Good times.
Chapter 27
MAYA
I’ve been living in paradise, and now, moving back into my apartment feels wrong on every level.
My heart feels heavy, my brain in a fog.I was only at the Tribeca apartment for a few nights, but they were special.They changed something fundamental in me.It wasn’t just that Zach helped me by giving me a place to stay when I had nowhere to go, we crossed back into something that had never really started.We found our way back to each other.
Now that I’m back here, my world feels off kilter.Like my eyes are focused but everything around me is a blur.
Fleur is already in the apartment when I walk back in.Zach’s apartment was big, beautiful, light and airy.I felt like a million dollars just walking into that building, living my dream life, the kind of life my mom and I have watched others live.
This place is familiar enough, but it feels small and poky.Guilt slowly crawls over me, because this should be enough—I have some crazy memories here, with Fleur, late nights spent dissecting her latest disaster dates, or me telling her about the latest verbal slaying from Katherine at work.But suddenly, it doesn’t feel like home.It feels like a place I’ve outgrown.
I stand, looking around, keys still in my hand, forcing myself to breathe, and to adjust to this place again.
Fleur hugs me.“Welcome back!”Then she steps back, her arms crossed, her eyes examining my face closely.She can sense I’m not quite myself.“What’s going on?You look like you’re in a trance.You’ve been weird for days.”
“I’ve been busy,” I say, setting my bag down with a weary sigh.
“Busy, doing what?You just vanished, and you continue to dodge my questions.”Her eyes narrow to slits.“Where have you been hiding?”
“Who says I’ve been hiding?”My light laugh sounds false, even to me.“I was staying with a work colleague, and I couldn’t … uh… I couldn’t talk.”
“Which work colleague?”
I open my mouth, then close it again.I don’t even know where to start.With the truth?Or the lies?With the boardroom?The elevator?Or the diner?
“What was it like staying with Dave?”I want to retreat to my room and unpack, and dodge Fleur’s questions, but that will only make her more suspicious.
A knock at the door saves me.I frown and ask her, “Are you expecting anyone?”
“I hope not,” she snaps striding to the door and opening it, making me wonder what happened between her and Dave.
“Uh … hi,” she says, hesitating.“Uh …”
My pulse races.I don’t even need to look at the door to know it’s him, but I turn around slowly, my body reacting instantly as heat flares low in my belly, and every cell in my body jangles.All of a sudden I feel absurdly alive, sexy and unsteady.
“Hey,” I say, feeling sheepish.Zach left work early today, and I moved my things out of the Tribeca apartment.We didn’t really get a chance to discuss me moving back much.
“Hey.”Even his voice makes my insides heat.
“Oh my god!”Fleur screeches.“You’re …him!” She gapes at me, hands on hips, a slow understanding dawning on her.
He stands there, his gaze fixed on me, a sexy grin on his face, and his jacket slung casually over his shoulder, like he’s about to whisk me away.I wish he would.
“I’m Zach.You must be Fleur?”
“You know my name,” she sighs, happily.
His gaze dips to me.“Sorry.I should’ve called, but I was nearby and I—”
“You’re the friend Maya stayed with!”Fleur cries, unabashed.Her eyes meet mine, a hundred questions swimming in them.
I scratch the back of my neck, while Zach views this situation with amusement.It makes me happy that he’s turned up like this, unexpectedly.I wish we could go back to the Tribeca apartment and pretend we lived there.
Fleur shakes her head at me.“You stayed withZach Knight!You didn’t even tell me.I knew you were being weird.”
