough alone.
When she allowed Oli to talk her into the skimpy dress she might have imagined Mike’s tongue falling to the floor. He was her brother’s best friend. Or, rather her brother’s older, disarmingly scrumptious best friend who’d been around the family for years. And Zora’s fun-sized kid crush had developed into an insanely good-looking, green-eyed stunner with a lean build and muscly broad shoulders over those years.
Her pulse quickened.
Gah, Zora hated how her hopes skyrocketed at the prospect of Mike seeing her in something other than Boho jeans and t-shirts. She tried not to let her shoulders slump all at once.
Again, why on earth did I let Oli talk me out of staying in?
“I’ll have you know I’m missing an eighties movie marathon for this. They’re starting with Weird Science, too.”
“Oh ’you know, your basic high school orgy type of thing.’ ‘It’s a mindscrambler.’ ‘Hurts so good’,” Oli said in her best eighties superhuman, sex goddess voice. She was mocking Kelly LeBrock, but her brown eyes skewed into beady lasers beneath a pair of thick brows. With her blunt cut black bob hitting just below her olive hued chin and the wine-stained lipstick lacquered over her full pout, everything about Oli fit the bill. Her acting chops not so much, but she was perfection science couldn’t manufacture.
“Whatever, butt wad. The fact that you quoted the movie proves my point.” Zora hugged her arms closer to her chest and bit back the chattering of her teeth.
“Oh the horror.” Oli pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “It’s been out for almost thirty-five years. I’m sure you already own it, along with every other movie released the entire decade. Tonight is going to be so much fun and all you have to do is enjoy yourself.”
In the midst of all the shivering and merriment, Zora’s phone pinged and now she really was excited.
It was her turn.
After a couple of minutes of debating whether or not to ask Mike if he was coming to the party, she bit her lip and decided he might be with Kate, which would just be awkward. She tapped out a message rapid-fire on her phone, her thumb hovering over the small green vertical arrow while she considered and reconsidered sending it.
Zora: Your turn.
1. Haggis burgers are going to be the secret weapon for my cookbook.
2. I’m home with Oli on the couch binge-watching the second season of Stranger Things.
3. I’ve been forced to listen to Ev and Soph have sex for the fifth time today.
Ugh, this is too easy.
Zora could feel a serious case of side-eye coming from Oli’s general direction. Together they inched forward between the black velvet ropes. Before she could second-guess herself, she pressed send and almost instantly, the phone pinged again.
“You’re about to meet a fine ass man, and while you should be practicing your stale flirting skills, you’re seriously texting Mike?”
“Relax. I’m just—“
“Playing games? In denial that you’re in love with him, have been since the butt-crack of forever?”
Zora ignored Oli and read Mike’s message as a second one popped up on the screen.
Mike: First off, if you ever plan on beating me at this game, the two truths shouldn’t be glaringly obvious. Lol. Your life and your career are food, so I already knew number one was true without reading it. But, for the record, haggis is disgusting. Not a clue how you’re going to mix Scottish and Creole food into one book. Second, if Ev and Soph weren’t screwing like rabbits, I’d be worried they were calling off the engagement.
Butterflies fluttered in Zora’s stomach as she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth stifling a smile.
Mike: #2. You suck at lying. Where are you?
Oli grabbed for the phone, but Zora yanked it back.
“What did he say?”
“Mind your own business. When you were over there sending mysterious texts with your back turned to me, I wasn’t all in yours.” She shot Oli a steely glare, but it didn’t deter the woman with balls of steel.
“Seriously, what did he say?”
Zora bit the inside of her cheek because she was dying to show Oli, but she liked to see her sweat. After a few seconds, Zora flashed the screen to her and Oli burst out laughing. “I love you Zo, but he’s right. You really can’t lie for shit.”
“Hello pot, I’m kettle.”
“Dumb,” she dragged out the word. “Even if he did think the haggis thing was a lie, why did you include me in it? Literally, my motto, my mission, my mantra is to never be home on a Friday night. The day I’m bundled up on your couch on a Friday night fantasizing about the Upside Down is the day I’m officially old.”
Damn, I knew it was too easy.
Zora grabbed the phone back.
“And don’t tell him where you are,” Oli muttered. “Why does he care?”
As if to underscore Oli’s rant and rub it in Zora’s face, the phone pinged yet again. Word for word, Mike reiterated the point about Oli’s Friday night motto then listed his own three truth/lie options before sending another message.
Mike: BTW, congrats on the lit agent. I’ll buy you a round when I see you.
Zora: Thanks!!! I still can’t even believe it.
Beaming, Zora circled her focus back around to his latest three options. She could feel the heat of Oli’s eyes beaming down on the screen as she stared at the bullet points. “Shhh.” She waved her away. “I can’t hear myself think with you hovering, helicopter.”
“When you make your choice, will you please put the phone away before you ruin the whole night?” She folded her arms, her tone more than playfully pissed. Why she was being so touchy about the phone, Zora didn’t have a clue, but just when she was about to delve deeper into it, the corners of Oli’s mouth lifted. “I want you to have some bubbly, get loose, and maybe try Andre on for size. Pun intended. You have an agent and a hot guy chilling on ice, waiting for you to uncork him.” A squeal escaped her lips as she held up her hand for a high five.
A new group of people filed into the line behind them, laughing at Oli’s hysterics.
Come on Tequila, kick in.
Reluctantly, Zora slapped her hand, but Oli held onto it for a second.
“Besides, I swear you and Mike act like freaking two year olds. Truths. Lies. It’s all the same thing. I wish you guys would go ahead and smash again then you could decide whether he’s worth all this torment and angst you’ve been putting yourself through. Maybe give someone else a chance. You’re adults now, it’s safe to stop playing games.”
“I’m not listening to you.” A giggle spilled out, but Zora only shook her head.
“Fine. Don’t admit it. But Andre does kind of remind me of Mike—same
light-skinned, baby face, full-lipped kind of brother, but think less cerebral and brooding, and more swaggalicious. He’s a little bit taller, and a doctor. Think of the role plays you could do.” She swooned. “Plus, he’s single and you look fierce tonight. You’re like this sleek, tall, Amazon bombshell dipped in bronze. That dress never looked that good on me.” Doubtful.
Zora snickered. “Fierce isn’t exactly the word I’d use. Between the thread dress and these drop-it-like-it’s-hot heels, I don’t even know what to say.” She shook her head in disbelief through a fit of giggles. “And if Andre is so fine, why aren’t you still with him?”
Before Oli could answer, Zora dropped her gaze back to her phone and selected option number three followed by a long nose liar emoji.
“You know he’s way more your type than mine. And anyway, can’t you stop texting Mike for a night? Or else tell him how you feel and see what happens. It can’t be that hard.”
“Because I don’t know that’s how I feel. I just…I like what we have. It’s fun and comfortable.” And perfect. He’s perfect. “I don’t want to mess it up and I don’t want all the awkward insecurity and second-guessing. We’re friends. Practically family.” The inflection in her voice rose to a high-pitched squeak.
Oli pressed her fist to her mouth and pointed at her. “Oh, now there’s a lie. A bold faced lie. You should’ve chosen a different game because it really isn’t your strong suit.”
Zora sighed and shrugged, but Oli’s gaze narrowed in on her.
“Yeah. Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that. The way you act around each other? I should snap a picture to let you both in on it.”
Shit.
The thing about falling for a guy before you hit puberty is it has a way of ruining it for everyone else down the line. Whether Zora wanted to pretend or not, no one else but Mike stood a chance. It certainly didn’t make matters any better he happened to be her brother’s best friend.
“Look, let us be. We’re good the way we are. We’re just…having fun together. I don’t need any distractions—my plate is full. The agent gave me twelve weeks to get this book ready. She wants me to find my ‘niche’ and come up with a new title to go along with the pictures, recipes, and personal stories. I don’t need a man right now.”
Well, maybe for a few things, which didn’t require her to buy batteries in bulk at Costco. But, no, really she didn’t want a man at the moment. Not just any man.
“Let me remind you again. We are celebrating how amazing you are. This is not just about a cookbook or Mike. Or Andre. Not even the dress. We both need to let down our guards and have some fun.” She squared her body to Zora. “Just for tonight, let’s lose ourselves.”
Oh, just…lose ourselves. No big deal. Nothing to write home about.
Except, it was for her.
Zora’s singular goal in life was to avoid losing herself—to stay true to the strong woman her grandmother raised her to be. It was exhausting, but worth it when she knew what being weak did to a woman.
But for one night?
For the friends who were coming to celebrate with her, tonight she could afford to let loose and lose herself.
“Fine.”
When Zora slapped on her game face, Oli cupped her shoulders and squared her body to Zora. “Okay. And just so you know I’m not ignoring you, I heard what you said. So don’t let whatever guy you choose be a distraction.”
Oli shrugged and stepped forward as they reached the door. She opened her purse for the beefy doorman, stopping to give him a sultry, sexy, batted lashes look before she tossed a considerably less indulgent look at Zora over her shoulder. “Work and play don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
“Mike and I are friends. Nothing more. I’m fine by myself.” Zora waggled her brows, opening her small clutch. “Plus…like you said, he’s with Kate anyway. And, he’s not here.”
Michael Kennedy didn’t mind a place as cliché as a silent disco pop-up lounge, but he’d rather have come alone. When he received the phone call from Zora’s friend Olivia inviting him out to celebrate Zora landing a new book agent, he tried to tell her it wasn’t a good time to talk. Not only was he working on the building purchase proposal for the following week, which might tip the scales toward him becoming partner, the woman he was dating, Kate, was only a few feet away in his shower. Still, Olivia insisted he take the details, and by the time he jotted them down, it was too late. Kate was already out of the shower, wondering where “we” were going.
‘I can’t wait to finally meet your friends.’
Kate was fine. Physically, she could make any red-blooded, heterosexual male drool. Wild curly blonde hair framed her cool ivory skin and a pair of sunny blue eyes. Her face was Cosmo, and her body was Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Everything else was strictly buzzkill—all the makings of a good friendship with nothing in common and no potential for anything long-term.
Mike looked up in time to see the bartender nod in his direction. “I’ll have a jack and Coke and a vodka cranberry for the lady.”
He sat on the edge of the wooden stool, elbows propped on the bar, chin resting on his clasped hands. He watched as the bartender, a young guy with a full beard and two sleeves of tattoos, mixed, poured, and garnished their drinks. Unlike Mike, this guy not only fit in with the vintage cool décor, he looked happy—what Mike would be if it weren’t for Olivia and her big mouth.
For three days, the party was all Kate talked about. Until she found out the celebration was for Zora. So, he was both looking forward to this day and dreading it.
“Tell me again why you have to be here?” Kate asked. “You’re Everett’s friend, not Zora’s.”
Case in point.
The bartender placed their order on the edge of the bar.
“Thanks, man.” Mike laid a couple of twenties on the tab and took the opportunity to breathe through his frustrations.
For a few seconds, he pinched the bridge of his nose. He slid both of their drinks closer to them at which point, she shimmied between his legs, rendering his brain useless. His hands betrayed him as they wandered down the thin fabric of her black mini dress. Sadly, and far too cliché for his liking, if there was one thing he was a sucker for, it was a tight dress.
He sighed.
“I told you, with the high-risk pregnancy, Everett and Sophia didn’t want to be out. Zora got a book agent and everyone is going to be here to celebrate. She’s like family. I’ve known her forever.” He exhaled slowly in an attempt to hold his annoyance at bay. “You’re the one who wanted to come. I could’ve just as easily dropped in by myself. I just want to tell her congratulations, so we only have to be here for a little while. Why don’t we put these headphones on and enjoy ourselves—have a good time?”
She shrugged and forced a tight smile.
“Drink up. Let’s dance. I want to see you how you move in this dress.” Mike winked and downed his cocktail. As he waited for Kate to finish hers, he checked his phone one more time and pulled his headphones over his ears.
Before long, they were vibing to the hard beat of a rap mix, courtesy of the deejay on the right. Their headsets illuminated with blue lights. Mike preferred the green station, but Kate kept urging him toward the upbeat sounds of some new mumble rapper.
Aside from being a cheerleader for the Trailblazers, she went on tour a lot as a backup dancer. Beat for beat, she matched Mike’s moves, their bodies molded together as they grinded up against one another, groping and kissing.
The drinks and the music kept flowing and soon he lost track of the time.
A flush crept over Kate’s skin and she peeled her hair off her neck and fingered it into a ponytail. “I’m going to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” She was winded and smiling as she walked toward the back of the club. It seemed like she was having a good time.
Mike didn’t leave the dance floor. He closed his eyes and fell into the rhythm of the music, and he thought about Zora.
He checked his phone—still no updates on her whereabouts. So he lifted his chin and combed the room, stopping to wave at her friends Remi and Steph who were dancing off to the side with a couple other girls he met once or twice but whose names he couldn’t remember.
When they saw him alone, they all rushed over to dance with him.
“Hey guys, how are you?”
One by one, the girls greeted him with a hug.
“Oh my gosh. We thought you weren’t coming.” Remi’s brows braided in question. “Zo is going to be so stoked.”
“Yeah. Olivia invited me. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I know how hard she’s been working toward publishing her book. Where is she?” Mike lifted his chin and searched the crowd on the dance floor.
“You know how she is. She’s over there by the bar pretending to have a good time. But she’s doing a good job of it tonight. Zo is fierce. You might not even recognize her.”
“Oh yeah?” He felt his eyebrows furrow then release as he cocked his head to the side still unsure about what Remi meant.
Why wouldn’t he recognize Zora?
“Uh…” He forgot exactly what he was about to say. Instead, he chewed his bottom lip. For some reason he couldn’t explain, a mixture of curiosity, panic, and…disbelief flooded his insides. He needed to know what she was talking about. Whatever it was, it was enough to give him pause.
He hated change. More apt, he hated the idea of Zora changing. In the back of his mind, she was sort of the sweet mainstay of his past—untouched by time. To him, she would always be Everett’s virtuous little sister who kept him tapped into the current and the cool. She wasn’t exactly a millennial but she definitely carried the undistracted drive and leaned into her goals with a fierceness he sort of envied.
“I’ve, uh…been looking for her. Will you take me to where she is?”
Mike looked over his shoulder toward the restrooms for Kate before weaving himself into the crowd behind Remi and the other girls, searching. As he worked his way toward the bar, he felt a vibration in his pocket and pulled his phone out as a Facebook notification dropped down from the top of the screen.
Zora posted something.
Or, rather Olivia tagged her in a picture.
It took Mike a second to recognize Zora. As the image filled the screen, his gaze raked lazily over her. Usually, she wore loose-fit jeans and t-shirts or some unbothered bohemian getup. He wasn’t blind. He’d seen her in shorts, so he knew she cornered the market on a great pair of legs. Every once in a while she’d show off some midriff, but not much else. Tonight though, she was wearing a tight sexy blue dress and it gave him a glimpse of everything underneath it.
Every nerve ending in his body stirred and tingled as he scrutinized her.
This Zora wasn’t the friend he hung out with sometimes and played games with since they were kids. Her sleek body didn’t belong to Everett’s cute little sister either. Not the endless legs extended by a pair of clear heels. Not the delicate column of her neck or the pink-tinted pouty grin…
Mike bit his own lip remembering how he once got to taste her mouth. So long ago.
He was breathless.
And apparently, losing his mind.
It’s the same Zora. Nothing has changed.
But, as his gaze dissected every one of her lean, svelte curves, Mike felt the change. By the tightening of his cock, he knew he couldn’t unsee the woman.
In the picture, the room was dark and crowded. Zora was just on the side of the bar where he sat earlier with Kate. Just below the image there were no comments, only three hashtags. #Silentdisco #Zoragothergrooveback #Mikewho
Mike who?
His heart pounded against his chest as he wracked his mind trying to understand what the last hashtag was about. What was Olivia trying to do? What was her big plan, to make sure he got to see Zora in that…dress? To make sure he knew she was a grown woman now and not just his best friend’s kid sister?
Is this why Olivia invited me? Am I the surprise?
At the moment, he didn’t know whether to hug or strangle Zora’s friend.
His heartbeat raced as warmth flooded his body. His eyes darted over to the bar as he pushed past people. He was breathless by the time he made his way to the edge of the dance floor until he spotted her.
Zora.
There she was leaning on a barstool, arms wrapped around some guy’s neck, her lips pressed to his.
Mike’s heart plummeted.
A burning sensation took root in his chest and his stomach hardened. He felt the heat rise to his face as a flash of anger and jealousy washed over him. His breaths were coming coarser, faster.
Strangle. Definitely, strangle. What the fuck, Olivia?
He tore his gaze away, tasting the bitterness on his tongue. Mike couldn’t watch.
It was then he noticed the pinched expression on Remi’s face. But she wasn’t looking at him. Mike turned to find Kate beside him and it didn’t take a genius to register the sullen look on her face. Tears welled in her red-rimmed eyes and she swiped them one by one from her cheeks.
Kate had seen the way he watched Zora.
He knew it was the way Kate wanted him to look at her. It was the very reason Mike hadn’t made her any promises. He didn’t have the heart to pretend to love someone. He’d given it away a long time ago and never got it back.