Read November Foxtrot (Rhythm of the Heart Book 2) for Free Online Page B

wouldn't deny you that right, but you and me?” She pointed at herself then at him. “There is nothing there.”
    “Can we be friends?” he whispered, his voice ragged and broken.
    “Maybe one day, Derek, but a lot of water has to pass under that bridge first. A whole lot.” He pulled into Calvin's grandparents' driveway and parked the truck. “Don't get out. I've got my bag. I'm a big girl.”
    She rolled the pink bag up the driveway and before she could knock, the door was flung open and she was wrapped in Grams' arms. The sound of Derek peeling out of the driveway was deafening, but Zoe ignored it. She only focused on the feel of being loved.
    “I'm so glad you're home, Zoe.”
    Zoe leaned back and kissed her cheek. “I'm glad to be home too, Grams.”
    “Why didn't you let us know you were comin', honey? I could've made you something to eat. We gotta keep your strength up.” Grams fussed around the little kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator.
    “Layla knew I was coming, but I asked her to keep it a secret... Actually she was supposed to come get me. Any idea where she is?”
    Grams frowned. “She was? No, she's off doing something with her girlfriends... You should've let us know, baby, we would've come!”
    Zoe sighed, exhaustion creeping into her bones. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
    “And so it is, honey, but you should've let us know. You can't be traveling like this and getting all worked up. You go to Calvin's room and lay down a spell, you hear me? I'm gonna get you something cooked. Don't you get up until I call you, you hear?”
    “Yes ma'am, I hear you,” Zoe smiled tiredly. “Where's Pops?”
    “Out back, working on a lawnmower. You know how he is.” She chuckled. “Now get on and rest.”
    Zoe nodded, each step she took to the back of the house getting heavier and heavier. She opened the door to his room and barely kicked her shoes off before she crawled between the covers and slept.

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    She awoke sometime later to a door slamming and sat up groggily, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. The light coming through the window was dull and shadowy; night was coming on. Sliding from between the covers, she padded to the door and opened it. Pops' voice filtered from the kitchen, followed by Grams' mellow response.
    It feels good to be home , she thought with a smile, running her hand through her long, dark hair and easing through the house. As she walked into the kitchen, they stopped talking and glanced in her direction.
    She suddenly felt self-conscious standing there in Calvin's old shirt and a worn pair of yoga pants. “Hi,” she mumbled. “Sorry I slept so long.”
    “Honey, don't you worry a thing about it. You needed some good rest and now you need some food for that baby. Sit on down here.” Grams pointed at a chair and Zoe came around the table to sit. Pops eyed her.
    “You all right, honey?”
    “I'm fine,” she smiled. “Thanks.” Tension seemed to stretch through the room like the proverbial elephant and she swallowed before speaking. “I want to apologize.”
    “Apologize?” Pops eyed her with a quizzical glance. “What for, baby?”
    Grams sighed and spooned something into a bowl. The scent of chicken and dumplings tickled Zoe's nose and she breathed deep. “Ain't got a thing to apologize for, girl.” She put the bowl in front of Zoe and sat down at the head of the yellowed Formica table. “Now you just sit there and eat.”
    Zoe shook her head, hanks of chocolate hair sliding over her shoulders. Her eyes grew damp and her voice shook with emotion. “I do. What if the baby isn't Calvin's?”
    Pops shrugged. “You move on. Any man can be a father, honey, but it takes a special man to be a Daddy. Calvin promised himself to you and that boy won't falter in his obligation to you...or to that baby. Neither will we. We stand behind you.”
    Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes and swam down her cheeks. She swiped at them with the back of