“Just okay?” Jonathan asked in the same low voice.
“I don’t know. He’s fine,” Zoey joked. She knew he hated that word, but now it was adorable. Jonathan reached his hand over to pinch her side, the most ticklish part of her body.
“I think you’re going to be perfect,” Jonathan said, putting his arm around her and pulling her to him. She snuggled into his arms, her arm looping around his waist.
After breakfast, Jonathan drove into his apartment complex, immediately turning right and following the perimeter to the back. Zoey examined the buildings, and he hoped she was trying to see herself there, imagining what life could be like. Jonathan pulled into a covered parking spot and rushed out of the car to get her garment bag and her carryon.
Zoey took off her sunglasses. “This is nice!”
Jonathan ushered her over to the stairwell and climbed the stairs, his slides awkwardly slapping against the concrete. Zoey took the key from Jonathan’s hand and opened the door. He had paid a cleaning lady to deep-clean his apartment. It still had a faint bleach smell that he had tried to mask with coconut-scented candles.
It was a one-bedroom with a decent-sized front room and kitchen, big enough for a girlfriend. He watched Zoey feel the soft microfiber of his couch and go into his bedroom, where he hoped he could wake up to her every morning.
Zoey peeked in the bathroom, her carryon still in her hand. “It’s so clean.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said.
Zoey looked at him and he froze. She dropped her suitcase where she was and ran toward him, letting her lips land on his. His hands were in her hair, on her butt, and clothes fell off, only breaking their kisses to pull off another piece.
“I missed you,” Zoey said, once she was completely naked, their breaths heavy. “I…”
Jonathan interrupted her with a bruising kiss as he picked her up and shuffled to the bedroom with his pants around his ankles.
Afterwards, they laid in a tangle of limbs.
Zoey propped herself up on her elbow. “I’ll probably dirty up this bathroom a little bit. I have to spackle a professional face on.” Zoey kissed him on his cheek and sat up, stretching her arms. He rubbed her back and she smiled over her shoulder.
His dream girl stood in his apartment and was contemplating moving here to be with him. He didn’t know what to say or how to convince her to move. Ultimately, it was her decision and he knew any sudden moves may cause her to freak and bolt.
“It’s hot as hell here,” Zoey said.
“Well, yeah. But everyone will tell you it’s a dry heat.”
“You get used to it, right?” she asked. She piled her hair on top of her head and secured it with a hair tie.
“Kinda,” he said. He still lay naked with his hands under his head.
“Even though you look very sexy right now, I have to go get a job.”
“Well, get on it, then.”
“I will,” she said, standing up. He smacked her ass, and she jumped a little with a squeak.
Jonathan eventually got dressed and tried to work, writing up a report of surveillance he had done earlier in the week. He was almost to his final conclusion section when Zoey emerged in his robe with her hair up in a towel. Jonathan turned around and gawked, unable to take his eyes away. Her skin glowed from the humidity of the shower, and beads of water still collected around her collarbone.
“Sorry I’m wearing your robe.”
“What’s mine is yours.”
“Do you have any food here for lunch? I should probably eat a little something so my stomach doesn’t make sounds.”
“Totally,” Jonathan said, getting up. “I can throw something together.”
“Perfect,” Zoey said, disappearing into the bathroom again.
Jonathan pulled several plastic containers full of veggies and roasted chickpeas and quinoa. He scooped all the contents into two bowls and microwaved it. He tried his best to arrange it to how it looked on Instagram, but Zoey was the creative one, not him.
“Oh. My. God,” Zoey said, coming out. She was now dressed in a clean shirt and athletic shorts, an outfit she probably planned to wear on the plane after her interview. Her hair lay heavy with moisture to one side, and her face was still rosy from the heat of the shower. “I wasn’t expecting quinoa bowls.”
“One of the many perks of Phoenix.” Jonathan threw some tahini on his, and Zoey nodded when he pointed to hers.
While his mouth was full of quinoa and Brussel sprouts, he blurted out, “When you move here, I want you to live with me.”
Zoey said nothing as she took another bite.
“I understand if you want to get your own place to start, but…”
“No,” Zoey said. “I do want to live with you.”
Jonathan’s face burst into a silly grin. Zoey smiled too. It was the first time he saw that huge smile she was capable of but didn’t dole out often.
“You’re not going to freak out, are you?”
“No,” Zoey said as she bit into a roasted carrot. “I’m well past that.”
Her glowy smile made him smile as well.
After they were done with their bowls, Jonathan took them to the sink to rinse and put them in the dishwasher so Zoey could finish getting ready. He paced a little bit, finished off a report, checked his work email to make sure nothing was on fire, and even did some push-ups in his room.
Around one p.m., Zoey emerged from the bathroom with her hair in a low ponytail, her makeup nude but polished, and an attractive suit with a skirt with pumps.
“Wow, you look great,” Jonathan said. He pulled up Google Maps. “It could take up to a half hour to get there from here with traffic. Let’s go.”
They walked down the stairs, and Jonathan opened the car door for Zoey. They drove in silence as Zoey looked out the window. The day was slightly milder than forecasted, only getting to a hundred and eight.
When they reached Scottsdale, Jonathan made a left turn into the business park’s parking lot and found the building where Rage Thunder had a suite. Jonathan found a covered spot and pulled in. The business park was along Scottsdale’s main thoroughfare, in a funky, three-story building painted different shades of adobe.
Zoey breathed out another long, shaky breath and shook her hands.
“You’ll do great,” Jonathan said. “I believe in you.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous,” Zoey said. “I feel like I don’t have any business being here.”
“Listen to me,” Jonathan said, taking her face into his hands. “Your portfolio is amazing. You’ve got this. They should be begging you to work there because you’re going to make them so much money.”
Zoey nodded her head once.
“Everyone believes in you. It’s time you believed in yourself.”
Zoey didn’t say anything.
When it got to be quarter to two, Zoey breathed out again and opened the car door. Jonathan got out as well and offered his arms for a hug. Zoey walked into them and laid her head on his chest.
“You’ll do great,” Jonathan said. “I’m going to find a coffee shop to work in. Let me know when you’re done, and I’ll come get you.” Zoey nodded and walked into the building. He waited for her to disappear behind the tinted doors and he looked up at the sky.