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Staying close to Zach proved impossible as the day progressed.
I resorted to sweating out my frustrations in the basement gym while Eileen dragged him venue hopping across Southamptons.
She hadn’t wasted any time when we stumbled out of the car. Her smile had vanished when she noticed me, but she bounced back quickly, perky and polite.
“Miss Ballantine, what a darling surprise.” She glanced at Zach as we made our way inside. “I thought you’d bring Natalie, if anything.”
You and me both.
I’d only agreed to come to keep track of the case.
Zach regularly communicated with the dream team via teleconference. I couldn’t risk missing any news. Not with victory over Vera so close.
Zach opened the door for us. “Farrow is my right hand.”
I almost cackled out a laugh, breathing out so only he could hear me, “All puns intended?”
Our shoulders brushed in the hall. We trailed about two feetbehind Eileen.
He smirked, his pinky touching mine ever so briefly. “That depends on whether you found it funny or cringy.”
I loosened my shoulders, thawing. “A bit of both.”
“In that case, yes. Pun intended.”
We embarked on a courtesy tour of the fourteen-bedroom mansion, during which Zach shamelessly assigned me the bedroom next to his and Eileen one in the furthest corner.
While his staff took our luggage to our rooms, Eileen announced their appointment with a wedding planner to scout venues.
Of course, I snatched up the chance to redeem myself.
I spun to him. “You should go.”
The more I thought about it, the more resolute I became. Zach needed an Eileen. I wouldn’t be around forever.
Once I cured him and we parted ways, it would reassure me if he had someone steady and unwavering in his life.
Zach’s eyes ping-ponged between us, the corner of his lips curling down at the idea.
“Really, Zach.” I smiled, nodding. “You should go. I’ll be fine.”
And by fine, I meant stewing in green, gooey jealousy I had no right to feel.
I sweated my ass off on the stepper. The machine buzzed when I hit the sixty-minute mark. I hopped off, snatching a water bottle from the holder and chugging the entire thing.
During my shower, I thought of all the ways I’d laugh in Vera’s face when this ended. For two years, I’d imagined this moment a thousand different ways.
But today, for some reason, the thought of taking things from Vera no longer thrilled me.
The thought ofgivingthings to Zach did.
I slipped into sweatpants and a sweater and padded downstairs when shards of a conversation between Zach and Eileen seeped into my ears.
I halted, pressing my back to the wall to stay hidden.
“…just think that we should honor your mother’s wishes in attending the dinner.” Eileen poured herself a glass of chardonnay on one of the double islands. “It takes six months to secure reservations at The Winstonian.”
“It could take an eternity, and I still wouldn’t want to dine there. Besides, I’m not hungry.” Zach spoke in his signature detached tone. “I have paperwork to sift through. You should go, though. You’ll have fun.”
