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“You like your new place?” Bailey asked. “Let me know if you need help to unpack anything else.”
They both had done so much for her already, even bringing in Tommy and Noelle to help. Alex didn’t show. Zoe rubbed the back of her neck. She didn’t care if he showed up. He probably was on a date with another woman.
“I think I got it. Plus, I don’t want to impose on you two,” she said.
Jackson’s eyebrows furrowed. “We want to help. How’s that imposing?”
Zoe tilted her head to the side. “I can take care of myself, big brother.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, but a slight smile gave him away. “Okay, I won’t push.” He pointed at her. “But you need to make sure you—”
“If I need anything, I’ll call you,” she said, finishing his sentence.
“I think she can handle it, Babe,” Bailey said.
“Women sticking together, I see.” He gestured between the two of them.
Zoe took the opportunity to high-five her future sister-in-law.
***
“Where are you?” Zoe rummaged inside her purse for her cell phone. She stood outside of Bridge Point’s bookstore. The breeze stirred her long curls and slid across her cheeks. Roslyn’s, her friend from college, face showed on the screen.
“I can’t believe you left me here in Houston,” Roslyn said.
Zoe laughed. “You could come to Bridge Point. It’s not so bad here.”
“Small town life? Maybe, but I like the city life. How’s your new place?”
“Enough room for me. I have a book to pick up at the bookstore, and then I’m heading to the park.” Zoe patted her shoulder bag. She couldn’t get to the park soon enough.
“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?” Zoe raised an eyebrow.
“About Jayden,” Roslyn said.
Zoe swallowed. She hadn’t talked to Jayden since... she released a cleansing breath. “Not since... you know.”
“Well... he’s married. I didn’t want you to find out on social media. His new wife posted a picture, and I recognized him,” Roslyn said.
Zoe nodded. “I didn’t know. Thanks for telling me.” Was Jayden happy? She hoped it was true. She closed her eyes, recalling the dim fluorescent lighting in his hospital room and the soft drip of fluids. Hand sanitizer had mixed with the smell of latex gloves.
Seeing her boyfriend in his hospital bed, she had touched a hand to her own bandaged head. When he opened his eyes, his nostrils had flared. Zoe’s chin had dipped. Her chest had tightened.
“Zoe?” Roslyn said.
Zoe blinked. Swallowing hard, she backed away from the bookstore. She could pick new favorites another time. “I’m okay. I hope he’s happy.”
“After what he—”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not like he was wrong,” Zoe said.
“Z?”
“I have to go, so I’ll call you this weekend. Okay?”
“Okay.”
