Chapter 8 - Meeting An Old Friend
ZACH's POV
Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything in return after that whole Samantha and the waitress scene. I could see it in her eyes that she somehow enjoyed my company. For a certified bookworm, she sure caught me off-guard.
She kissed me on the cheek. How interesting. I touched the side where she left me a kiss. I could still feel the warmth of her lips on my cheek and I couldn't forget that innocent look of surprise on her face. It was amazing how something that others would have considered as nothing more than a friendly gesture had made her react like that.
I wondered what her reaction would have been if it had been a real one.
Well, we'd get to that. Sooner or later, she was going to give in to my irresistible charm. I was looking forward to having her beg me to kiss her; I couldn't wait to find out the when and how of it. She'd be begging for these badass lips one way or another.
I had to admit though—Tori was really interesting. She's definitely not your typical girl. I mean, how could she not be bothered by the sight of her boyfriend flirting with someone else?
Although, in my defense, it wasn't really flirting, I was just playing along. Could she have ulterior motives for getting together with me?
If she was acting, then I would have nominated her for an Oscar. But something told me otherwise, that her words were from the heart, that she wasn't using me as some trophy boyfriend like the others.
I mean, for someone so smart, she wouldn't put herself in a position where she might humiliate herself and crush her pride in the process. Still, I needed to be cautious. After all, who knows? Anything could happen.
My phone rang as I was leaving. I wondered if it was Tori. Maybe I spoke too soon, and she already wanted some of the Z-love. I laughed at the idea. I frowned in disappointment when I saw a different name flashing on the screen.
"Who is this?" I asked, pretending I didn't already know.
"Za-cha-ry my man! What's with the attitude? It's James!" "Who? I don't know any James." I said, still playing him.
James Gregory, my best friend and heir to Gregory Global Corporation, one of the most successful investment companies in the industry. We were kind of like peas in a pod, sharing the same traits and interests, and of course, the same taste for women. We were like brothers, he and I. Or we had been. He'd left town and went to France years ago. This was the first time I've heard from him since then, though I've still kept his number.
"Quit fooling around! I'm back! Is this how you welcome your long-lost bro?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't have bros who leave for years and never keep in touch! Wrong number, pal!"
"Still the same buster as before!" He replied with a laugh. "Okay, grandpa, cut the crap and meet me at The Pub. We have a lot of catching up to do!"
"We'll see," I hung up, took the next U-turn, and headed for The Pub. It took me ten minutes to get there. "James Gregory," I said when I saw him. "Well, well! You got fat!"
"It's called muscles, genius," he shot back. "You got skinny!"
"Still a smartass, huh? Let's talk inside, wise guy." We went into the VIP lounge and ordered vodka.
"Ciroc? Man, it's good to be back!" James said.
"Just the way you like it!" I replied. "Anyway, what happened to you over there in escargot land? How come you went all French, ignoring my ass for years?"
"Sorry, dude, it wasn't my fault! Blame those French girls! You should've visited me! Paris was off the hook!" He boasted.
"Very funny, Gregory! You sound like one of my girlfriends longing for my junk. You turning to the other side?" I joked. We both laughed.
"Screw you Anderson! I'm still a ladies' man. That won't change. And speaking of ladies, the French girls are so hot. You should have joined me! We would've been kings! It would've been so epic!" He bragged.
"Still think you're some lady killer, huh, Romeo?" I laughed. "I still prefer Americans, you know," I said, not realizing I did something that I shouldn't have done in front of this guy, who happened to be Mr. Knows-Me-Too-Well.
"Are you smiling? Is Zachary Anderson finally dating you know who?" He asked with interest. He was talking about Chloe, of course. He knew our story and the feelings I had for her.
"I'm not smiling, you idiot. You just look as stupid as you did before you left, and I couldn't help it!" I quickly diverted the topic. I've been actually thinking about Peige. I haven't realized I was smiling until he mentioned it.
"You're still not with her? What happened to 'Zachary Anderson always getting any girl he wants'? It's been years, for fuck's sake! Grow some balls!" He cackled. I know I had a reputation for getting any girl I wanted in no time. But Chloe wasn't any ordinary girl—she was something else. She was different!
"She's more than that, and it's different when it comes to her. You of all people know that. Besides, everything became harder after you left." I gave him a disapproving look.
He raised both of his hands in surrender. "Man, don't go all twilight on me! I was just messin' with you. Since when did you become such a sissy? How about we forget your so-called soulmate for one night and go to Lizzy's? She's having a pool party, and I need a wingman. I bet she hasn't forgotten about the best night of her life, if you know what I mean. She'll be thrilled to see me." He wiggled his brows and elbowed me playfully.
"I think I'll pass. I'm not in the mood," I said truthfully. I was thinking about that annoying Samantha earlier. I didn't want to see her. She was probably going to that party.
"You're joking, right? You wearin' your man panties or something? You're saying no to your man? To girls?" He was in complete and utter shock. "Wait, are you with someone? Don't tell me it's serious! As far as I know, you're quite the sly dog, right?" He eyed me suspiciously.
"He's dating a nun!" A familiar voice yelled from behind me. It was River, one of my pals from school.
"River! Good to see you, dude!" James greeted with a pat on the back. "You still look like shit!"
"Still the same scumbag huh, Gregory? Good to see you too, jackass!" River retorted.
"Shut your mouth, River, and start drinking!" I demanded. By this time, the bottle was half empty. River sat down and took a shot.
"So, who is the nun?" James asked curiously.
"This guy right here is dating the Miss Prim and Proper in our school!" River said, then burst out laughing.
"Seriously? You some kind of miracle worker now?" James asked in between laughs. "In my defense, she asked me to be her boyfriend. Who am I to tell her no?" I replied.
"You say no to ugly hags and fantasy wannabes. What makes her different?" He asked suspiciously.
"She's Chloe's best friend!" River was quick to answer before I could even say anything.
Yes, he knew about me and Chloe.
"Really? You're that desperate? You're using some innocent girl to get Chloe?" James looked disbelieving. "Whatever did you see in that girl is way beyond my imagination."
"I have my plan and it is perfect. Just let the master work his magic. Trust me." I assured them.
"So, you're using the best friend to get to Chloe? That is pure evil genius. But how'd you get the nun to fall for you?"
"Please. Everyone falls for me!" I gave them a mischievous grin.
"Not Chloe." River choked out. That made James burst out into fits of laughter.
"She will soon." I assured them.
"I want to meet her." James said, looking amused.
"What? Why?"
"I want to meet the nun! I'm having a party, more like a welcome party, this weekend. Bring your girl and introduce her to me. Maybe after you break her heart, she'll need some comforting." He said playfully.
For some reason, that really pissed me off. "Touch her, and you're dead!" I threatened him. His eyes widened a bit, my reaction shocking him. It kind of shocked me too, to be honest.
Maybe the alcohol was getting to my head? Or maybe the thought of her being with another man and take advantage of her made my blood boil.
Trust me, I wasn't jealous. I just didn't like the idea of girls cheating on me. Yeah, maybe that was it.
"Relax. What's up with you? Wait, don't tell me you are getting serious for that girl?" James furrowed, curiosity was eating him up. He and River looked at me curiously, and I felt myself bristling under their gazes.
"Of course not! There is only one girl and you both know who that girl is. Besides, Tori is not even my type!" Who would get serious about her anyway? Certainly not me! She was just interesting. "I have a reputation you know. No one cheats on me." I added.
James took me at my word. "Whatever you say, lover boy. I don't dig good girls anyway. They're just dull and no fun. But you have to invite her to my party this weekend. I still want to meet her."
"We'll be there." I was confident because I knew she'd never say no to me.
"So, it's settled then! Now, let's drink to the return of the douchebag, James!" River filled our glasses with every bit of what was left in our bottle.
"I must say, you guys are jerks! But hell!" James said raising his glass.
"To bros!" We all said together and then bumped our glasses against each other, drinking everything that was in it. We laughed our ass off the whole night talking about the various things we'd done, from River's pranks, to James' chick antics, just like old times.
We laughed like there was no tomorrow. But I still couldn't help but think about what James said earlier about Tori. Was he serious about the whole Tori thing? Why did he want to meet her in the first place?
All I could hear was laughter making me laugh harder and then James stood up on our table and showed us his mickey mouse tattoo on his butt cheek. We were laughing so hard that River was about to roll on the floor. At that point I knew, "Man, we are in for one hell of a night."
---END OF CHAPTER EIGHT---