xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CHAPTER SEVEN
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was a cool, rainy Sunday morning.
Zoi sat in the worn reading chair positioned at the windowsill of the small apartment he shared with his Grandmother. In actually it was her place and he was just crashing there, but when he told people about it, he made it sound as though he were the one helping her out.
The rain that fell outside matched his grim mood. The quiet behind him was comfortable, his grandmother sitting on the sofa watching the TV with the sound off and her sewing spread out all around her. She was of the old fashioned mindset that idle hands were the devils instruments, so she always kept herself busy.
When she heard her grandson sigh yet again, she put down her latest project, a tablecloth that she was working on for the dining room.
Her heart ached for the child he had been and the toughened adult he had become. Life had not been easy for him, though she had tried her best. For a boy with golden looks in a poor neighborhood, she had not been able to hold on to him for long and he had discovered the shortcut to the good life, and all the troubles that came with it.
She had worked two jobs to feed and cloth him when his parents had up and disappeared, leaving him behind. And while she worked, he learned the ways of the streets. A silver tongue and a sinful face had gotten him far, and what he hadn't known, his equally misguided friends and his mentor had taught him.
'Gigi', as her grandson called her, watched him for a few moments more before breaking the silence.
"What's troubling you child?" She asked in her thick accent. She waited patiently for his reply, expecting it to be about his work situation. Honest labor was hard to come by with a criminal record.
Zoi turned to study the gnarled face of the only person who had ever loved him unconditionally. She was everything to him, and he had betrayed that so many times in his choice of profession and lifestyle. Driving fast cars that weren't his, stealing money from those he considered undeserving, dating women who only knew how to show him a good time... He had seen disappointment on her face so many times because of him, yet still she loved and forgave him.
But in this she would understand, he knew. "A woman, Gigi." He answered her.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. Woman loved Zoi, but he never gave them any serious consideration. "The one you met a few days ago?" She asked curiously.
Zoi nodded. He would have felt foolish admitting it to anyone else, but she understood him. "I'm in love with her Gigi. She's the one." His face softened at just the thought of her.
"Ahh." Gigi nodded, understanding clearing her face. "So, you've found her, the one you've been waiting for." She smiled, full of pride for her grandson. "I can't wait to meet her."
Zoi sighed again, and cast his eyes back up to the gray skies. "You may not get a chance to. I think I scared her off."
Amusement was the last thing he expected. Yet Gigi couldn't seem to surpass a chuckle. "I'm not surprised. It's the family's blessing. Or curse, depending on how you look at it." She said.
Zoi rolled his eyes. "Gigi, you know I don't believe in the family legend. It's just a bunch of bullsh-crap." He amended hastily.
"And yet, here you are declaring you've found your 'meant to be', and falling in love within only a few days. And fallen hard, I'll wager." She added.
When Zoi remained silent, she continued. "It's been that way for all our family for as long as I can remember. We meet our other half, and fall in love with them right away. It's the other half that gives us trouble." She smiled in remembrance. "Why I recall, I fell in love with your grandfather the first night I met him. Took me three years to wear him down though."
"She's older than me." He said absently. He couldn't seem to stop thinking about her. She was so different from every other woman he had ever met. She wasn't flirty or flashy; she was smart, sensitive, and tiny. And quite pretty when she made the effort. But for once, he wasn't about looks. He liked her personality. She was cautious one minute and the next going up in flames, sending his system into overdrive.
She was addictive. Even now he was craving a taste of her.
He ran a hand through his hair, disturbing the golden locks. It would be so easy to take her to bed, she was more than willing. Hell, she had already invited him twice now. But with her reservations, it would be all too easy for her to send him on his way afterwards. He wanted her to be under his spell too. He was far from being a 'sensitive guy', but for once, he wanted to take things slow, to enjoy her, to get to know her.
He hoped she would give him the chance.
Xoxoxoxo
A knock on the door Sunday afternoon startled Ami, so that she looked up sharply from the book in front of her. She wasn't expecting anyone, so she was reluctant to answer the door. No one she knew ever came over uninvited. She put down the paperback she had been trying to read all morning. She had found it hard to concentrate, thoughts of last night filling her head.
A glance at the mirror in her hallway reminded her she was still wearing a longish t-shirt that she had worn to bed, with a pair of old running shorts she had slipped on when she awoke. She gasped; glad she hadn't opened the door yet.
The knock came again, more insistently, and she floundered, unsure what to do, until a familiar voice spoke out to her.
"Ami, I know you're in there. C'mon let me in." Zoi called.
She gaped like a fish. Last night he had given her the impression that he was hurt and angry with her. Now he was here, begging to be let in.
Too relieved to remember she wasn't properly dressed, she quickly opened the door, to see the handsome figure of Zoi, leaning against the doorjamb. In jeans, a navy chambray shirt and a leather jacket, he looked incredible.
He grinned, straightening up at the sight of her. "Hey beautiful. Love the shirt." He studied it for a moment, then leaned down and pecked a kiss on her cheek before passing her to enter into her apartment.
Ami flushed, tugging the gray t-shirt that sported a picture of Albert Einstein. It might as well have said the word 'nerd' on it, she thought in embarrassment.
She followed behind him, and he seated himself on a comfortable chair across from the couch. Ami resumed her seat on the couch, and waited, hands folded in her lap. But Zoi didn't seem to be in a hurry to say anything; he simply sat there staring at her t-shirt again, with a wolfish grin on his face.
"Zoi?" She prompted, trying to bring his attention up to her. She was going to burn the wretched shirt the minute she had a chance.
"Hmm? Oh." Zoi finally forced himself to meet her eyes. "I thought we could have a late lunch."
Ami wanted nothing more. But last night had confused her, and she couldn't keep up with his quick changing moods. "What about what you said last night?" She asked tentatively.
"About me asking if you loved me?" He said, not intending to skirt around the issue.
She nodded, waiting nervously.
"I asked you for a reason Ami. You're a smart girl, I think you can guess why."
Ami's heart speed up. Surely he didn't mean…
He leaned forward in his seat, arms resting on his knees. His voice was low and sincere, his gaze intense. "I asked you because I wanted to see if you were feeling the same way I am. " Her heart stopped as he murmured the quiet words. "I'm in love with you Ami."
She blinked; her face suffused with heated excitement and at the same time, abject terror. It was too soon, he was too young, they were total opposites! This was all wrong! So why did his words made her so incredibly happy? She struggled to find the appropriate response.
But Zoi shook his head, indicating he didn't want her to say anything. "It's ok if you aren't there yet. You will be, and I'll try to be patient. But I figure you can't fall in love with me if you don't know me." He said, that unshakable air of confidence surfacing. "So I thought I would show you pieces of me. Parts of my life." Even the unvsavory parts, he thought to himself.
Ami was trying to take it all in. Some desperate part of her mind wanted to respond that she did feel the same way, but her head argued that it was impossible. She hardly knew him! That's not quite true, her heart whispered. You know he's a man with a past, struggling to turn over a new leaf. You know he's stubborn, and attentive and impatient. And you know he makes you feel things you've never felt before...
She stood then, to shake off her warring thoughts. "I just don't know if this is a good idea Zoi…" She said tentatively, trailing off.
"Give me a chance. Come to lunch with me, I thought I could take you to my old neighborhood." He gave a lightening quick smile. "I know a great Italian restaurant." He teased, knowing her weakness by now.
Her stomach gurgled in response to that. He laughed at her embarrassment. "Go get dressed lille one, and I'll feed you."
She caught her breath at those words. It sounded so right. Like she was his to take care of, and she treasured the idea of it. She had been on her own, and had taken care of herself for so long. Had thought she would always be alone. Now, it felt like there were possibilities, and she decided it was time to take a chance and see what could happen.
"Just give me a few minutes to get showered and dressed." She said, by way of acceptance.
His dangerous grin was back. "Great, and don't forget the lingerie. That sight is for me and me alone." His eyes darted back to her shirt before she could escape out of the living room.
She dashed to her bedroom, and what she saw there confirmed her suspicions. No wonder he had been staring!
'Letch' She thought to herself, but with a reluctant smile. No more going braless around her apartment, she instructed herself sternly. She just never knew when he's going to show up!
xxxxxx
TBC-Hmm…hope Ami can handle Zoi's past! For some reason, I see problems ahead for this couple…
