Figuring Mom had let him know I was coming, I walked farther into the room. “I was enjoying the fresh air.”
His head snapped up at the first sound of my voice, his dark eyes briefly flickering over me before turning back to the screen before him. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Mom asked me to bring you dinner.” Crossing to the desk, I placed the container on the corner.
He eyed it skeptically. “Is it burned?”
I smirked. “Lucky for you, Mom made it.”
“Doesn’t mean you didn’t throw in some charred toast,” he grumbled.
Rolling my eyes at him, I turned to leave. “Try not to choke on it.”
Before I could reach the still-open door, a woman dressed in a knee-length black skirt and matching top walked in. Her dark hair fell in waves down her back, her makeup impeccable. Confidence oozed from her, and I could understand why. She was beautiful.
Eyes locking with mine, she stopped just a few steps inside the room. “I thought it was just us tonight.”
“It is.” Zachary’s voice was laced with steel, and I tried not to clench my hands into fists. “She was just leaving.”
Oh God. A sick feeling filled my stomach. I had no idea who this woman was, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why she was there. Ignoring the burning in my chest, I gave her a tight smile. I wasn’t going to slut-shame, and it wasn’t her fault the guy she was sleeping with was a total d-bag. “I’m Ellianna.”
“Rita,” she introduced, her brown eyes skimming over my blue yoga pants and matching cropped hoodie that exposed a few inches of my stomach. My hair was still down but had thankfully air-dried on the drive over. “Are you sure you don’t want to hang around? I’m okay with sharing.”
The way she kept running her gaze over me, I didn’t doubt she was into sharing. I felt oddly complimented. “Yeah, well, I’m not much of a sharer.”
I was proud of how calm my voice was, while inwardly, I was having a little bit of a tantrum. I didn’t want her to be there for the reasons she was. I didn’t want her to be his fuck buddy, and I really didn’t want them to be something more.
“Then maybe you and I could spend a few hours together,” she purred, taking a step closer.
“Rita,” Zachary barked, and I heard his chair roll back.
Sensing his aggression, I gave Rita another tight smile. “Excuse me.”
“Damn,” I heard her say as I left. “She was a sexy little thing.”
“Don’t even look at her!” he commanded, his voice harsh.
I quickly closed the door behind me and sprinted down the corridor toward the exit. Ted called a goodnight as I slammed through the door, running toward Lyla’s car.
Only when I was locked inside did I let myself react. Gripping the steering wheel, I screamed from behind clenched teeth. “Ugh! I hate him! Stupid. Asshole. Jerk. Hate him. Hate him. Hate him!”
Chapter 4
Ellianna
List in hand, I walked around the produce section of the grocery store, working through the many items my mom had sent me out for. She either did the shopping on her own or had it delivered, but with me home, she didn’t have to do either. Even though it was Saturday and supposed to be my day off, I liked helping her out.
Picking up a container of strawberries, I inspected the berries before adding them to my cart.
Maybe I’d make waffles for Sunday brunch.
Maybe I’d burn them all—just a little.
And then cover them in fresh fruit and whipped cream so Zachary didn’t know.
But I knew I wouldn’t go that far. That would only be a sad waste of batter.
Adding a container each of blackberries and blueberries to the cart, I moved over to where the melons were on display. Zachary didn’t like cantaloupe. I’d just add a few chunks to his plate as a garnish. Maybe some mint too. He couldn’t stand the smell of mint.
For a grown man, Zachary was the pickiest eater I’d ever met. I knew little kids who had less on their refuse-to-eat list than he did.
“But Daddy, I don’t want to go to Mommy’s house.”
“Josie, we talked about this. After we pick up a few groceries, I have to make a stop at one of the construction sites. It’s not safe for you there.”
Recognizing the voice, I turned my head to find Howler pushing a cart with his three-year-old daughter at his side. I had seen only pictures of Josie since she was a baby. With her blond hair up in pigtails, dressed in a yellow dress with butterflies all over it, she was a beautiful little replica of her father.
“Can’t I go to Grandma’s?” she asked, her eyes gazing up at Howler hopefully.
“Grandma isn’t home.”
Disappointment filled her face. “Oh.”
“Howler,” I called, lifting my hand to wave.
His head snapped around. When he spotted me, his eyes widened, but he left his cart to walk over and hug me. “Elli! The fuck, girl? Why didn’t you let me know you were home?”
I hugged him back, warmth flowing through me at being embraced so welcomingly. Friends were hard to come by back in California. I was too busy and maybe just a little leery of making connections at school. Julie, my roommate, wasn’t even close to counting as a friend, and I felt like the other students in my classes had their heads too far up their own asses to see anyone as anything other than competition. Even at work, I stayed to myself.
A big part of it was because I knew California wasn’t my forever home, and I didn’t want to be hurt when I left.
But I had to admit that physical contact with other people was something I craved. Even though I’d been home for almost a week, I’d only gotten a hug or two from my mom. She wasn’t one for displays of affection, and I might have been a little starved for it.
“I’m helping Mom while someone is on vacation,” I told him when I stepped back. “So I’m in town for a few more weeks. I guess time got away from me while I was working the last few days. How are you? What are your sisters up to these days? Is Cherie doing okay?”
“I’m good. So are Mom and my sisters, although there are times Kaya gives me indigestion.”
His mention of his youngest sister made me smile. “I’ve seen pictures on social media of her little boy. He is adorable—and those eyes! I guess he takes after his dad?”
“Yeah, I guess. She doesn’t talk about him to me. Or more, she refuses to tell me who the fucker is.” My eyes widened, realizing I’d inadvertently stepped into that drama, but he quickly changed the subject. Touching his hand to the top of his daughter’s head, he smiled, letting me know he wasn’t offended. “Did you hear that Lyla is coming home for the fall semester?”
Grinning at how his eyes glowed, I nodded. “Zachary mentioned it to my mom.”
“Daddy, who is that?” Josie whispered, looking up at me curiously.
“This is Mabel’s daughter, Ellianna,” he introduced. “Elli, do you remember my Josie?”
I bent and offered her my hand. “Hi, Josie. It’s a pleasure to meet you. The last time I saw you, you were only a baby. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown.”