Page 88 of Last Fall

21

ERIK

The Uncomfortable Sensation ofJealousy

Why yes,I did wake up early. And yes, I did hear birds and shit. No shame in that game. That’s what happens when your dreams come true. You can move mountains, run marathons, see with X-rayvision.

At least that was how it felt as I snuck from our private little suite into the kitchen. The house was still quiet but I knew Zoe would stir soon and she liked her coffee with a snack so she could scribble for a few minutes in peace. And since I was apparently in charge of breakfast I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed when shewokeup.

That, and I couldn’t lie still another second. I had way too much raw energy pumping through me. Like the morning after a big win, except this victory was only thebeginning.

“Can I get a cup of that?” a very groggy sounding Mary asked as she slid onto a barstool and rested her forehead on thecounter.

I poured a cup from the still perking pot. “How do youtakeit?”

“Black is fine.” Shedidn’tmove.

“You look beat. Maybe you should go backtobed?”

She shot me a glare and took the coffee. “I’ve been awake for an hour. I can’tsleep.”

“So coffee it is then. So what does breakfast look likearoundhere?”

She grinned. “So they roped you into breakfast did they? Well, Wes makes us pancakes so I’davoidthat.”

Wes?The uncomfortable sensation of jealousy pricked my skin. “You’ve had Wes’spancakes?”

“Well, yeah. Whenever he tags along to a signing he makes uspancakes.”

I really hated that I was becoming more jealous by the second. Was it too much to want just one thing that was new and special for me and Zo? Did Wes and Carrie and June and Eve have to already be part of everything? I loved them all, really I did, but sometimes it felt like a weight chained to myankle.

“I guess I temporarily forgot Wes was on Zoe’s covers.” And that he’d been to her signings before. And met herfriends.

I crackedmyneck.

“He’s fun but he doesn’t really spend much time with us. Mostly he makes pancakes, helps us get over to the event, buys drinks afterward, and then leaves. He doesn’t spend an evening at the house with us or sleep over in Zoe’s room or anythinglikethat.”

Like hell he slept over. That was one thing that was absolutely,completelymine.

But I still didn’t feel better. I opened the fridge and started assembling a snack plate. Cheese, grapes, crackers, and a couple of strawberries. I poured myself a cup of coffee. “So eggs wouldbegood?”

“Eggs would be great. We picked up all kinds of stuff at the store yesterday. Use whatever you like. And there’s no rush. I think I’m the only one awakesofar.”

I downed my coffee, rinsed the mug, and made Zoe’s. “Can I get you anything before I head backtobed?”

“No,” she shook her head, grinning wide. “You’re already doing plenty. Keep up the good work.” She held up her mug then wandered out onto thebackdeck.

I gathered my supplies and quietly made my way back to my woman. I was just setting her plate on the nightstand when she smiled. “There you are. Where didyougo?”

“To get you fuel, beautiful.” I sat on the bed beside her. “Did you get enoughsleep?”

“Mmmm.” She stretched, her naked breasts appearing and disappearing as shemoved.

My blood pumped south. “How are you feeling?” I meant that in many ways. I wanted to be sure we were still on the same page, that she was good with what we did last night, that she wasn’tinpain.

She fully blinked her eyes open and all I could do was hold my breath. Otherwise I might maul her with the overly enthusiastic things I really wantedtodo.

“I feelreallygood.”