Page 33 of Taming You

When Jayden’s all cleaned up, Zoey takes him into the living room and I make him a bottle. His giggles fill the room as Zoey entertains him, and my heart feels as if it might explode in my chest. I can’t be feeling this way. I can’t be standing in my kitchen watching Zoey play with my son, wishing every day was like this, because that’s not realistic. She’s my sister’s best friend, but I also don’t want to bring her into some instant family. Jayden and I are just gaining our footing, and pulling Zoey into that full time is too much. She deserves better.

I finish the bottle and join them. Zoey feeds him while we settle back in and play the show. When he finishes his bottle, she shows him the stuffed elephant, and he’s immediately obsessed with it. I eventually order us pizza for dinner, and she helps me bathe Jayden before he settles in for the night.

I walk her to the front door, and all I want is to ask her to stay. “Thanks for the gifts for Jayden.”

She smiles at me. “Of course. Thanks for letting me hang out with the two of you today. I can only handle so much of being at Henry and Maggie’s.” She gives her head a little shake, and a stray piece of hair falls from her ponytail.

I step closer and tuck it behind her ear as I say, “You’re always welcome here, Zo.”

It feels like our breaths sync as our eyes lock. It’s like she’s pulling me in with just the soft look in them. I could get lost in them, watching as little flecks of gold appear depending on how the light hits them.

“Thanks,” she breathes out softly.

The urge to lean forward and dust my lips over hers is strong. It’s as if we’re magnets, and I’m struggling to fight her pull, but I do. I drop my hand and shove it into the pocket of my jeans, hoping that will stop me from touching her more.

Her chest deflates, and she looks down at the ground. I’ve seen that look of rejection before, and I hate more than anything that she looks like that because of me.

“Well, I should get going,” she says.

“Have a good night. Text me when you get home safe.”

She stares at me for a few extra seconds before she leaves my apartment, and I watch her until she’s out of sight.

CHAPTER 13

Zoey

When I get in my car, I sit and stare out the windshield. I thought Matt was going to kiss me twice today. The first time, I pulled away because there’s no way Matthew Carter wanted to kiss me, right? But the second time, I knew it. From the look in his eyes and the way he delicately tucked that piece of hair behind my ear, I knew it. Then when he didn’t, my stomach bottomed out. It was like I built it all up in my head and was being delusional. I hate that I was disappointed he didn’t kiss me. I hate that I stood there waiting for him to close the last few inches between us.

I bang my head back on the headrest a couple of times as I shout, “Ahhhhh.”

I know better. I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up when it comes to Matt, because not only am I not someone he’d go for, I’m a relationship girl, and as much as I know a roll in the sheets with Matt would probably be mind-blowing, I’m not going to change all my ways just for him.

Needing to get out of my head, I blast music on my drive back to Henry’s. I haven’t been staying there long, but I’ve already noticed their house is not necessarily where I want to be when they’re both off. I’ve heard things I wish I could go my whole life never hearing. The night after Henry got back from his work trip was truly horrific. I couldn’t look either of them in the eye for a couple of days.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I pull into the driveway and see Kai’s car. Kai is nine years older than me and three younger than Henry, so the two of them were always closer. When I open the front door, the smell of baked goods hits me and my mouth waters. One bonus to living here has been Maggie’s food. She’s not only a great cook, but also an amazing baker. She always has something made and ready in the house for people to graze on.

Maggie comes out of the kitchen in her apron and smiles at me. “Hey! You’re home,” she says cheerfully.

I nod and follow her into the kitchen. The living room is right off the kitchen, and that’s where I see Henry and Kai sitting, each with a beer in hand as they watch some hockey game. Growing up, whether I was at the Carters or at home, the sport was always on, but I never bothered to learn it. I’ve learned some things since Josh and Liv got together and we’ve started going to more of their games, but I couldn’t understand a game on my own.

I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a seat at the kitchen island as Maggie opens the oven and pulls out a cake pan.

“There’s dinner leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry,” she says over her shoulder.

“Oh, I’m good, thanks. I ate already.”

“What did you have?” she asks.

“We ordered some pizza.”

She turns and faces me, raising an eyebrow. “We?”

I take a sip of my water, prolonging the need to answer her. “Um, yeah. Matt and I.”

That catches my brothers’ attention.

“Matt, as in Matt Carter?” Henry asks.

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