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CHAPTER FIVE
Laura
The unimaginable happened after the long day of sneezing and coughing. Iwoke up at around eight in the morning and was able to breathe. Through my nose. My eyes didn’tburn either.
Istretched my not-so-achy limbs and went to the kitchen to put on the coffee and start the day. On the dish rack, the one that was empty yesterday, Icounted one bowl, one glass, and two mugs, all clean.
Maybe it’dbeen the lousy day Ihad yesterday or my hormones, Icouldn’ttell, but for whatever reason two fat tears rolled from my eyes.Bless you,Zach.
Throughout the years of living on my own Ihadn’tbeen the best at self-medicating. Actually, I’dbeen the worst. Iworked through flus, stomach bugs, fevers—not once stopping to treat myself. It felt more self-indulgent than anything and Ipassed on the idea, same as Iintended on doing last night.
Zach didn’tsee me working when Iopened the door, but even if he would’ve seen it, Idoubted he would’ve done anything differently and Ithanked him for it. Ithanked him internally for forcing me away from the computer where Isat with burning eyes, arunny nose, and abudding headache, editing.
He didn’tcare for anything except for getting me to bed and treating my flu symptoms. Throughout that night I’dseen another side of him, asensitive, nurturing side. It was sexy as fuck, and if Ihadn’tbeen so down and out, Imost certainly would’ve jumped the man then and there. Which was another thing Iliked, that he hadn’teven suggested or hinted at it, not even when he slept by my side.
That care and water gargling and tea were just what Ineeded, like he so adamantly said, and on the morning after Ifelt fan-fucking-tastic. With my health intact, Ishowered, blow-dried my hair, and put on acaramel tunic dress for aquick trip to the grocery store. I’dbeen low on coffee and sandwich ingredients, and Ihad to stock up on my dietary fuel or else Iwouldn’tget anything done.
The sunny weather was the finishing touch, and Iexpanded my lungs with air, sucking it in through my nose. After ashort ten-minute walk, Iarrived at the store and was strolling through the aisles when Iheard afamiliar man’svoice.
“Rowan, it’snot nice to throw food on the floor,” Thomas said to his giggling son from the parallel aisle.
Excited to see my favorite family, Irounded the short distance between us to find all four of them in the baking section. “If he’shaving so much fun, it can’tbe that bad, can it?”
Thomas and Erin turned toward me, puzzled expressions that transformed into smiles.
“Laura!” Erin sprang to hug me from her crouching position on the floor where she and Thomas cleaned whatever the little one deemed worthy to decorate the store’sfloor. “We were just talking about you.”
Iwrapped my arms around my friend, my eyebrows lowering on my forehead, my voice as confused as Ifelt. “Me?”
“Yeah you.” She stepped back, an easy smile on her face. “Well, it’saconversation that started earlier, when Thomas thought he spotted Zach coming out of your building while he was jogging and…”
“No, no, that’snot possible.” Istilled, trying to control the rapid beats of my heart. My eyes drifted to the stroller, looking longingly at the babies. On any other day Iwould’ve gone to shower them with love immediately after greeting my friends, but after being faced with this secret that Iwanted to hide, Ithought about nothing except wrapping this meeting up and running to the safety of my home.
“Obviously it wasn’t, that’swhat Itold him.” She twisted her head, shining avictorious smile toward her husband as he rose to his feet to his full, impressive height. “See? Laura would’ve said something. There’sno way it was him.”
Guilt hit me like aton of bricks and Istuttered, “Yeah, uh—t—totally. Zach in my house? In the early morning? Pfft, as if.” To top it off, Ihuffed out air, flipping my hair back and rolling my eyes a-laMean Girls.
“As if, huh?” Erin’swide grin dwindled and she turned her head back to me.
We had been friends long enough for her to know thatas ifwasn’tin my vocabulary. Ihad to say something to divert her attention from this debacle.
Fortunately, Thomas, who'dbeen focused on the stroller and overjoyed with the sight of his kids, did that for me. “Ionly saw his back, so Icouldn’tbe sure. Icouldn’tyell either because of the hour and he was in the car in less than two seconds, speeding off. It was the same Mercedes Zach owns, though.”
He raised his head as he finished, his smile lingering until it landed on my flushed face. His and Erin’sprobing gazes had become too much for me to handle and while making abeeline out of the store wasn’tan option, turning from them was.
Iacted as if the shelves to my left were extremely interesting, and looked for products that wouldn’tmake my friend any more suspicious than she already was. Flour or baking powder were out of the question, because as well as not sayingas if, Ididn’tcook, bake, or do anything remotely close to it. There had to be something, and Istood on my tiptoes to scour the top shelf.
“Laura?” Erin asked in askeptical tone.
Ipicked up the chocolate sprinkles jar, then pretended to be searching for something else. “What am I? My neighbor’skeeper?” The less Ielaborated, the better.
“Okay, okay. It’sjust, never mind.”
After adding chocolate chips to the list of things Ididn’tneed and feeling safe that Erin would’ve dropped the subject, Iturned back to them.
“Speaking of Zach,” Erin started while scooping up the “Ma!”-saying Violet.
My pulse, which had only now returned to its regular pace, started racing again. Ilowered my bag to the floor and opened my arms for Erin to hand her to me, seeking comfort through my precious goddaughter. Her warmth and baby scent enveloped me instantly, as well as her easy smile.
