Best friends.
Ben and Chaya were something so much deeper than best friends.
There were days he felt like shaking Ben, who, for some reason, held back from just making Chaya his. And he could see Chaya beginning to drift. Any day now, he expected her to stop waiting for Ben. Especially if Ben didn’t get his head out of his own arse and confess what Alex suspected to be his real feelings.
Jase and his girlfriend, Cerys, sat with Zoe. Cerys was signing to ensure Zoe was included in the conversation. He’d learned a few phrases. After all, with Jase as his housemate, and Cerys and Zoe living a few doors down on the same street, they were often at each other’s houses. But his repertoire was limited to the basics. Hello. How are you? Want a drink? He’d also learned that facial expression was critical in demonstrating the tone of British Sign Language.
Cerys and Jase stood to go and talk to Nan and Alex’s parents, leaving Zoe alone. She checked her phone, then glanced back at the server.
Alex slid into the chair next to her and waited for Zoe to look at him. “Go talk to him.” He enunciated each word clearly and pointed subtly from her to the server. He’d learned that in a one-on-one conversation with her, through hearing aids and lip reading, she could catch about half of what he said. He hoped the hand gestures and short sentences did the rest.
If he couldn’t have any fun with the server, there was no point in Zoe missing out.
Zoe rolled her eyes. “And why would I want to do that?” Because she’d lost her hearing in her early twenties, she could speak clearly.
“You’re watching him.”
She leaned back in her chair, folded her arms, and shook her head. “Isn’t he more your style?”
Alex grinned. “Yes. But he’s straight.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at his lips, and a line of concentration appeared at the bridge of her nose.
“I’m not his type,” he said, hoping the words might be easier to understand.
“Ah.”
“Seriously. You should go introduce yourself. I’ve known you for months and you’ve not even been on a date in that time.”
“I’m assuming that was about my recent dating habits.” Zoe took a sip of wine.
“It was.”
“I don’t need a matchmaker, Alex.”
“I think you do.”
She shook her head. “The only benefit of going deaf was not having to listen to all the men I met on those goddamn awful dating apps drone on about how great they were. I don’t need a boyfriend.”
“Who said anything about a boyfriend? Hook ups. An amazing night of sex with a complete stranger. No strings attached.”
While she huffed at his answer, he could see the flash of something pretty fucking close to interest in her eyes.
“Isn’t that what Luke and Willow thought they were doing? Now, look at them. She’s pregnant and they’re building a life together. Nothing casual about that.”
“Fair point. But we aren’t talking about them, we’re talking about you.”
Her answer was delayed a little. Something she explained happened as she made sense of the words she’d caught lip reading and that her hearing aids had helped her catch. “We’re not.”
“Let me help you.”
Zoe’s jaw dropped open. “Eew. Are you suggesting some friends with benefits arrangement? Because that’s pretty bleak.”
Alex laughed.
“I should be offended that the idea of sex with me would be so horrific. I’ve been told on numerous occasions that I’m pretty good at it. But I’m pretty sure our tastes wouldn’t run the same way”.
“I caught about half of that, but if that’s your idea of flirting, it needs work.”
“Goddamn. I’m not flirting with you.”
Zoe bit down on her lower lip. “Good.”
“I meant I could help you find dates. Hook ups. Look, we’re about to go on tour together, and I know you’re coming with Cerys. Let me be your wingman.”
“Let you be my what?”
“Wingman.”
“I appreciate the offer, but no.”
Alex rested his elbow on the table. “I’m doing it.”
“You’re not.”
“One hundred quid says I can hook you up before the end of the tour.”
Zoe laughed. “The last time you bet someone a hundred quid, he ended up knocking up America’s sweetheart, and they are both standing right over there.”
They looked to where Luke was kissing Willow, his hands cupping her face.
He saw the way she softened as she looked at them, and quickly typed a message on his phone. Yes, but I know you see how happy they are. Take the bet, Zoe. A hundred quid. If you are so sure that I can’t find the perfect guy for you to hook up with by the end of the tour, then you don’t risk anything by accepting the bet.
Zoe’s eyes skimmed over the text. “Fine. But no weirdos. No beards. Makes lip-reading harder.”
“No weirdos. No beardos.”
“Exactly.”
While he was looking forward to the tour, he’d also been very aware that most of the band would be travelling with their partners, leaving him wondering what the tour would be like for him. Now, he had something to occupy his time.
He tilted his pint glass towards her glass of champagne. “Let Operation Hook Zoe Up begin.”
Thank you
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Zoe
Zoe Atkins wanted exactly one thing. To be the world’s greatest percussionist. Instead, she’s on a tour bus engaged in a stupid bet with rock star, Alex King, trying to fill the hole left behind when her dream gave up on her.
Alex
The prickly former percussionist wasn’t supposed to steal his heart. With her distrust of lipstick and love of men’s pyjamas, she was everything playboy, Alex, didn’t want in a lover. At least, that’s what he thought when he bet her he could find her a hook up during their tour.
* * *
Until he’s forced to watch the woman he’s come to desire leave the bar with her perfect guy, taking a piece of his already bruised and battered heart with her.
Now it’s up to the Sad Fridays’ rocker to use his passionate powers of persuasion to convince Zoe he’s more than her wingman. He’s her everything.
Acknowledgments
This book would just be words on a page if it wasn’t for you, the reader. It’s only once it’s in your hands does it become a story and take flight. I’m so grateful to each and every one of you for taking the time to read it. Double appreciation if you take a moment to share your thoughts on your social media or in reviews.