Page 64 of Abandoned

She came around the side of the house. Her flowing sleeveless blouse danced in the wind.

His hormones revved. Remember that self-control I was praying for, Lord? “Hey, beautiful.”

Her cheeks warmed. “Hey.” Her hoarse voice cracked, and she touched her throat. “Ugh. I want my voice back.”

“It’ll come. Need some water or such?”

She lifted a water bottle with her other hand. “I’ve drunk so much water and tea, I think I’m going to float away.”

He stood and reached for her hips. Pulling her to himself, he met her lips with a tender kiss. “Well, if you don’t have much of a voice, maybe we shouldn’t talk.” He winked at her.

With her free hand, she shoved him away. “Delayed gratification, my dear.”

“Fine. Keep me honest. Hungry, or did you just wake up?”

She giggled. “I’ve been up for a bit but never did eat. Only coffee. Didn’t really sleep much though.”

“Dreams?” He traced the side of her face with his fingertips.

“A few, but AJ and I stayed up too late watching movies.”

“Plural?”

“Yeah. If we’re going to be roommates, this could be a problem.” Zara chuckled.

“Roommates?”

“You really can only ask one-word questions?”

He shrugged.

“But yes, she’s invited me to move into her apartment. She’s got a second bedroom.”

“I know.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yeah.” He looked off into his backyard. He really loved that Zara and AJ were growing closer. Maybe old wounds could be healed. But he didn’t know what Logan would think. They had avoided talking about AJ for years.

“It’s not going to be awkward?”

He met her eyes. “No. I don’t want it to be. AJ and I were good friends once.”

“She showed me pictures from when you guys were kids. You were adorable.”

“Were? I’m not anymore?”

Her laugh caused her to cough. She took a swig from her water bottle. “Adorable isn’t the word I would typically use for a grown man. Handsome, dapper, gorgeous. Those might apply to a grown man.”

He couldn’t help but fish for the compliment. “And do they apply to me?”

She swatted his chest. “Uh, yeah.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

He kissed her again, but this time he pulled back. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

She stepped out of his embrace.

After picking up his Bible, notebook, and coffee, he led them inside and through the dining room. A twinge picked at his stomach. It wasn’t like Zara hadn’t seen the inside of his house before, but that was before their fight, before he realized how afraid she was of being abandoned. All his forgotten projects lay all over his house, especially the rec room across from the dining room.