Zoey 101: All Or Nothing ☑

Chapter 21

Zoey POV Continued

You have a girlfriend.”

“Well, we’ve been hanging out — I’m not sure I’d say girlfriend yet. But she’s cool. Alexa Hills — she’s our year and on the cheerleading squad.”

“Oh.” I knew who he was talking about, but I was trying to figure out how this had happened and why Chase had conveniently neglected to mention anything to me about it. I found myself stepping away from him a bit, needing some distance to try to make sense of it all.

“But enough about me. Tonight is all about you.” Chase stepped forward. “I should warn you that Mom’s obsessed with making shepherd’s pie for you tonight to ease you back into the Midwest. And you know how paranoid she gets cooking for you, so throw in some brilliants and all will be good.”

I gave him a weak smile.

“Come here. I missed you so much.” He put his arms around me again. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to let go. Having your best friend leave you for the summer blows.” He kissed me on the forehead. “But I promise to stop being jealous and want to hear every detail of your trip. I want to be inundated with photos and stories that will make me green with envy. I mean it. You have to tell me everything.”

But I really couldn’t tell him everything, since there was one thing I had to keep to myself.

Awk-ward!

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Chase: Dude, do you realize if you’d said something right then, everything would’ve been different?

Zoey: Like you would no longer call me dude?

Chase: Whatever, dude. But don’t pretend that I’m the one into drama when you yourself led us into more drama.

Zoey: You got me there.

Chase: So you’re admitting that I’m totally right?

Zoey: No. Because you have to admit life is more interesting with a little drama.

Chase: Are you serious? Life is more of a pain in the rear with drama.

Zoey: Oh, wait, you’re totally right on that one. My bad.

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Chase POV

I was so stoked to have Zoey back. Summer wasn’t the same without her around. It wasn’t until she was truly gone, thousands of miles away, that I realized how much time we spent together each summer. And yeah, even though I had my guys, it was different. It didn’t feel the same. Nothing was the same without her.

At first I was mad at her for going away, but then I got it. We probably needed a break to reassess things.

I truly loved Zoey, I did. But I realized that she didn’t feel the same, so if the only way I could have her in my life was as a friend, that’s what we’d be.

I admit, she looked so cute when she got out of customs at the airport. She had that sleepy look she got when she was either super tired or under a lot of pressure. She was pretty quiet on the drive home and at dinner that evening. But I felt a lot better just having her near me.

I probably should’ve told her about Alexa while she was in Ireland, but it never had felt like the right time. Alexa was great and really cool, but truthfully I thought I should have a girlfriend by the time Zoey got back solely to avoid any more awkwardness. I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable or to think I was still pining over her. I had to put that aside if I wanted things to go back to normal.