Chapter 12 Zayden #2
‘My publicist has asked me to do a photo shoot. She said I can be faceless – her suggestion was to wear a mask. She and the sales team pitched this idea that I could do a bit of a … sexy photoshoot, I guess to put it bluntly, to promote my new series. I think it’s an amazing idea, except I hate literally everything about myself and don’t want everyone seeing the real me, even if I’m in a mask.
I don’t want them to change their opinions of the book once they see what I look like. ’
Placing the spoon down, I stare at her, processing her words.
‘I don’t understand how you view yourself, firstly.
You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever known, so that just makes zero sense to me.
Secondly, I don’t think readers will react negatively, if anything, I think they’d feel more connected to you, finally getting to see a bit of you.
The real you. I know for a fact that I would love to get to see more of my favourite author. If I was a reader, of course.’
Her lips part, her gaze snapping to mine. ‘I never thought of it like that, I suppose.’
‘I mean, it’s entirely up to you and what you’re comfortable with, but I vote you do it. I think it would be awesome.’ I lean back in my chair, crossing my ankles. ‘Not that my opinion means much.’
‘It does,’ she interjects. ‘You’re the only person in my life who I do want the opinion of, when it comes to this.’
That funny, warm sensation trickles through my chest, like a spoon of warm honey, it ebbs and flows through me. My hand flexes with the impulse to reach out to her.
Pushing the chair back, I reach out, pulling Nora to her feet.
Collecting her face in my hands, I devour her mouth with mine.
She moans into the kiss and I swipe the bowl out of the way, pushing her onto the table.
She wraps her legs around me and I grind into her.
Nora snakes her arms around my neck, pulling me closer.
The kind of longing I feel for her, this insufferable ache, makes me wonder what the hell I’m doing.
I knew doing anything with Nora would be too serious for me.
There isn’t anything fake about this to me.
I truly am developing strong feelings for her, and the thought of her only using this to gain experience crushes me, even though that’s the exact agreement we decided on.
Time passed surprisingly quickly over the next two days.
On Nora’s laptop we watched movies that she apparently preemptively downloaded the moment she heard about the cyclone.
I’m not one to forward-think like that, so I’m thankful Nora did.
We managed to get some study in, hotspotting our laptops from our phones.
When Nora spent time writing, I would do a home workout.
Overall, it was a peaceful couple of days.
I’m not one to slow down and stay indoors, but I never felt bored.
It was like a fun, extended sleepover with a good friend.
A friend I make out with occasionally, among other things …
I spent so much time on my assignment that it’s finished, even though it isn’t due for two weeks, allowing me to move onto my next one.
I feel great about my classes at the moment, and I think there’s going to be a lot of improvement in my grades.
Or at least, I hope so – I’m understanding things a lot better since Nora has been going over it all with me.
She also showed me some easier ways to source my research and annotate on this new app she’s discovered.
She’s tech-savvy, much more so than me, and some of the tips and tricks she’s taught me have been true game changers.
The cyclone hit and we emerged relatively unscathed. Debris was strewn across the paths and roads, mainly from uprooted trees, but overall life has resumed as normal.
The university reopened and while Nora went to her classes, I took the morning to sort out the yard at the back of the house.
An alert was sent out saying that practice is back to normal, so I’ll be attending this afternoon.
The sky is still overcast and grey, but the wind’s died down and it hasn’t rained all day.
Hopefully the fields won’t be too waterlogged.
It’s only been a few days but now it feels weird not having her here.
When I get to my room, I see her bag on the ground, her scrunchie on my nightstand and her purple toothbrush on my bathroom sink.
I like having her things here. Makes it feel like she might stay, even though I know that’s crazy to think.
She has her own place, and her own life, and we aren’t even dating, but I just want her here. I like having her around.
Mason and Anya arrive home sometime mid-afternoon, looking fresh and relaxed.
‘Wow,’ Anya says, climbing out of Mason’s truck and gaping. ‘We really missed a whole-ass cyclone, hey?’
‘Yeah,’ I nod, finishing sweeping the last leaves that had piled up on the driveway.
My sister has a glow about her that she’d lost for a while, but since being reunited with Mason, it’s like she’s her old self again. I can see the same change in Mason. I’m happy for them. It took them a long time but things have worked out for the best. They complement each other perfectly.
‘What is that?’ Mason asks, eyeing my motorbike. It’s tucked off to the side and covered, but obviously not well enough. I should have known Mason would notice it straight away.
‘A little something.’
His attention shifts from the bike back to me, settling heavily as he purses his lips in a similar way to Anya when she disapproves of something I’ve done.
‘You bought a bike?’ he clarifies.
‘Sort of, yeah.’
Mason warms up to it a bit once I’ve shown it to him.
He just doesn’t like that I’ve blown a lot of my savings on it.
He’s good with money – always has been – and the fact that I’m not has always been something he’s taken on for himself, almost acting like a mentor in a way.
I do have bad spending habits, I must admit.
‘I mean, it’s beautiful.’ He whistles, running a hand over it. ‘I bet it runs fantastic.’
‘It does.’
‘It made you happy?’ Mason asks, shifting those dark eyes in my direction.
‘Definitely.’
‘All right. Be careful on it.’
Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod. Mason and I have always been like that – brothers to each other. Mason takes on a more authoritative role than I do. It’s in his nature. He’s far more disciplined than me, and often provides me with a reality check when I need one.
I help them with their bags, carrying them inside. Anya places her handbag down on the table and her eyes home in on its centre, where a pale-pink water bottle sits with a gold ‘N’ on it. Anya’s brows furrow.
‘What’s Nora’s drink bottle doing here?’ she asks curiously.
‘Uh,’ I say, rubbing the back of my neck. ‘Maybe because she was here.’
Mason pauses his unpacking. I don’t miss the exchange of smirks between Anya and Mason before they both school their expressions.
‘Oh?’ Anya says, grinning. ‘So this is happening?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Do you mean she stayed here?’ Mason probes, continuing his unpacking, but at a much slower pace, not being very subtle.
‘She had an incident with her roommates, so she crashed here for a bit.’
‘Those bitches better not have done anything,’ Anya snarls, planting her hands on her hips.
‘Oh they did. They locked her out of the apartment at night and she had no phone battery.’
Anya and Mason’s mouths both drop into an ‘O’ at my words. Anya’s cheeks redden in anger.
‘Wait until Cami finds out – she’s gonna go off.’
‘I handled it. I don’t think they’ll be bothering her anymore. It was a good thing, her coming here. She kept me company through the cyclone. I was going crazy here on my own.’
‘That’s nice that you let her stay here. She probably felt awkward having to ask,’ Anya says quietly. ‘She isn’t one to ask for help much.’
‘Yeah, I’m glad she did. I would have been horrified if she had slept in her car or something. I don’t think she could, with the humidity, and the cyclone as well.’
‘Yeah, agreed.’ Anya nods.
‘So,’ Mason drawls, leaning back against the dining table and crossing his arms over his chest. ‘You and Nora. All alone. For a few days.’
I roll my eyes, turning my back to them and collecting the items I need to make a coffee.
‘Did anything happen?’ he asks when I fail to reply.
‘I’m not one to kiss and tell.’
Anya squeals, clapping her hands together. ‘So something did happen?’
‘Coffee, anyone?’ I ask, purposely dragging this out just to be annoying.
‘Tell me everything!’ Anya exclaims.
‘You’ll have to ask her, and if she discloses anything, then that’s her choice.’
‘Ugh, you’re annoying,’ she huffs, and I grin.
After she leaves, hoisting her bag with her, Mason nudges me as he passes.
‘Good for you, man. I know you’re really into her.’
I don’t reply to that. Mason is observant as hell, always noticing the little things. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew that I liked Nora before I even realised myself.
Not long later, both Mason and I are dressed and heading to practice.
The field is as wet as I expected. With each run, water and mud flicks up my legs, and with each dive, our uniforms become completely soiled, but I don’t care. It feels good to be outdoors again and in my happy place.
Everyone is complaining about the cyclone and how they were stuck inside, but I feel like it was the best thing for me to get my life back on track. I can’t complain, honestly.
‘Is the game still on this Friday, Coach?’ Andy asks once we’re all back in the locker room, sweaty and slick with dirt.
Coach Kennedy looks at Andy like he’s a moron. To be fair, he is most of the time. ‘Yes, Andy. The game is still on.’
Mason and I exchange an amused look before hitting the showers. The warm water sprays over me and I breathe a sigh of relief as the grime is removed from my skin, pooling in the water at my feet.
‘Anyone seen Parker?’ I question, and the boys shrug in response.
Since I have been focusing on utilising players other than Mason, I really felt Parker’s absence today.
In a way, it yet again forced me to branch out to other players, but we had been meshing really well.
I was looking forward to working on some plays before the game this Friday.
It’s not uncommon for him to miss practice – I don’t understand how he gets away with it and still has a spot on the team – but after a weather event like the cyclone, I’m worried he might be in trouble.
‘Coach?’ I ask, knocking on his door after I’ve dressed, my hair dripping water droplets onto my shirt.
‘Yeah?’ he asks, not looking up from his laptop.
‘You heard from Parker?’
His eyes slice to mine, face expressionless, not giving anything away. ‘He’s fine.’
‘You’ve spoken to him? He’s all right after the cyclone?’ I question.
Coach’s face softens. ‘It’s nice of you to ask, Zay. He’s fine.’
Nodding, I turn to leave, but pause, unable to help myself. ‘What’s going on with him? How come he keeps missing practice?’
Coach’s face hardens once more and I know I’ve overstepped. He interlocks his fingers together, fixing me with a stern look. ‘Don’t worry about Parker, okay? Just leave it alone.’
Now that’s made me even more curious. I sigh, chewing on my lower lip.
‘Got it, Coach. Night.’
‘Night, Zay.’
The locker room is deserted when I return, and I check my phone, quickly clicking on the text message sitting on my screen from Nora.
A photo loads after a second. It’s of my bed, with some of my favourite snacks on there and a little black box.
I zoom in on the photo, trying to make out what it might be, but there’s nothing written on the outside, and no patterns or designs on it.
Suddenly, I can’t wait to get home.