MONDAY
Life is so unfair.
Universe-altering sex with Zach one night, a break to heal up over the weekend, and just when I’m ready to rock, my period makes an appearance.
And not in a kind way.
No, I had to scar my professor for life and rely on Zach’s hoodie because a forty-two-year-old scholar has no idea how women’s bodies work.
Snarking as I scrub Zach’s hoodie, dousing it in peroxide like Mom suggested, I fume, “I hate being a woman.”
“I dunno. I’m glad you are one if that’s any consolation.”
“Nope, it’s no consolation. At all.” I push out a stream of air to blow a hair that flops into my face away.
When he rounds the counter and gently tucks it behind my ear, I close my eyes at the tender touch.
This whole day has been a surprise.
What, with him coming to rescue me because Callan texted him, followed by him rushing in with a hoodie, and then the fact that he carries tampons for me as well as inviting Callan around for a snack after hanging out with him and Peeks for most of the weekend…
Zach as a friend is awesome.
As aboyfriend, he’s a whole other ball of wax.
And that’s just too much for me to process today of all days because if I do, I’ll cry.
“Leave that,” he chides, his concern sliding around me like a hug.
“I don’t want it to stain permanently.” I sniffle, wiping at my cheeks with my knuckles.
He pops up next to me. “Let me do it then?”
“No! Honestly, Zach, just go and watch the game.”
“Not without you.”
“Fine.” I motion at the counter. “Make popcorn then.”
Happy now that he’s been assigned a task, he gets to work.
Into the silence, I mumble, “Thanks for being kind to Callan.”
“It was nothing.”
“Not true. You don’t like him that much, do you?”
He turns to face the microwave. “He’s okay. I…”
“You?” I prompt when he doesn’t continue.
“I’m being dumb.”
“What about?”
“Do you… like him?”
Perplexed, I frown at him. “Thought we’d established that already?”
