They break apart, just enough for Alric to turn his focus in my direction and motion for me to join them. I don’t need to be asked twice. I rush into their waiting arms and we all stay like that for a long time, not breaking apart until Alric lets us go.
“Thank you,” he says, looking over at the cake. “I’m going to get some reading done in the library until dinner.”
We all nod and watch him walk away. I hope he’s okay—well, as good as he can be.
“We all sort of skipped lunch, so we’ll have an early dinner,” Hunter says. “We’re going to figure out what to eat. Typically when we’re here, Euclid or Nikolai cook, but we’ll make it work.” He puts on some upbeat music from his phone.
Zachary pulls out a few steaks, Brussels sprouts, and ingredients for a salad. Since none of us can cook as well as Alric, I find a jar of creamy pasta sauce in the pantry and dump it in a silver pot to simmer while water boils for the rigatoni. Whoever stocked this kitchen before the storm did a great job.
I’m cutting up some cucumbers when Zachary says, “The NourishNow app is ready for download for select people. I can email it to you if you want to check it out?”
“Of course, you’ve worked so hard on it.”
I tug my phone out of my back pocket while he dries off his hands and sends me the link.
The NourishNow logo pops up on my phone, starting the download. When it finishes, I hit open and it asks me for a code.
“0422S”—Zachary pauses for a beat, stumbling over the last letters—“ME.”
Does that stand for Sophie, Madi, Emilie? “Does SME mean anything?” I ask.
He gets a little flustered. “Well, ah, typically, we would use name initials because we have to register real users, but I didn’t know yours and SB for sugar baby seemed too impersonal.”
I’m so close to telling them. I wish I could open my mouth and let my name fall for my lips, but fear knots itself in my chest. Will it give them false hope if I tell them?
“That makes sense,” is all I can think to say. Avoiding his gaze, I quickly type in the code. My tiny blue icon pops up in the middle of the ocean with nothing around and I laugh, awkwardness passing. “I guess my options are limited to seafood.”
“Just make sure your location is on, but change it to back home so it can pull up all the selections near you for testing.”
“So I can order something right now?”
“Please do, I preloaded a gift card onto your account so you don’t have to spend any of your own money.”
I click the user button and see that there’s $2,000 there for me to spend.
Always so generous, my Zachary. “Thank you, but that wasn’t necessary.”
“I know, but we can’t ask you to spend your money. You’re doing us a favor by testing the app.”
We both smile at each other as I lean forward to indicate what I need, and he happily kisses me. His lush lips are greedy for mine and I need to pull away before the kitchen starts to smell like my wanton desire instead of this delicious meal we’re making.
I type in Harper’s gallery’s address, and it shows me all of the businesses around that I can order from. There’s a grocery store two blocks away and I pick out the biggest floral arrangement currently on sale, yellow mini cupcakes, and a bag of her favorite chips.
After I order it, I send her a quick text.
Madeline:
Sent you some goodies, look out for a delivery driver. Miss you!
I get a notification twenty minutes later that it has been delivered. Harper sends a selfie with the flowers, eating one of the cupcakes in her office.
“Works perfectly!” I declare, turning my phone so they can see the photo, too.
“Great to hear,” Zachary says. “I think the cake is cold enough for some festive embellishments. How are your decorating skills?”
“Mediocre at best, but I’m up for the challenge.”
He winks at me. “That’s my girl.”
