Page 18 of Zac

Coming home to an empty space is getting harder and harder. Truth be told, I love having Presley here. The space doesn’t feel so massive with her filling the space too.

Reluctantly I lower Presley to the mattress, and as she curls her body away from me I find I miss having her in my arms. Being jealous of the pillow she wraps her arms around seems crazy, but I am.

I stand at the edge of the bed like some crazy ass stalker, watching her sleep. The sounds of her breaths echo over the space, a heaviness presses down on my chest.

Walking backwards toward the stairs I make my way back downstairs and flop down on the couch. Laying back against the cushions, I grip my hair and tug on the ends.

My thoughts bounce around in my mind like ten fucking pinballs, ricocheting in every direction. I want to do this right, more than anything I want to be the man her ex wasn’t.

* * *

I didn’t even hear Presley coming down the stairs. I’d gotten up more than an hour ago and decided to do something I never do.

“You cooked?” I look up and find her staring at me with a hint of a smile on her face.

“Don’t act so surprised,” I say with a laugh. “It’s just waffles.” I shrug. “I can’t screw those up too bad, can I?”

“Don’t ask me, I’m a terrible cook.” She doesn’t seem ashamed even a little. “I’m the queen of take-out and frozen meals.” She makes her way around the counter and sits in one of the chairs. “I make a killer cheese plate though.”

“Isn’t that just basically different cheeses, crackers, and maybe some grapes or something?”

“Pretty much.” She nods, her lips pursed. “And when I’m feeling really adventurous I toss on some olives too.”

“Rebel,” I say, pulling the last waffle off the iron and lay it onto the plate atop all the others.

“Are we expecting company?” Presley asks, looking over her shoulder like she expects to find a crowd walking in the door.

“Just us,” I reply with my brows furrowed.

When she turns back to face me she looks at the waffles stacked high, and then back to me. “You made six waffles?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you eating five of them?”

“I figured you’d eat a few.”

She instantly starts to laugh. “Because I’m pregnant?”

I nod, only triggering more laughter. “Hell I don’t know.” I suddenly feel embarrassed. “Do pregnant women eat more than normal?”

“Maybe a little.” She smiles wider and even if I sound like a fool, I’ll take it. To make her smile like she currently is, it’s worth it. “But I can assure you, one waffle is enough.”

I waste no further time, placing a waffle on her plate, and sliding over the syrup. I watch as she lifts the container pouring the warm sticky syrup over her waffle. Lifting her fork, she cuts into it, then lifts it to her lips. I watch a little worried, after Jace mentioned I was a terrible cook.

I’ll admit, I am waiting for her to spit it into a napkin.

Chewing she looks up at me, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Is that cinnamon?"

“Yeah,” I say, a sense of relief washing over me. “My mom always added cinnamon to her batter. I thought I’d give it a shot.”

Taking another bite, she chews making a sweet little mmm sound while doing it. “You did good.” She chews some more. “Real good,” she says around another bite.

I lift the syrup and throw two waffles onto my plate, before covering them and joining her on the chair at her side. Together, side by side we eat, and I can’t help but smile when she reaches out and grabs a second waffle. Looking over at me she offers me a wink, before devouring it too.

ChapterFourteen

Presley

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