FOURTEEN
KELLY
After scrubbing myself from head to toe to get rid of any last traces of spray paint, I'm lying on the bed wondering what this evening will bring.
I've come to no decision when Zac bursts in. He doesn't slow until he's launched himself through the air and onto the bed next to me.
I'm still bouncing when he drags me into a tight embrace and kisses me as though his life depends on it. My lips soften under his, as always.
His sigh when he breaks the kiss sounds heartfelt, leaving me wondering what's got him behaving like this. He's a different man from the one who'd left to go sightseeing.
Thanks to the text messages Audrey had sent me, I know they had lunch with their parents, with Zac's sister even promising to stand up for me. Unsure what she'd meant by that, I'd ignored it, replying that I hoped they had a lovely time.
"Come on, sweetheart. If you want more than a sniff of curry puff, you'll need to fight my sister for it."
He then drags me off the bed and onto my feet. Once there, he takes the time to kiss me again, my body responding in a flash. Apparently, it doesn't care one jot that I've got no idea where I stand with Zac, other than tight against him. My attraction is as devastating as ever, perhaps even more so.
Down in the kitchen, every surface is covered with Thai takeaways. "Holy heck, did you guys order the entire menu?"
It sure looks like it, with half-a-dozen overflowing aluminum containers spilling their contents onto the counter. Bowls, cutlery, and napkins sit at the ready next to containers of rice and pools of bright orange oil.
My breathing hitches, not at the mess, but at the memories of that first dinner with Zac rushing back and taking me by surprise. So much has changed since then, especially Zac and me. Whether this is for the good, who knew? I sure don't.
Once our bowls are piled high with steaming Thai food, we settle into the breakfast nook. Thanks to our oily fingers and plates, we aren't going anywhere near the big dining table, with this reserved for holidays.
While conversation is stilted to begin with, we soon move onto how much Audrey and Clive love living in Hawaii. It was while they were there on their honeymoon that they'd decided they wanted to live there full time.
With both of them skilled programmers, they'd even landed jobs before leaving. "We had to go shopping for interview outfits, because we had nothing with us," laughs out Audrey.
The focus on someone else, I relax as I listen to them working through what they love about island life. They then follow this up with what they miss about living on the mainland.
Audrey wipes her mouth with a napkin, speaking with it still in place, as if to mute her words. "While I love being back in mom and dad's good graces, it's too early to uproot our lives."
After watching Clive nod his support, I turn to find Zac staring at me, an unfamiliar light in his eyes. There's tenderness there for sure. There's also something else that I can't put my finger on. Could it be regret?
I'm having a few of those myself. I'd have expected Brian Mackey to come back to me by now. Had he changed his mind after he got my blunt email?
As I continue locking eyes with Zac, I can't help but wonder if it's not too late to follow up. To, at the very least, apologize for my lack of manners?
I've come to no decisions on climbing into bed, although I take the time to check my phone for any new emails. Still nothing, leaving my life in a limbo of sorts.
This means I can't say anything to Zac. Not until I know what's happening. However, as is often the case when I'm struggling with a decision, my mouth acts of its own accord.
"I got an interesting email from the boss at my old company the other day." Next to me, Zac stills, causing me to add, "Not Jason. The big boss."
"And?"
There's no missing that he's waiting for my answer. His breathing is shallow. I'm almost as frozen before I get up the nerve to answer him.
"Uh, he's offered me a job."
"I thought you said it'd be a chilly day in hell before you stepped foot in that place again?"
Zac's right, I had, but that was before Brian Mackey offered me my dream job. "It's the Executive Creative Director role."
So quiet have my words been, that Zac has to ask me to repeat myself. While he's processing this, I add something I'd never have expected to say in a million years.
"He's offered me Jason's job."
