“She will. Just give her a chance.”
“I will.”
“I’ve got to go. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Mum. For everything.” I hugged her tight, and strangely, I found myself not wanting to let go. Mum ran her hands up and down my back before stepping out of my grasp.
I watched her climb behind the wheel of her SUV and pull out. I stood still and watched her car until she was out of sight. Once she was gone, I sucked in a deep breath. It was now or never. Climbing the steps, I went back inside. With my arms folded across my chest, I watched Zoe snore. I couldn’t breathe. I felt like a snake was wrapped around me, stealing the air. Her eye was surrounded by an angry black bruise and the bandage on her forehead needed changing. I wanted to punch something. If I ever got my hands on the asshole who’d done this, he wouldn’t need a hospital. He’d need an undertaker.
Kicking off my boots, I sniffed my shirt. I stunk. Pulling it over my head, I tossed it on the floor and pulled on a clean one. Zoe didn’t deserve to be subjected to that type of stench. When I collapsed onto the couch beside her, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out and pushing an errant curl back from her face. Zoe half woke. Her eyes fluttered open and a sneaky smile crossed her lips.
“Morning,” I taunted as I felt the smirk tug at my lips.
“Shut up. I needed the nap,” she admonished, slapping my chest with a giggle. It sounded so good. There was nothing like hearing Zoe laugh to make everything better.
“Okay. Well, you definitely had that. I heard you. So did half the neighbourhood.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You were snoring.”
Zoe shot up, wincing and grabbing at her ribs as she did. It was obvious she’d forgotten about her injuries in her haste to get up. “I don’t snore!” she denied vehemently.
I slid from the lounge and out of harm’s way. “Hate to break it to you, but you do. I happen to think it’s cute.” I winked as I changed the DVD.
Zoe snuck out of the room and I found myself praying she’d taken my teasing as nothing more than that. I just wanted to make her laugh. Make her smile. Make her forget. When she slipped back onto the couch I noticed she’d gone for supplies. Slumping back into the couch with the block of chocolate and the bag of popcorn, Zoe patted the seat beside her. Anxiously I sat carefully beside her, making sure I left a gap. The last thing I needed to do was make her feel more uncomfortable. Zoe didn’t give me a choice. Instantly she snuggled into my side. Pulling the blanket from the back of the couch, I spread it over her. She dropped her head against my chest. I was certain she could feel my wildly beating heart.
“Comfy?” I mocked, unable to bite my tongue.
Wiggling against me, Zoe looked up and just smiled. “I am now.”
She looked happy. Young and innocent. If you looked past the evidence of evil, Zoe was there. She was causing trouble as always. I knew how to fix that. Pressing play, my eyes never left hers.
“You shit head!” she exclaimed, slapping me.
