Chapter Ten ~ Zoey
1019 Words
Chapter Ten ~ Zoey
I was scribbling fiercely, the plate of food I’d brought with me forgotten.
Watching Gabe and his cousins … the way they interacted, communicated, and obviously felt about each other, had given me an epiphany. There was something missing in the book I was currently finishing up, and inspiration had struck over dinner.
I grinned excitedly as I wrote. My editor was going to lose her mind!
A knock on the screen door had my grin fading as I looked up to see who was disturbing my train of thought.
“Can we come in?” Jasmine asked.
I really wanted to say no, but realized Jasmine and Serena might take it wrong, not understanding the intense need I had to put pen to paper.
“Of course,” I said instead, allowing my desire to be polite to overrule my desire to be alone.
I went back to writing, trying to get down the ideas that I had before I lost them, and Jasmine sat down on the bed while Serena walked around the room.
“So … I was just telling Serena that she needn’t be worried that you have some sordid underlying plan to trap our cousin and use him for your own gain…”
Still half in a daze, the gist of Jasmine’s words penetrated my brain and I looked up, confused.
“What? Why would I use him?”
Jasmine waved her hand, as if waving away my question.
“But I told her, the last person that would need to use our cousin for anything, would be Zoey Zahn…”
My brain cleared immediately and I dropped my pen.
“How long have you known?” I asked, my stomach dipping as I worried that she’d be upset with me. I liked Jasmine, and didn’t want her to think I had any sort of negative reason for keeping my identity to myself.
“I thought you looked familiar that first day, and it kept bugging me, but I didn’t know why,” she answered, flipping her flaming hair over her shoulder then giving a small shrug. “I went to Comic Con last year and saw you on a panel, but that was the only time I’d really seen your face, so it didn’t register right away. I woke up last night and it came to me.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I figured you had your reasons, and you weren’t hurting anyone by not announcing that we had one of the most popular writers in the world sleeping in the next cabin.”
“Well … I wouldn’t go that far. I was just enjoying the privacy, and the chance to be a regular person, you know? It was nice to have you all like me just for me,” I admitted.
Jasmine got up and crossed to me, her arms reaching out to take my hand in hers.
“We do like you for you, Zoey.”
“I like you guys too, and I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.”
“I get it,” Serena chimed in, speaking up for the first time since entering. “And I’m sorry I assumed the worst.”
“That’s okay … I get it too. Your cousin’s a very handsome and likeable guy, and I actually love the fact that you guys are all so close that you’d look out for him that way.” I smiled at the younger woman, then gestured to my notes. “That’s actually why I rushed back here …Watching you guys and the dynamics you share helped me figure out what’s been missing with the story I’m writing.”
“Is it the third book in the trilogy?” Jasmine asked, clapping her hands excitedly.
I laughed and answered, “Yes. Have you read them?”
“Are you kidding?” she replied, her voice raising an octave. “Who hasn’t? I love this series and cannot wait to read book three. I’m so excited that they’re being made into movies. Do you get to decide who plays your characters? When do they start filming? Will you get to be there?”
“Jasmine,” Serena said, quietly chastising her cousin, but I just giggled at Jasmine’s enthusiasm.
“Sorry,” Jasmine said, blushing slightly.
“That’s okay,” I replied, squeezing her hand. “I really appreciate the fact that you love my books so much. Um … no, I don’t get to decide who will play each part, but they are asking for my input. They start filming next month, and I get to stop by the set, but I probably won’t be there the entire time. I’m a little nervous about the stories translating well to film, but I’m also really excited, and beyond honored that they’re being made.”
“That’s so cool,” Jasmine breathed, and I had to laugh. She sounded exactly like my teenaged fans, and I kind of loved that about her.
“It is pretty cool,” I agreed, then added, “I’m sorry if my running off came off as strange. You didn’t have to come check up on me. There’s nothing wrong, I just got an idea that I had to get down.”
“I totally get that,” Serena said, surprising me. “When I get inspiration for a painting, I have to start working on it right away. One time we were all together for Thanksgiving, and I was suddenly struck with the burning need to paint … I left before dinner and drove six hours back to my studio.”
Jasmine chuckled and said, “Your mom was so mad.” She turned to me and added, “She’d invited this guy over. He was new in town and didn’t have any friends or family. She was hoping he and Serena would hit it off and give her lots of grandbabies.”
Serena groaned and threw herself backward on the bed.
“My mom is crazy for grandbabies.”
Another knock on the door had all of our heads swiveling.
“Am I interrupting?” Gabe said as he eased the door open, revealing a bottle of wine and two glasses in his hand.
“Nope, we were just leaving,” Serena replied, jumping off the bed and walking toward her cousin.
Jasmine crossed over to me and leaned in, whispering, “You don’t have to worry, we won’t tell anyone your secret. It should be up to you…”
“Thanks,” I replied, smiling back at her. “I really appreciate that.”
“You two be good,” she said loudly, then kissed Gabe on the cheek before following Serena out of my cabin and leaving Gabe and me alone.
- Writer
