Iwake Friday morning to a text message from Zayn.
Had to leave early this morning. Have a nice day xx
Seeing his name light up my screen sends a flurry of butterflies loose inside my stomach. We’ve barely been able to spend much time together this week, with Zayn starting work early and finishing late.
Zayn spent Wednesday night at my place. I cooked him dinner after he picked me up from my late shift at work, and we had every intention of watching a movie on the couch, but barely two minutes in, I was on his lap and he was inside me, the movie the last thing on our minds.
I spent yesterday at Hope House looking after Hudson and Hattie. Zayn arrived with Beth mid-afternoon after winning her full custody of her children and I couldn’t help but smile while Beth was singing her praises about Zayn to anyone and everyone who would listen. I overheard her telling Sam, “Zayn was ruthless. He went in to mediation and was so brutal in his attack he almost made Robbie cry. Told Robbie if he came near me and the kids again hewould make it his life mission to have him locked away for good!”
I asked Zayn about it afterwards, and he said, “I merely did my job, Gianna. He’s definitely going to jail, I just ensured when he gets out he won’t be coming near his family.”
“So you didn’t threaten him?” Not that I care. Robbie deserves more than threats, as far as I’m concerned.
“No. But I will go the extra mile to make sure the asshole gets maximum penalty for putting his hands onyou.”
Zayn dropped me home after that and went back to his office, and it occurred to me then that Zayn was spending his precious time representing Beth for free as a favour to me when he still had a mountain of work left to do at hisactualjob. It goes against everything he would have people believe about him. A chink in his cold, impenetrable armour that he dons with his suit every morning. And if it’s even possible, it made my heart fall a little bit harder.
Now it’sFriday and I’m at uni. Zayn calls me while I’m having lunch with Brett and I hear Monica speaking in the background. Even though he was very clear that there was never anything between them other than sex, I can’t help the ugly feeling that grows inside me. They’ve slept together. He knows her intimately, and she him. Do they think about it while they work on cases together? Do they share moments? Long, knowing looks?
Monica still wants him, I know that much. Has he told her that we’re together now?Arewe together now? We haven’t had that conversation yet, although it’s definitely been more than implied that we aren’t seeing other people.
I have to put my jealousy aside and trust Zayn, but it’s hard to do when I still feel the sting of Daniel’s betrayal. But Zayn isn’t Daniel.
“How’s your lunch?” He asks, and I feel my own sentiments reflected back in his voice. He isn’t thrilled I’m having lunch with Brett, either.
“Nice. We’re finished and I’m about to head to class now. How’s your day?”
“Fine. It will be better when I’m with you.”
My heart falters, then takes off like a hummingbird at the sound of Zayn’s low drawl. It’s full of unspoken promises that set my skin on fire.
“I can’t see you tonight, remember?” I sound as reluctant as I feel as I wave Brett off, mouthing a ‘see you later’as I grab my bag and head for the door. “I’m having drinks with Brett and his colleagues. I’m not sure what time I’ll be finished.”
“Ah, yes,” he says. “How could I forget.”
I roll my eyes, but a small smile plays about my lips as I exit Bean & Cup into the rare Melbourne sunshine. I like that he’s jealous. It makes me feel a little less crazy myself.
“I’ll speak to you later.”
“Later, baby.”
Later that evening,I’m back home getting ready to go to drinks. We’re going to a new rooftop bar and I want to make a good impression on Brett’s colleagues because hopefully one day these will bemycolleagues. I have my phone on loud while I put on my makeup, and my chin drops as I go in for my second coat of mascara.
“So I slept with Percy,” Anna says through the speaker, forcing me to stab my eyeball with my mascara wand.
“Ow!” I blink rapidly to try expel the liquid from my eyeball. “You didwhat?”
“Slept with Percy,” she responds easily. “We left the bar together the other night.”
“I thought you were just sharing a taxi!” I blot the tears underneath my eyes carefully with a tissue, trying to salvage the rest of my makeup.
“We did, amongst other things.” She pauses, her voice turning serious. “Gia, the man is ananimalin bed. I’m talking the best sex I’ve ever had.”
“You’re joking?” I ask in disbelief. “Percy?”
“Yes, Percy! Who would have thought, huh?”
“Not me, that’s for sure.” I pick up my favourite nude lipstick and start applying. “Although, you could tell there was something different about him. He’s not the shy guy we went to school with.”
