by Nia Arthurs
“You alright?”
“Alright?” I croak. “How could you ask such a ridiculous question while I’m stuffing my face?”
“It’s not like you haven’t heard a proposal before. Thomas was pushing for marriage the moment he found out you were pregnant.”
“Yeah, and I shut him down. For good reason.”
“What reason?”
I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “Is that a joke?”
“No.” Wilson pulls in his bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking—”
“You’re obviously no good at that.”
He smirks. “I want to give this a shot.”
“What are you talking about?”
He dives into my personal space. “Marry me.”
“I…” My throat closes up and, for the second time in the space of a minute, I can’t breathe. Then I find my common sense and push him back. “You’re crazy. Did Thomas put you up to this?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“If this is about Keanu then you don’t have to worry. I won’t do anything to put the baby in danger.”
“This isn’t about your ex. This is about us.”
“There is no us, and I know this is about Keanu because you probably wouldn’t be sitting there proposing marriage if he hadn’t shown up last night.” I glare at him. “What did Thomas tell you?”
“Enough.”
“Great.” I huff.
“You know I have my own baggage. The last thing I’m going to do is sit here and judge you for your past. But I want to have a future, a family, with you. So let’s get married.”
“You’re crazy,” I mumble again. “What about Violet?”
He stiffens. “She’s on her own path.”
“I know you still love her.”
“Can you tell me you don’t still love Keanu?”
I clamp my lips shut. My feelings for Keanu are complicated. Still, marriage is a stupid solution. “We’re both in semi-relationships with other people. That’s even more of a reason not to do anything so permanent.”
“Who’s in a relationship? I’m not.”
“So you’re telling me if Violet waltzes through that door right this minute, you wouldn’t fall down in total awe?”
He tilts his head. “Is that how you see me?”
“You love her.”
“I do. I mean I did. But there’s no future for us.”
“So you’re settling for the next best thing? And I just conveniently have your baby baking in the oven already, huh?”
“Zora, that’s not what I’m saying.”
I storm to my feet. “You know what? Screw you! I don’t need your pity. Whatever favor you think you’re doing by marrying me, it’s unwelcome and insulting.”
“Hey,” he captures my hand and gently tugs me toward him, “I’m not trying to insult you. I’ve made my share of mistakes, but when I make a commitment to a woman I take it seriously. Love can come later, but right now we have everything that matters to make a marriage work.”
“What if love never comes?” I demand. “What then?”
“Then… we cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“You’re crazy.”
“That’s the third time you’ve said that.” He chuckles and releases my hand. “Think about it. When you have your answer you know where to find me.”
Wilson leaves and closes the door gently behind him. I sink into the chair, completely shocked. The last thing I expected him to do was propose.
Is he insane?
I try to hide my feelings when Amaya takes me out to go shopping for maternity clothes. But I fail.
“Zora?” She touches my arm. “You okay?”
She looks so kind and interested and I really need to talk to someone about this.
“Zora?”
“Wilson proposed!” I blurt.
“What?” She drops her shopping basket and grabs my arm to squawk, “What?”
“I know. It’s crazy.”
“Did he get down on one knee? Did he sing a song?”
“No.” My voice falters at the reminder that his proposal was anything but romantic. “He mentioned it. Over breakfast.”
She softens. “Aw, with the ring hidden in the croissant?”
“It was fried jack and no, there was no ring.” Maybe talking to Amaya was a bad idea. She’s not making me feel any better. “He just came out and asked me to marry him while I was eating.”
“Oh.”
“Yup.” I tap my finger against my side.
“What did you say?”
“I turned him down.”
“Why? You like him, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t like—” I choke on the words when Amaya slants me a look. “Okay, I’m fond of him. I’ll admit to that. Not that it matters. Wilson tolerates me, but he’s still in love with Violet and now that Keanu is back—”
“That scumbag? I remember meeting him back when I was dating your brother. He did not leave a good impression. How dare Keanu show his stupid face after all this time?”
I snort. “Now you sound like Thomas.”
Amaya’s brown eyes meet mine and she lowers her voice. “Please tell me you kicked that guy to the curb.”
“I plan to. We haven’t talked. Yet. I’m sure Keanu will show up sooner or later.” I wave my hand. “But this isn’t about him. This is about Wilson’s dumb idea.”
“I don’t think it’s dumb,” Amaya muses.
“You’re kidding.” I chuckle but it falters to a hush when she doesn’t join in. “You’re joking, right? Amaya?”
“What if he likes you too?”
“Well, he didn’t mention that this morning. And even if he did, ‘liking’ someone and ‘loving’ someone are two different things. He loves Violet.”
“Love isn’t just a noun, Zora. It’s a verb. Kent shows me that he loves me everyday by being faithful to and honoring me. You and Wilson obviously have the chemistry part down pat. But loving each other is a choice. One that can be made if you want to.”
“There’s also a difference between ‘love’ the verb and being ‘in love’. Wilson can choose to love me till the cows come home, but what if he’s always in love with someone else? Or what if I fall in love for real and he doesn’t?”
“That’s the risk you take with love. No one can predict the future, but I have a good feeling about you two.”
“Well, I guess that solves it. Your feelings are the concrete evidence I need to prove that Wilson’s not insane.”
Amaya laughs and hooks her arm in mine. “Alright, you made your point. Now let’s keep shopping. I have to head to the Cultural Institute this afternoon.”
We pick out a few things, but I try not to overdo it since Dr. Clara warned that I would pack on a lot more weight in the coming months. It doesn’t make sense to splurge on clothes I’ll outgrow soon.
When we get to the cash register, I pull out my card. Amaya stops me. “I’ve got it.”
I blink in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah.” She smiles at the cashier. “Charge it to this card.”
My chest expands with warmth as I step back and let her pay. To be honest, I’ve never had a friend before. Maybe once. When I was younger. And even then it didn’t last. Letting down my walls and being vulnerable have never been my strengths.
Is this what having a real friend feels like?
Amaya spins and her curls fly behind her. “Ready to go?”
I nod, unable to speak because I’m afraid I’m going to cry.
She drops me home, and I settle in with my new clothes. There are three pairs of pants with stretchy bands around the waist. Lately, it’s been hard to button up my jeans.
I fold them over the armchair when there’s a knock at the door. My chin flies up and I inspect the sound. There’s no way Keanu would be dumb enough to return here. I’m pretty sure Thomas is staking my apartment out.
It could be Wilson, but he promised he’d give me time to think so I do
ubt he’d show up again in the same day.
Curious, I stride to the door and wield it open. It’s a deliveryman and he’s holding a huge bouquet. The orange and red blooms are striking against green stalks. My breath hitches.
“Are you Zora King?” he rumbles.
I nod.
“Sign here.”
After I scribble my name on his clipboard, he thrusts the flowers at me. I cradle the vase in the crook of my elbow and set it on the coffee table.
There’s a note sticking out of a petal. I clip it between my fingers and bring it close. The scent of Keanu’s cologne is heavy on the paper. I know it’s his because I bought it for him every Christmas.
I lift the flap and recognize his neat scrawl. The note has only one line.
You will always be mine.
It’s unsigned, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Keanu sent this. My stomach churns.
Is that note a romantic reminder or a threat?
Chapter Fifteen
Wilson
Three days. It’s been three days since I asked Zora to marry me. The wait is torture. I’m so distracted lately that Kent kicked me out of my own office. So instead of working, I’m pacing the living room trying to convince myself that I didn’t make a huge mistake.
“She’ll say yes. Even if she doesn’t, we’ve still got time. There’s no rush.” I pace to the other end of the room. “Who am I kidding? She’ll say no. Of course she will. Why did I ask her to marry me?”
At that moment, my phone chirps. I scramble to the couch and grab it, answering immediately when I see Zora’s name prancing across the screen.
“Hey,” I say calmly. “What’s up?”
“My shift ends at seven tonight. Can you give me a lift home?”
“Of course,” I blurt. Then realize how eager that sounded and revise, “I’ll be there.”
“Great.” She hangs up.
Just like that.
I pull the phone away and stare at the screen. Zora’s always found a way home on her own. Which means she called me for a reason.
She’s got her answer to my proposal.
My heart thrums in my chest. I shouldn’t be this nervous.
My decision to marry Zora was practical. We’re having a baby; we’re living in the same building. The fact that we actually enjoy each other’s company is the reason I went ahead and asked her, but it’s an idea I’ve been toying with ever since Thomas brought it up.
A future with Violet is never going to happen, and I don’t want to be that pathetic sap stuck on his first love forever.
Still, Zora thinks she’s my second choice, and maybe there’s some truth to that. Looking back, I think proposing when her mouth was filled with fried jacks didn’t help, but I’ll do my best to convince her I’m sincere.
“Kent!” I run back into the office.
My cousin stares at me like I’m crazy, but he looks like the crazy one. His hair falls all over his forehead. A drained coffee mug rests beside his hand. “Where’s the fire?”
“You’re working too hard.” I drag a chair up to him. “Take a break.”
“I can’t. You’ve been more than kind leaving me on the payroll, but it’s time I start earning my keep.” Kent rubs his jaw, which is covered with stubble.
I freeze. “Have you been talking to Milton?”
“Pretty easy to hack into the office chat room.”
“Dude, you’re not supposed to read that stuff.”
“I know it’s wrong, but I wanted to remember what the office was like.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I slap his back. “The workers always talk smack about the boss.”
“They’re right though. I’ve been unfair to you, to all of them.”
“Kent, listen to me. You own this company just as much as I do. You were dealing with a lot last year. No one’s blaming you for taking some time off.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m perfecting this app even if it kills me.”
“Take a break. If Amaya thinks it’s my fault you’re working so hard, she’ll come after me.”
He chuckles and swings his office chair around. “So what did you bounce in here screaming my name for?”
“Oh, right.” I stand and stare him down, trying not to squirm when I ask—“Got any florist recommendations?”
“Florist? As in someone who sells flowers?”
“That’s the definition of a florist, yes.”
He looks shocked. “Why do you need flowers?”
“I’m taking Zora out tonight.”
“Oh?” One eyebrow arches. “Just another business meeting about the baby?”
“Not exactly.”
“Wilson…”
“I’ll tell you about it later. The flowers?”
Kent gives me directions and I head out immediately to buy flowers and make a reservation at Paparazzi’s. Zora said she loved their food so I figured that’s a safe bet.
Next, I head to a jewelry store. The moment I spot the glass display cases filled with shiny rings and the overly cheerful attendant with dollar signs in her eyes, pressure builds in my chest. I spin on my heels and walk out.
All my life, I thought I’d be buying a ring for Violet.
Which is exactly what I shouldn’t be thinking when buying a ring for another woman.
I’ll leave the ring choice up to Zora.
She might not want a ring from you.
I push the thought from my mind and head to the hospital. I’m early, but I don’t want to wait at home. Kent’s probably already gone by now and I figure it makes more sense to go straight to Zora rather than drive aimlessly until seven.
The hospital is busy as usual. I climb the steps to the second floor and slip through the glass doors. The moment Gretchen spots me, she grins. “Hey! Nice seeing you again.”
“Hello, Gretchen.” I tighten my grip on the flowers. “Zora busy?”
“She’s doing her rounds, but she’ll be finished soon.”
“Thanks.”
Her eyes dip to the flowers. “Those are beautiful. What are you guys celebrating? Maybe a pregnancy?”
I give her a tight-lipped smile but keep quiet.
“Fine. You don’t have to tell me.” She sighs. “This is so unfair. I can’t even get a guy to text back, but Zora’s got two guys after her.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Gretchen points to the blooms sitting on her desk. They’re huge and ostentatious. “I’m assuming these aren’t from you since Zora foists them on me with a scowl every morning.”
I glare at the orange petals. “Who are they from?”
“Ooh.” Gretchen smirks. “Your growly voice is hot.”
“Gretchen,” I bark.
“I don’t know. She’s always in a bad mood when she hands them to me so I don’t ask.”
I turn away, my grip so tight the stalks bend. Gretchen doesn’t have to give me a name. I already know who the flowers are from.
Keanu.
Is this his game plan? Show up and try to woo Zora back so he can break her heart again?
I face Gretchen, my mood ruined. “Here.” I thrust the bouquet at her. “Guess I won’t be needing this.”
“Aw! Thank you!” Gretchen brings the bouquet to her nose and inhales deeply.
My chest is tight. I need some air.
When I turn around to leave Zora is standing right there. My eyes clamor all over her, not sure where to settle first. She’s got her hair down and it falls to just above her shoulders. Instead of scrubs, she’s wearing a flowery blouse and jeans.
Any breath I had leaves when I look at her.
Man, she’s beautiful.
Zora walks toward me with a scowl that warns she misunderstood what she just saw. “You’re here.”
“Yeah.”
“Look, Zora!” Gretchen preens, waving her flowers around. She’s either intentionally ignoring the tension or she’s just plain obtuse. “Your boyfriend is so sweet.”
“A lot of people seem to think so.”
I swallow. “Zora—”
“Let’s go.” She turns on her heels and stalks outside, reminding me of how she acted the last time I came to pick her up from work.
This time, however, she recognizes the rental and stops in front of it. I press the fob and watch her climb in, wincing when she slams the door so hard the entire car rocks.
Seems I accidentally dug myself into a hole. Unfortunately, I’m not in the mood to clarify myself.
Is Zora seeing Keanu again? Right after my marriage proposal?
I climb into the car. Zora sits stiffly in the passenger seat. She’s staring straight ahead. I can feel the anger pulsing off her like waves.
This isn’t the way I wanted to start the night off. Keanu or no Keanu.
I sigh as I turn the key in the ignition and get the car on the road. “That wasn’t what it looked like. Gretchen—”
“No, don’t explain. We’re not together so you can give flowers to whoever you want.”
“Is that what you told Keanu? That we’re not together?”
She swings her head around so fast I’m afraid she got whiplash. “What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me he’s been sending you flowers?”
“I don’t have to report to you. And how did you even find out?”
“Gretchen,” I say simply.
She goes quiet.
“The flowers I bought were for you, but since someone else had the same idea I gave them away.”
“Oh.” She pauses. “To be honest, I don’t like getting flowers. They just bloom and die. I prefer something I can eat.”
“That I can provide. Paparazzi’s okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
I nod, debating whether I should pursue the Keanu topic now that Zora’s calmed. I can’t help myself. “Has he tried to contact you?”
“Who?”
“You know who.”
She pulls her hands together. “Not really.”
“No calls, no texts, nothing?” Somehow I find that hard to believe.
“He’s been sending me notes hidden in the flowers, but that’s it.”
“What kind of notes?”
She scrunches her nose as if deciding whether to humor me or remind me I should mind my own business. I can’t help the smile that grows as I shoot a quick glance at her.