Page 115 of Tainted

“I’ll be back tomorrow with lunch. Behave yourself,” I reminded her before Zara and I left her room.

She waited until we pulled out of the parking lot to ask, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“How do I get dressed if I don’t know where we’re going?”

“Dress comfortably.”

Zara didn’t reply, so my neck turned to find her glaring at me in the passenger seat. “Zara Nicole doesn’t like surprises, I see.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Who doesn’t like surprises from theiralmostboyfriend?” I asked, slapping my hand on her thigh.

Zara laughed, shaking her head, but she didn’t bother answering my question. When we got to my house, I watched Zara rummage through her overnight bag, trying to figure out what to wear. She walked into my closet after the two options she picked didn’t meet her standards.

“If you need to go shopping, just say that,” I reclined on one elbow, watching her sift through t-shirts in nothing but her bra and panties.

Zara rolled her eyes at me before deciding on a dress shirt that sparked my curiosity.

“I’m bloated and don’t have anything else to wear here. Another reason I hate surprises,” she complained.

“That’s why you’re so snappy today, huh?”

“You try having one good week a month in your own body.”

“What are you going to do with that?” I asked, nodding at the shirt in her hand.

“You just have to wait and see.”

“Dressed or not, we’re leaving in fifteen minutes,” I announced, heading to the kitchen.

Babygirl’s mood had me nervous about my own damn surprise. The last few weeks had been a lot for her and me, too. Sydney still hadn’t returned a call or text, likely not wanting to hear my mouth after that interview. That was inevitable whether I had to pull up on her or not.

Zara finally waltzed downstairs with three minutes to spare. Pride replaced my nerves at how she turned my dress shirt into an off-the-shoulder look that she held together with my brooch. If I hadn’t seen her take it off the hanger, I would’ve never guessed it was a men’s shirt.

“I’m ready.”

“Is anything my own anymore?”

“Nope,” she flashed a sarcastic smile, hanging her purse on her shoulder.

We climbed into the car, and Zara could not calm her nerves. She wasn’t lying when she said she didn’t like surprises. At one point, I had to put my hand on her thigh just to keep her from shaking it. We reached the parking lot, and she hesitated to get out.

But her expression when we reached the door was everything I didn’t know I needed. Zara’s eyes widened, and she just stood there, taking it all in like she couldn’t believe it.

“Really?" she finally said, a mix of amusement and curiosity. "I didn’t take you for a guy who’d be into flower arranging.”

I couldn’t tell her that I’d be anything she wanted if her smile was the reward. Instead, I shrugged, playing it cool while holding the door open.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head and making herself comfortable at our station. The instructor handed out supplies while everybody began picking various flowers for their arrangement. My presence garnered a lot of compliments and giggles from the women because there were only two men in the class, and I was one of them. Much like me, he didn’t look like he knew what the fuck to do either, but we were here.

Zara started snipping stems, more focused and calm than I’d seen her in days. Meanwhile, I was just trying not to embarrass myself but holding my own. I looked at Zara again and noticed she was watching me. Her lips pressed together like she was fighting back a smile.

“What made you pick Tulips?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

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