Page 163 of King of Ashes
Enjoying my time with her, the pressure eases inside me, and I release a deep breath of relief.
“It’s been hard,” she sighs.
She has been there, so she witnessed my despair.
“You saved his life, Zara.”
I shake my head. “No, he did all the saving.”
I am sure my instinct to return as quickly as I did was one of self-preservation.
Tonight is about having fun, not delving into sadness, so I quickly change the topic. “How is the sculpture going?”
She huffs, taking a big gulp of alcohol. “I cut the dick off. He needs to be humbled.”
I burst into laughter and wipe at my eyes inconspicuously.
The smile fades from her face. “Lew was an entertaining distraction.”
I find her hand and give it a little squeeze. “Don’t let your mental health struggles define you.”
She told me I knew about her condition, but she reminded me of it.
I think both of us fearing for our mental well-being has made us even closer.
“Why would he put up with me?”
I let out a sound of incredulity. “Because you’re a badass, talented, loving, passionate woman. He would be a fool not to want you.”
She looks into space, and I insist, “Do you like him?”
The tip of her nose crinkles, but there’s a spark in her eyes. “I can’t stand that pompous ass who thinks he knows everything better.”
Yeah, sure, she doesn’t like him at all.
I know too well what it’s like to live in denial. The bubble will burst.
The rest of the night, we savor our time together.
“Weekly mandatory girl time,” we proclaim once we return to her building, and she slips inside while the driver brings me home.
37
VIAN
Rafe won, the fucker.
But I feel like a winner.
Zara is on her way home, and I have a surprise waiting for her. I’m stealthily trying to seduce my wife. I have needs, goddamn it. The only compromise I will make is to take it slow.
She walks inside, bringing my life back with her, and comes to an abrupt halt when she sees the white rose petals and candles lighting the stairs.
She slips off her heels, the smile teasing her lips betraying that she’s onto me. “Are we celebrating something?”
“You coming back home?” I say good-naturedly.
It’s one reason, and I missed her.
