Page 317 of Nemesync
I loved hearing that. I was his woman.
Later, Elijah approached with a wine glass in hand, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his eyes held mine. He handed me the glass, his fingers brushing against mine, and planted a gentle kiss on my lips.
With a mock pout, June exclaimed, “Uncle Eli, no kissy Zanae!”
“She’s mine,” he replied, before peppered kisses all over my face, clearly enjoying provoking a little kid.
Miranda, Brian, and I found ourselves alone again, with Niko, Ben, and Elijah outside on the balcony.
Miranda couldn’t hold back any longer. “Zee, something’s on your mind. What happened?” she asked, her concern evident.
I hesitated, glancing at Elijah, remembering our week, and everything that happened before. Gathering my courage, I decided to spill the truth about the previous night, about Abla, about ending a chapter that should never have been written in the first place.
But nothing about what I learned regarding Elijah’s past—the trauma and tragedy that forced him to mature too quickly, the nickname, and everything else. It was our secret world; a private sanctuary where we could discuss pain without trulyfeeling it. Where we could talk about our traumas until they became just memories.
“What now?” Miranda asked, concern etched on her pretty face.
I looked at her and smiled reassuringly, “Now, we wait. When they come back, I’ll end them one by one. We’re still hunting them down with Brian.”
“True, we’ll find them,” Brian assured.
My eyes went naturally to Elijah, who was leaning against the wall outside, his gaze on me as Niko and Ben spoke to him, a little smirk playing on his beautiful face. I couldn’t resist; I gave him a wink.
With him, I felt like a lifetime wouldn’t even be enough.
Miranda, watching us, turned to me with a soft smile. “I love how you look at each other.”
Facing her, I couldn’t help but smile. “Like what, my favorite poet?” I asked playfully, knowing she’d respond with something cute and sweet.
With a wide grin on her lips, she replied, “As if he’s the oxygen, and you’ve been drowning your entire life.”
“Maybe he is.”
“I’m sure he is. June will grow up hating him because he took his favorite person after me.”
Brian got up after kissing my cheek to take a call and said, “She’s right. I didn’t know him before, only his reputation, and seeing him act like you’re the only thing he sees in a room is insane.”
She looked at her phone then at us. “I have to go take this call. Caleb is harassing me.”
“Have fun Bri,” I said.
I looked back at June, who sat on his mother’s lap, and then at this strong, beautiful woman she had become. “You deserve so much love, Miranda. I know I don’t tell you that often, but sinceLuna died, I never thought I could connect with someone else and find this friendship anywhere else. But you’ve helped me a lot, and you’re my closest friend. I would protect you and June forever. Never forget that.”
She smiled back at me and hugged me before saying, “Don’t make me cry, woman. I love you, too.”
June followed his mother’s lead and jumped off her lap, joining our hug, giggling.
Elijah and I left Niko’s house, bidding goodbye to the little group. As we walked towards the car, I noticed Miranda lingered a bit longer with Niko. However, I had other things on my mind, like the small hands that gripped my thighs tightly—Juny, still teary-eyed because I was leaving.
I leaned down, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. In a soft whisper, I uttered, “You’re my favorite little boy in the whole world. I’m coming back soon, baby, I promise.”
A smile broke through his tears, and he sniffled, nodding. I hugged him tightly before turning to Miranda, embracing her too and whispering, “Have a good time with Niko.”
She blushed, and my eyebrows arched in amusement. Niko, catching the moment, hugged me and whispered, “Bye, my Z.”
Elijah and I stepped into the car, and as we hit the road, he cast a curious sidelong glance at me.
“Should I be worried that a little boy might steal my spot as your favorite man?”
