Page 46 of Bought For Us

When I turn to face Zack, I find him watching Trenton with a hard look on his face. “Thanks for coming to get me. You didn’t have to. I could have found a way home,” I tell him.

He drags his eyes over to me and pushes off the wall, taking a few steps forward until he’s towering over me.

My pulse starts to race as I tip my head back to look up at him. I don’t move. My body can’t seem to, even if I wanted to.

“I wanted to,” he says. There's that husky voice again. “It’s no problem. How was your night?”

I swallow hard. “Good,” I whisper.

His eyes hold mine for a moment. “Good.”

He wraps his arm around my lower back and guides me to his car. I don’t say anything, I can’t fucking breathe whenever he touches me.

My mind thinks all the wrong things. He’s a married man, Cora. To an amazing woman. What is wrong with you?

When we get to the car, I find Kimmy in the front seat. “Oh, hey.” I smile, a feeling of joy filling me at seeing her. I’m so fucked.

“Hey, babe.” She grins at me through the open window.

I get into the back seat. As we drive home, they ask me how my night was and I spend the whole way home word vomiting, but I can’t help it. It was a good night. And my co-workers are awesome people. I might even make some new friends.

God, that sounds so stupid. I’m twenty-seven and I’m excited about making friends. I really do need a life.

To be fair, I didn’t get the chance to have one until now.

As we get into the house, Zack stops and looks at me. “You know, you seem to mention Trenton an awful lot.” He raises a brow and crosses his arms.

“Ah, yeah.” I clear my throat, my eyes a little wide as I’m taken aback. “He was working next to me all night. He’s really nice and was awesome with showing me the way to do things. Why, should I not be friends with him or something?”

“Not that.” Zack grunts. “He’s a good guy. Hard worker. Respectful to the staff.”

“Oh, good.” I smile. “That makes me feel a lot better with accepting his invite to hang out.”

“You're hanging out with him?” Kimmy asks.

“Yeah.” I shrug as we head into the kitchen. I’m dying for a late night snack. “He asked me to hang out with him and some of the others before work on Saturday.”

“So, it’s not like a date or anything?” Kimmy asks.

“No,” I say slowly. Why are they acting weird. “But, who knows. Trenton is nice. Good-looking. And I’m starting over, finally living my life. Why not start dating? I have the time for it now. No one holding my life hostage.” I snort out a laugh, looking down as I pick the sticker off my apple. “Maybe I can break my life of celibacy and let loose.”

Both a choking sound and a growl fill the air. I look up to find Kimmy’s eyes wide and a scowl on Zack’s face.

“Are you two okay?” My brows furrow. “Are you mad at me or something?” My eyes widen. “Shit, I didn’t ask for this.” I hold up the apple. “I’m sorry.”

“No.” Zack says, clearing his throat. “No one is mad. Sorry. Just a long day. And Cora, this is your house. Never, and I mean never, ask before you eat something. Have what you want, as much as you want, and if we don’t have it, just ask.”

“Oh.” I smile, biting my lower lip. “Thanks.”

Kimmy and Zack share a look. A long look that I don’t understand. “I’m going to head up to bed now, if that's okay. I’m pretty tired.”

I don’t want to be rude and would love to hang out with them but I can feel my eyes shutting and my body swaying.

“Of course.” Kimmy steps forward and gives me a hug. “Get some sleep, babe. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Once I’m done with my apple, I toss it in the bathroom trash and take a shower.

I don’t even bother to get dressed before I plop down on the bed. My eyes are so heavy, they already begin to close before my head hits the pillow.

---