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Chapter Thirty-six
Elena
Isleptthatnight,and I did it well.
Normally, before something big and important, I’d have been up pacing, checking and double-checking the details. The perfectionist in me did not allow for rest. But when I walked inside after Lachlan had dropped me off, my knees had been weak—and not just from his soul-destroying kisses. I went directly to my bed. The past couple weeks had come crashing down on me all at once, sweeping me under.
I woke in a panic, obviously. All the double-checking I should have done last night would have to happen this morning. Despite my panic, for the first time in weeks, I wasn’t angry. That had been swept away too.
Zadie was in the kitchen when I padded in. She was in the middle of stirring something in a big bowl at the island. She chirped a greeting at me, to which I grunted, and went directly to the coffee maker.
“I’m making lemon poppy muffins. They’ll be ready in thirty minutes, if you have time to wait,” Zadie said.
I grunted again. “I have the presentation today.”
“No kidding. That’s why I’m up at the crack of dawn, making you your favorite muffins.”
My heart was like a little flower, turning in the direction of Zadie’s sun to soak up her warmth and thoughtfulness.
“Holy shit, girlie.” I circled my arms around her shoulders. “You’re making muffins for me? What did I do to deserve this?”
She leaned into my embrace, grinning. “Bitch-slapped a girl in my honor and bought me a pink bat.”
I preened. Those were some of my proudest moments. “You’re easy, you hussy.”
She choked out a laugh. “Only for my best girls and my man.” Turning her head, she peered at me with narrowed eyes. “Can I just say that despite your caveman grunting, you seem like maybe, possibly, you’re in a better mood this morning?”
“You can say that.” I tapped her nose before letting her go to slurp down more coffee. “I think I slept ten hours straight last night.”
Her mouth formed a cute littleO. “Really? Did you just pass out, or did something happen to lighten your mind?”
I rubbed my lips together, flashing back to the truck, the kisses, the desire to insert myself inside Lachlan’s skeleton.
“I made out with Lachlan and he told me he loves me.”
Zadie dropped her spoon, squealing. “Of course he does. Any idiot could see that. He just got lost there for a bit. And that I understand, because you’re you.”
“What does that mean?” If anyone else had said that, I would have prepared for a fight. But this was Zadie, whose capacity for kindness continued to boggle my mind. I was safe with her.
“It means that a man like Lachlan, who is the kind of guy who knows exactly what he wants and has his path planned out, would be thrown off by a woman like you. You’re unexpected, El. I’m certain he never saw you coming. He probably had to recalibrate once he realizedyouare his path. But I knew he would get himself together sooner than later.”
I fought the urge to hug her again. Twice in the span of five minutes would be going overboard.
“I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I want to believe that,” I admitted.
“Then believe it.” She picked up her spoon. “Now, go get dressed while I make your muffins. You’re wasting time with me when you could be pacing and worrying.”
I rolled my eyes at her. Damn, this girl knew me too well.
I handed Sal a warm lemon poppy muffin. “For you, Salvatore.”
He jumped, like I’d handed him a bomb. “Oh. Uh, thanks.”
“I had nothing to do with the making of this muffin. My roommate, Zadie, is responsible, and since she’s an absolute angel, trust that it’s not loaded with poison.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he started to unpeel the wrapper as we walked inside the building to our classroom. Apparently, I had a little more work to do with Salvatore since he trusted a stranger over me. What had I done to give him the idea I’d poison him?
Was it wrong that I was amused?
