“I’m surprised Zee hasn’t insisted you come to work with him.Stay in his office all day.”
“Nora,” Ella shook her head, her friend never stopped.“I’ll admit that I thought he was going to be on a plane to get Maddie home.”
“See?It all must be his way.”
Ella tried to pull the blanket over her and finally got it.
“I’ve never denied it.He called her this morning and told her exactly what he thought of her decision to abruptly quit school.But she had her assistant coach right there.”
“Smart girl.”Nora grinned so huge Ella could see her molars.
“She seems happy.What more can I ask for?”
“You have it all, Ella.”Nora’s voice turned wistful, and Ella wished she was there with her friend on Vancouver Island.
“Remember my friend Owen?”
“The guy who holds piano concerts out of his home?”
“Yeah.He has a new series.You’ll be healed up by then.Or mostly.”
Ella turned when she heard the alarm beep and the door open.
“I’m going to visit Nora for an entire week,” she sing-songed, her voice light and teasing.
“Hello, Zee!”Nora called.
Zee came into the kitchen, grinning, and leaned over Ella’s shoulder.
“Hey Nora.How are you?”
“I’m fine.Not picking up awards and hosting teammates like you, but I’m still getting my laps in.”
“Those teammates are as insufferable as ever,” Zee chuckled, shaking his head.
“Ella told me Roger tried to kiss her.”
The way Nora smirked told Ella that she knew she was pushing Zee’s buttons.
“Yeah, but he didn’t.”Zee kissed Ella’s cheek.
Ridiculously, she blushed.
“Ella was just saying that she’d come see me for a whole week.”
“When she’s fully healed, she can go anywhere she wants.Right now, I’m going to keep her close to home.”
Ella yawned and covered her mouth.
“Sorry, Nora, I have to say goodnight.”
“Night, talk to you soon.Love you both.”
“We love you too, Nora.”Zee disconnected the call and wrapped his arms around Ella.“She’s always the same, eh?”
But despite the low-level animosity between them, there was also a grudging friendship, and in the end, she knew that her friend and her husband respected each other because both of them knew the other was looking after her.
“How are you my love?”
