After a minute, he asked, “You talk to your girl today?”
“Tia? Yeah,” she said. “She wants me to come to Emerald City for a few days.”
“Go then.”
Meadow’s lashes lowered. “It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?”
She looked out across the yard, watching Ray flip chicken like he had all the time in the world. “Mama has her moments…and Daddy’s gettin’ older too. I don’t wanna drop all that on him.”
Zaire studied her face, the way her jaw tightened whenever she lied to herself.
“That the only reason?”
She let out a slow breath. “Mostly.”
He didn’t push, just let the silence settle for a beat before he spoke again. “I’ll hire Rena.”
Meadow snapped her head toward him. “Zaire?—”
“Before you start,” he said calmly, “listen, cuh.”
“No.” Meadow felt her answer was final. She didn’t want to hear nothing else he had to say. Zaire was already doing too much as far as she was concerned.
“Meadow.”
“I said no!”
“Marai” Zaire pressed
“Zaire Cooks…I said no and I don’t want to argue with you…why you always tryna argue with me?” She tried to use humor to lighten the subject.
He turned fully toward her. “Why?”
“Because you already helped with the bills?—”
“And?”
“And I don’t wanna get used to this,” she said, her voice small but firm.
“Used to what?”
“You.” The word dropped out before she could catch it.
Zaire’s whole expression shifted - it softened…tightened…deepened. “Too late.”
Her mouth opened, but her voice didn’t follow because she didn’t have another rebuttal. Especially not when he made everything feel so right.
“You need a break,” he said. “Your friend needs you. You need her. And your Mama’s not gon’ fall apart in two days. Let me cover Rena. She already knows the house and she knows Magnolia. Your Daddy’ll relax if she’s around.”
Meadow shook her head. “Zaire…I can’t just let you fix everything.”
He exhaled, lowering his voice so only she could hear it. “I know you’re strong. I know you’re used to carrying it all.” He pinched her cheek. “you’re not weak for lettin’ me help you. That’s not weakness…that’s me being a man, baby.”
Meadow licked her lips and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her heart thumping in a way she hated and needed at the same time. She didn’t know what to do with the softness in his tone or the certainty in his eyes. She was used to people wanting things from her…her time, her labor, her strength - but not like this. Not someone wanting to give something back to her...not someone wanting to ease her load without making her feel stupid for needing it.
“A man?” She whispered, letting the word linger on her lips like an expensive wine she’d never had. It wasn’t fruity like the rum punches she loved too much.
