i b9efbdf1c066cc69 by Sweet Baby Girl Entertainment Page A

by the fashion industry. She currently felt silly for thinking so.
    She felt home in New York. It felt like New York was where she belonged. “It is,” she finally answered, “it’s really nice here.”
    “There’s so much to do here. The city never sleeps,” Joey replied back. “And if you’re hungry and you don’t want to go out, you can always order from a delivery service.”
    “Sounds great but I think your mother wants me to eat her food,” Zoe glanced at Joey. “I was given strict orders to finish my plate.”
    “You will never find a better Italian meal from anyone or anywhere else,” Joey
    championed for his mother, “okay, maybe my brother Nicky’s lasagna is better and maybe my fried eggplants can hold their own. But other than those two dishes, you can’t get any better than my ma’s homecooking.”
    “Fried eggplant, huh?” Zoe’s eyes did a quick sweep over Joey’s frame. For someone who just admitted diving into fried dishes, he most certainly didn’t look the part. She could tell he was hiding a muscular and toned build underneath his clothing and swore her uterus did a few backflips just thinking about him. “I would’ve never guessed you eat fried food.”
    “Not always,” he shrugged as he turned a corner, “but I cook the eggplant in olive oil so it’s a little healthier than others.”
    “Oh, you cook?” Zoe asked. “What’s your specialty?”
    “Prawns marinara.” Joey stated proudly. “With a small Caesar salad on the side, and
    freshly baked bread. I also make dessert.”
    “Oh, really?” Zoe was impressed. “And what would be for dessert?”
    “Well, it depends on what you like,” Joey winked at Zoe.
    “Ah, I see what you did there.” Zoe chuckled.
    “Did you like that?”
    “That was quite impressive, yes,” Zoe nodded, “quite impressive, Mr. D’Amato.”
    “I’m in the business of impressing people, Ms…”
    “Mitchell.” Zoe corrected. “Zoe Mitchell.”
    Joey scrunched his nose a little. “Pardon me for sounding ignorant but I wouldn’t guess your last name was Mitchell.”
    “Most people wouldn’t. Black father, Chinese mother.” She gave a slight nod towards him.
    “My parents deliberately gave my sister and I Americanized names so we wouldn’t have too much hardship growing up. My real name is actually Zoe Xin Qian but I go by Zoe.” Zoe wouldn’t dare to bring up the real reason why her parents named her.
    “How was it like growing up?” Joey followed the GPS map and turned a corner. “Was it cool having the best of both worlds or awkward?”
    “Both.” Zoe admitted. Her light skin tone made her fodder for female bullies who didn’t like her, both Asian and Black. She went through a very awkward stage in high school, still shedding her baby fat and not wanting to spend every weekend in a drunken and high stupor to impress people she probably wouldn’t care about once she left for college. She also didn’t want to be the whore who slept with the football team or any other sport. She was content being in the background. It wasn’t until Zoe left her parents’ home, found her true identity and began to explore who she was.
    Chunky glasses were replaced by contacts. Sweats were replaced with snug jeans and tops that showcased her newly-toned midriff. She even experimented with her hair, varying the styles from long braids to cornrows to an afro. She was an active participant in both the Black Students Union and the Asian Coalition on campus – both groups showing her overwhelming love.
    “I had to find myself first before I could ask for acceptance,” she further explained, “once I did that, it was easy-breezy.”
    “Smart,” Joey nodded, “I wish I did that. Sometimes it feels like I’m still trying to find myself.”
    “I say you’re doing an impressive job.” Zoe glanced around the BMW Joey was
    transporting her in. “I think all of the brothers are.”
    “We all have our moments of greatness, yes,” he