Watch Me (Phoenix #1) - Stacey Kennedy Page 0,43
the cold spots inside Zoey’s chest as she added, “Sometimes you have to test something out to see if it’s really what you want. Perhaps this move is happening too fast. You know I selfishly want you home, but we make it work with you out there. Perhaps we can all put more effort into visiting each other, though.”
Zoey’s throat tightened, confusion making her head hurt. This wasn’t the plan. It had never been the plan. Why was she even questioning this? “I miss you, Mom.”
“Ah, my darling, we miss you too.”
Zoey shut her eyes, guilt nearly drowning her. There were a thousand things she wanted to say to her mother. “Tell me what you’ve been doing,” she asked.
“We’ve been staying busy, working in the garden. Your father has it in his head that he wants to create a backyard oasis, whatever that means.”
Zoey kept her eyes shut and fell into the sweet sound of her mother’s voice. The place was safe, where absolutely nothing could touch her.
But then a warm finger stroked her arm. Zoey started and snapped open her eyes, finding Rhys’ concerned gaze on her.
“All right?” he mouthed.
Zoey nodded, waiting for her mother to finish her story. “Listen, Mom, I’ve got to run. I’ll call you back when I have a minute. Love you both.”
“Sounds good. Love you back, Pumpkin.”
The phone line went dead, and Zoey stuck her cell back in her purse. “Sorry about that. I’m okay, just missing my parents, that’s all.”
“Understandable,” he said with a gentle smile. He took a step back then looked up at the sign on the storefront. “So, a cat café, huh?”
She grinned big. “Surprised?”
He sent her a sly smile in return. “Intrigued.”
She thought that was a pretty good reaction and whisked the door open. Animals always calmed her, so she figured this was the best place for their first real date. The café was a small rectangular shape with beanbag chairs on the floor and floating tables with wooden benches beneath them. It was her favorite place to visit in Brooklyn.
“Hi, Zoey,” Jane said with a wave as she sat behind the counter. “Your usual?”
Zoey turned back to Rhys. “Are you okay with some snacky stuff for lunch? Cheese and meats, that kind of thing, and sweet tea to drink?”
“Sounds great,” he said.
Oddly enough, as much as she thought Rhys might look out of place here, he didn’t. He really did have the ability of blending in, and yet, he could also stand out like the only man in the room. “Yup, two orders of the usual, please,” she called to Jane.
She led him to the far corner, thankful no one else was there today. She sat in the first beanbag chair, and he dropped down into the other. The moment he stretched out his legs, a cat jumped onto his lap.
“Looks like you have a friend,” Zoey said.
He smiled down at the orange tabby and petted the cat, who began to purr. “Did you have a lot of pets growing up? Is that where your desire to work in the animal industry comes from?”
“I had as many pets as my parents would allow,” she explained with a laugh, reaching out to stroke a passing white cat, who didn’t seem interested in Zoey. All the animals at the café were rescues that had been brought in for socialization before finding their forever homes. For as many cats as she could see, there were just as many in hiding spots, too afraid to come out. “I’ve had a hamster, a couple guinea pigs, and a cat, Oscar, who passed away a few years ago. Did you have any pets?”
Rhys shook his head. “Boarding schools didn’t allow pets.”
She had assumed he was well educated. “You never went to school here in New York?”
“No,” he explained without any emotion in his voice. “That’s just the way my family has always done things. For generations.”
“I can’t imagine not growing up around my family. Did you like boarding school?”
“Loved it,” he said with an honest smile. “I’m still in contact with most of the guys I knew from my years there. It’s a type of family, I suppose, just different than the one I’m sure you had. But it’s never been something I would consider if I had children of my own. I like the idea of having a family life, keeping my children at home with me,” his gaze lifted to hers, “and with my wife.”
Her heart skipped a little at that. The