Chapter 28
SPENCER
As much as I wanted a shower, I needed space from Zoe more. I loved that girl more than I’d ever admit, but right now I needed a moment. Just a second to breathe. Today had been awesome. We’d enjoyed the city and each other. It was almost as if the real world didn’t exist. Sure Zoe ran out of breath easily and she may have stuck a little closer to me than normal, but I didn’t mind. Not one little bit.
Turning the hot water off, I let the icy blast calm my nerves and my unwanted hormones. I washed and shaved, taking my time. As I pulled on some sweat pants and a t-shirt, I could hear Zoe on the other side of the door. Part of me didn’t want to leave the bathroom but the other part of me, the more dominant part, was desperate to get back to her. She was an unhealthy addiction I couldn’t shake. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.
I heard a knock at the door and that was my cue. Stepping out of the bathroom, I watched as Zoe pulled open the door a fraction and addressed the visitor. Right there, before my very eyes I saw how just not okay Zoe was. One hand held the handle with white knuckles as she trembled. Even from across the room, I saw the shiver dance through her body.
I couldn’t stand to watch anymore.
Crossing the room in quick, deliberate strides, I was at Zoe’s side within a breath. She jumped and let out a startled gasp when I dropped my arm around her shoulders.
“Shit head!” she chastised, slapping my chest before grabbing at her chest, trying to settle her rapid breathing.
With a smile plastered across my face, I pulled the door open wider and looked at the pimple-faced teen standing there looking awkward.
“Hey,” I grinned.
“Hi. Two large pizzas and a garlic bread?” he asked nervously, his voice cracking.
“Sounds good,” I agreed, taking the pile of boxes from him.
Pushing Zoe behind me, I handed her the pizzas and stepped into the doorway, filling the space. I wasn’t trying to scare him, but I could tell he was intimidated. I didn’t care. Not about how I felt or how he felt. Right now, it was all about Zoe. She wasn’t okay and that’s all that mattered.
“I’ll grab you some cash,” I told him before grabbing my wallet from the coffee table and turning back to the door. “Here you go, man. Have a good night.” I smiled, stuffing some money in his hand, then closing the door.
Turning my attention back to Zoe, she’d already set up dinner. She’d poured drinks, grabbed napkins, and opened the pizza. The smell of garlic and tomato sauce filled the room and my stomach growled appreciatively.
I wanted to ask her if she was okay. I wanted her to tell me she was. Looking at her, I didn’t want her to lie. She was anything but all right. Pushing aside the questions I was dying to ask, I instead stayed in safe territory. “What’d we get?”
Zoe giggled and it was infectious. It made me feel good all over. It was a beautiful sound. “What do you think?”
“Probably some girly shit?” I teased.
“Girly shit?”
“Yeah. You know that green stuff and feta and all those fancy, no fat, no flavour toppings.”
Smiling, Zoe looked up from under her long eyelashes. “You know me so well.” She flicked open the lid to reveal a cheesy meat lover’s pizza before opening the other where a supreme waiting for me.
I dropped onto the couch beside her, grabbed a slice, and took a huge bite. “Mmmm,” I mumbled. It tasted so damn good. Nothing like the greasy local back home.
“Classy,” Zoe taunted as she took a tiny bite.
I laughed. “Don’t pretend to be delicate, Pippi. You forget, I know you. Eat properly.”
Taking a huge bite, she chewed determinedly. “Happy now?” she said through a mouthful.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.” I chuckled.
Grabbing the remote, Zoe clicked on the movie and up came Bruce Willis. Nothing like a bit of harmless violence to make you forget. For the next couple of hours that’s what we did. We finished the food and kicked the empty boxes aside before settling back, neither moving, neither speaking. We didn’t need to. My eyes started to feel heavy. I started to drift off and get distracted, but forced myself to hold them open.
Zoe wiggled around and dropped her feet in my lap. Without a word I started massaging the soles of her feet. She groaned as she settled deeper into the lounge. When Bruce Willis saved the day and the credits rolled, I knew I couldn’t hold off the conversation any longer.
“Zoe,” my voice wavered and I barely recognised the breathy word.
“Mmm,” she mumbled, wiping her tired eyes.
