Page 63

I shook my head. “Nope. They’re in the Garden District, but I don’t have a set hour when I’ll stop by.”

He grinned. “That means you’re mine for the foreseeable future.”

***

The drive from Lakeview to the Warehouse District didn’t take long on a Saturday morning. Zachary came up with me to the apartment. I couldn’t help remembering the last time he was here. God, I’d been such a mess. But looking back, it was also the moment when my feelings had changed. Possibly because I owed him my life.

I changed in record time, not wanting to waste a minute I had with Zachary. He was different in a good way, and I wanted to learn more about him.

“I’m ready,” I exclaimed when I rejoined him in my living room, twirling around for him to get the full view.

“Fuck, you look so beautiful. It makes me want to just keep you here.”

“Careful, or I’ll think you have no intention of being with me in public,” I teased.

He cleared his throat. His eyes were feral.

“I can pounce on you out there too.” He wiggled his eyebrows, then gestured to the street. “If that’s your thing.”

I gasped. “It’s definitely not.”

He laughed, taking my hand as we left the apartment. My bagel place was just one block away, and as usual, it was crowded. During the week, it was packed at eight o’clock in the morning, but on a weekend, it was just as busy at ten.

“Is this place that good?” Zachary asked. “I see another bagel place up there.”

“It’s like drinking Sazerac anywhere but the Lucky Bar,” I explained to him.

“Fair point.”

“What are you doing today?” I asked.

The corners of his mouth twitched. “WatchingGoblet of Firewith Bella and whoever else from the family she managed to coerce.”

“What do you mean by ‘coerce’? It’s one of the best movies.”

He whistled. “I’m glad you think so. I thinkOrder of the Phoenixis my favorite one.”

I laughed. “I can’t believe we’re two adults talking about Harry Potter.”

Zachary shrugged. “Why not? We practically grew up with it.”

“So, you’re going to your brother’s house?”

“Yeah, in the Marigny. That’s where he lives with Bella, his fiancée Scarlett, and their baby Simone.”

“Fiancée?” I asked as we finally stepped inside once a huge group had left after getting their bagels.

“He was married to Bella’s mom, but they divorced years ago. He was single for a long while, but now he’s very happy withScarlett. But in those years when he was single, the family got to spend a lot of time with Bella. These days, we hang with Bella and Simone when he and Scarlett go out for a date night.”

“I like that the whole family is involved,” I said.

Our turn came quickly.

“We’ll have the Three Favorites and two coffees,” I said as I looked at Zachary. “Trust me.”

“I do. Bagels are not my thing.”

I gaped at him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”