Chapter 29
ZOE
I woke up with my heart in my mouth as my heavy, sleep-crusted eyes cracked open. I was wrapped around Spencer. What surprised me the most though, was I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I’d spent the entire last week asleep. And in the few waking moments, I’d been so screwed up, such an emotional mess I’d barely been able to string a thought together. Today though, something was different. I’d woken up and actually looked forward to the day. A fact that wasn’t lost on me. I knew exactly what to thank for that. Or who.
Beside me, Spencer snored and snorted and wriggled, but didn’t wake, giving me the chance to watch him sleep. With my arm draped across his expansive chest, I felt the steady soothing rhythm of his deep breathing. Stealing a glance at the clock, the bright red numbers lit up the room. It was early. Too early. Closing my eyes, I pushed myself, if possible, even closer to Spencer, and closed my eyes. Another couple of hours’ sleep sounded perfect.
When I woke again, the sun was streaming through the open window and the curtains were dancing in the breeze. The thing to entice me from the warm comfort of my bed was the scent of bacon filling the apartment. Then I remembered it was Spencer. He was here. I couldn’t help but to grin like an idiot.
With a spring in my step, I launched my body from the bed?my ribs groaning in protest?and headed for the bathroom. A moment later I pulled my dressing gown from the hook on the back of the door and tied the belt around my waist. Stepping into the lounge room, the sight before me stopped me dead in my tracks. Spencer was in my kitchen. Dancing to the radio. Shirtless. With droplets of water dotting his back. Cooking breakfast.
The song ended and so did the butt shaking. Not one to miss an opportunity, I started applauding, causing Spencer to spin around and stare.
With a wild, wide smirk plastered across his gorgeous face, he asked, “See something you like?” He bowed dramatically.
“Just enjoying the show,” I confessed, feeling my cheeks burn.
“Well, as long as you enjoyed it.”
“Oh trust me. I did.”
“Well then, sit down and enjoy the meal portion. Today we have pancakes served with maple syrup and bacon,” Spencer explained with a bow as he dropped a plate in front of me.
It smelt damn good and it looked even better. My mouth watered and it wasn’t just the bacon that was responsible. The scrumptious specimen standing on the other side of the bench had my heart beating ferociously.
Pushing aside the thoughts I knew I shouldn’t have been having, I grabbed my fork and dug in. It tasted like heaven. “Mmmm,” I mumbled appreciatively through a mouthful.
“Any good?” Spencer asked raising an eyebrow.
I shuddered. This boy was going to be the death of me. He was getting so comfortable in my life. Or maybe I was getting too comfortable in his. Whichever it was, I knew it was going to hurt like hell to watch him walk away. It had almost damn killed me the first time, but now I’d have to do it again. I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to.
“Yup,” I answered quickly, not trusting myself to elaborate further.
“Well then, eat while they’re hot. Then we can talk about payment.” Spencer winked as he slid onto the stool beside me and started eating.
The warmth from his half naked body was bouncing off him in waves, heating me to the core. Everything he did right now was hot. I was overcome with the compulsion to slap him. Or hug him. Or both. I don’t think my body really cared which, as long as there was contact.
Forcing my attention back onto the plate in front of me, I stuffed my face like no one was watching. Taking huge bites, I figured the more I stuffed in my mouth, the less chance I had of being dragged into a conversation I didn’t want to have.
Spencer must have sensed there was something bigger going on in there as well, because for the first time in as long as I could remember the silence that hung between us was uncomfortable. Clicking on his iPod, music filtered through the room killing the silence. With the quiet gone, I found myself watching Spencer…a fascination I didn’t quite understand. Everything about him was attractive, but it was the quiet strength in his eyes that destroyed me. It was in that moment I realised I was in love with him, and that realisation scared the shit out of me.
“You okay?” he asked, startling me out of my reflection.
“Yeah.”
Spencer dropped his cutlery and spun on his stool before grabbing my knees and spinning me towards him. Face to face, there was barely a breath between us. I hoped he was going to kiss me. I wanted him to. The seriousness in his face crushed me.
“Okay, Pippi. You’re rested, fed, and showered. Now it’s time to talk,” he declared firmly.
Gulping down the lump that had mysteriously appeared in my throat, “No it’s not,” I mumbled.
“You can’t run from this, Pippi.”
At his words my back went stiff. He didn’t get to tell me what to do. Not today. Not never. Especially not about this. “Don’t fucking call me Pippi,” I seethed, pushing my plate away and jumping from the stool.
“Zoe,” he softened.
“Don’t, Spencer. Don’t try and placate me. If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.” I was being a bitch. I knew that. But I couldn’t stop.
