Oli took a seat in the waiting area, but Zora couldn’t sit. She paced the length of the hall skittishly. Her nerves were frayed. She kept shaking her head and worrying that it was her fault. Everything—the building purchase, Mike’s promotion, Mike and Everett fighting, she and Mike—it had stressed Sophia out.
“She can’t lose the baby.”
She was talking to herself, but she hoped God could hear her plea.
Zora slouched against the wall and an agony-filled wail tore through her chest and escaped her lips. She couldn’t quite catch her breath. Sob after sob came out of her. Her chest felt like it might swallow her whole. Just thinking about Sophia losing the baby was too much to handle. Even she’d thought it was avoidance, going over to Patton Place every day, but it had been more. This baby meant a new chance at a family. It wasn’t just a light in the darkness for Sophia, but for her and for Everett, too. They were growing their small family, rebuilding, and planting new roots, and Zora got to be a part of it.
In that moment, Mike came rushing through the door. A war between heartache and anguish played on his face.
“Hey…” He was out of breath. His eyes darted all around, but he pulled Zora into his arms and wrapped them tightly around her.
Her heart hammered against her chest. The fact that there was no hesitation in his action meant everything to her. “Hi.”
“I’m here. What do we know?” he asked, pulling back to search her face.
“She just…she was holding her stomach,” Zora cried as she proceeded to fill him in on everything that had happened so far. “What if she’s losing the baby?”
“Don’t talk like that. It’s going to be fine. The baby’s going to be fine. We’re all here for her.” His reaction worried Zora, though. She saw it in the slight twitch of his brows and the breath he held.
Zora laid her head on his chest, and just for a moment, breathed him in. He smelled of mint and rain and endless daydreams. She leaned into the warm, familiar feel of him.
For once, she wanted to be the one who calmed his fears.
As he stepped back and ran his hands over his hair, she pushed off the wall, wiped away her tears, and framed his face in her hands. “I’m so glad you’re here and I’m sorry about everything.”
Mike nodded and lowered his forehead to touch hers. “I love you,” he whispered. “Nothing is ever going to change that.” Then he tipped her chin up and brushed his lips ever so softly over hers.
Oh, the butterflies are back. How I’ve missed you.
He felt like coming home again after a long time away—bliss in the middle of this chaos. She wanted the kiss to last forever, but before she could tell him that she loved him, he pulled apart. She reluctantly opened her eyes to see him flick his eyes to Everett who was beelining straight for them.
Zora tensed, turning to square her body to her brother’s. Her antsy pulse vibrated over her skin as she surveyed his face for any signs of trouble. There were none.
“They were contractions, but it’s Braxton Hicks,” he explained. Relief smoothed the lines of his forehead and he broke out into a victorious smile, his arms wide open. “Turns out it’s normal, but she just needs to take it easy.”
“Was it because she was stressed out?” Zora asked tentatively, unsure she really wanted to know the answer. Still, she knew she needed to know in order to avoid any further instances until the baby was due.
A flush crept across Everett’s cheeks and he cleared his throat. “Uh…”
“What? What is it?” Mike asked.
Zora tilted her head, weighing her brother’s reaction. “What are you not telling us?”
Everett rubbed the back of his neck. His voice was weak, and his gaze averted when he began to explain. “Well…the doctor said it can come from increased activity of the mother or baby. Most of the time it’s dehydration, but…” His voice cracked and he swallowed before letting the words race out of his mouth almost low enough to be a whisper. “It could be too much sex.”
He winced and Zora and Mike exchanged a meaningful glance before darting their eyes back to Everett.
“Wait.” Zora’s shoulders shook as she bit back a grin. “This is too good,” she said way too loudly. Just then, Oli turned the corner from the waiting area.
“What’s too good? I want to laugh, too.”
Zora held up a single finger as she tried to compose herself. Giggles sputtered free from her lips.
Mike started to fill Oli in, but Zora held up a palm.
“No, please let me tell it.” She lifted her chin and cleared her throat. “What my dear brother is trying to say is that these two have been shacked up in the house doing it nonstop like rabbits. Did I tell you guys I walked in on them doing kinky stuff the other day?”
Mike and Oli doubled over with laughter while Everett simply smiled and nodded his head, letting them have joy at his expense.
“Go ahead. Get it all out, but at least I’m getting some,” he said, arching a brow at Oli and shooting the same too bad I can’t say the same for you look at Mike and Zora. “Mmm-hmm.”
Zora, finally able to breathe, shook her head at him. “That’s a shame you can’t keep it in your pants. Sent the woman into early contractions... Mmm, mmm, mmm!”
At that, a wave of laughter rumbled through all of them.
They were raucous and giggling, but the crazy day had a way of putting everything into perspective for Zora. There was so much love and good times to be shared, and she didn’t want to take any of it for granted. Yes, there was still a lot that needed to be said between her and Mike, and she would say them soon, but she realized life was too short to miss out on the good stuff.
Babies and weddings.
I love yous and I love you toos.
Publishing cookbooks and making partner.
She wanted to be there for them all.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Zora
Zora rubbed her arms as she looked up at the gleaming lights of the Hollywood Theatre. It wasn’t the ideal location for a confession, but at least it was nostalgic. She just wished it didn’t feel so awkward to be back here. She and Oli had taken two shots of tequila before they’d left the house, and still Zora’s nerves were frazzled. Between the dry mouth and heart palpitations, she didn’t know if she’d be able to go through with her plan. It was one thing to tell the love of your life how you felt. It was a completely different animal to do it with people watching, waiting, and judging.
What if he doesn’t want me back?
A shiver pulsed over her chilled skin, but it still didn’t extinguish the hot fear coursing through her veins.
She’d given Mike a full week to reach out since the day at the hospital, and…nothing. Not a word. Crickets. How could she come to a life-altering revelation and then simply try to force it back into the proverbial toothpaste tube? She couldn’t. It was out. She loved Mike—like gut-wrenching, scream it from the rooftops, happily lose herself in the best of ways love. He might be content to be patient, but there was no way in hell she was going to let another second go by without putting all of her cards on the table.
So what if he was surrounded by a room full of people the whole time? Sure, it was his party, and no one else, not even Oli, was privy to her plan, which she’d suddenly realized was half-hatched and more than a little terrifying.
She cleared her throat, ready to get to the bottom of things so she could get the show on the road. “Tell me again why we’re here?” She was fidgeting again, but by now she’d already given up on trying to temper it. “It doesn’t make sense. This is where we’re celebrating Mike making partner? He doesn’t even like movies that much.”
Oli shrugged.
There was no eighties movie marathon this time. Best-case scenario: there’d be a lot of fast talking followed by slow kisses. Worst-case scenario: Zora would be going home horny, humiliated, and hungover.
Great. Just great.
Her fingers and toes were tingling, and it ha
d nothing to do with the chill in the air. She couldn’t stand still with all the butterflies racing in her stomach.
A gust of wind ruffled the layers of the wine-colored chiffon maxi skirt Zora paired with a Kings of Leon tee. She pulled her black leather jacket tight against the evening chill. “Ooh, Lord it’s cold. Let’s get inside,” she said, pressing her hands at her billowing skirt as they rushed through the door.
They hurried inside where they were surrounded by the pink walls and muted chandelier lights of the theater lobby. Zora noticed Oli’s eyes dart expectantly over to the concession stand. Then, she looked down the hall, toward each of the theater doors then finally, back to Zora.
“You guys came here once, right?” She tapped her fingers against her lip. “I, uh…I’m not sure why he picked this pla—"
“Wait.” Zora paused while she scrutinized her best friend for the telltale signs of a lie. There was no ear tug. No pursed lips. “Hmm. So, Mike picked the place?”
Why would he want to come back here to celebrate?
Oli bit her bottom lip and shifted from foot to foot before meeting Zora’s gaze. Her expression looked haunted, and her silence was unnatural.
Zora planted a hand on her hip and cocked her head. Nerves or not, this was an interesting development. “Am I supposed to believe this is just a night for celebration and not some deranged plot to get me here? Come on, why are we really here?” She dipped her chin and stared at Oli from beneath her brows.
Guilty as ever, Oli averted her smoky gaze.
And there it was, the pursed lips first, followed by the infamous earlobe tug.
“Fine. I’ll just ask him myself.” Zora fished out her phone and began tapping out a rapid-fire message. She bit back a shit-eating grin. She was bursting with excitement at the prospect of exposing whatever this setup was that she’d just stumbled into. She couldn’t afford a wrench in her plan, and she wasn’t about to waste a perfectly fabulous outfit and fierce makeup on a prank.
As soon as she finished typing, the three little irritating dots popped up on the screen. She was anxiously waiting, but, of course, they just sat there, rotating and laughing at her.
“If you’re not going to tell me what’s going on, then at least tell me who’s in on it.” Zora said. By now, her nerves were getting the best of her. She was liable to end up with either an ulcer or a full-on panic attack.
She released a heavy sigh.
Oli grinned, glanced at her phone, and abruptly moved toward the concession stand.
Zora scurried behind her. “What was that all about? Why’d you check the time?”
“Hi. I’m here for Michael Kennedy’s event,” Oli said to the concession attendant, who quickly directed her to the last room on the right. She turned on her heel and moved with purpose toward the room. Oli decided to put Zora out of her misery a little.
“Everett, Sophia, Jason, and Kendra are here.” She ticked off names on her fingers. “I think Kara, Steph, Remi, and Lexi might show, and a bunch of Mike’s frat brothers, law school friends, and some people Jason invited.”
“That’s an interesting bunch.” Confusion bled into Zora’s tone. Come on tequila, kick in. I need you.
Oli stopped and turned around. Zora narrowly missed crashing into her.
“Oh, yeah. Everett reached out to Mike’s parents, too. Mike’s dad won’t make it, but his mom said she was going to try.”
Um…no pressure. Breathe. It’s going to be fine.
Zora scoped out the emergency exits and tried to fill her lungs, but why should they listen to her and keep her breathing? Her heart was knocking around in her chest like a crazy pinball.
The corners of Zora’s mouth pulled down, and she nodded. “So, this is going to be…legit.” This is not an ideal time to ask him to be with me forever. Deep breaths.
Oli pivoted and continued down the hall.
Zora inhaled and slowly released the air as she wrapped her arms behind her back and wringed her fingers together. She slowly trailed Oli. Her fight or flight instincts kicked in. At the moment, flight felt like the best option.
When they came to a stop outside the door, Oli flitted a glance at Zora as she gripped the handle. “You good?”
Well, at least it was a party. There’s got to be booze. I’m going to need way more liquid courage.
Mother or not, a whole room full of people or not, she was doing this now…or never.
Zora’s phone pinged, nearly giving her a heart attack. Mike had responded with his two truths and a lie. Right away, she knew which ones were true. She bit back a grin and typed out a response. Her thumb hovered over the small green vertical arrow. There was no doubt in her mind what she needed to do next.
Zora: #1 is the lie. You suck at lying. First off, if you ever plan on beating me at this game, the two truths should not be glaringly obvious. Lol. Your turn.
1. I miss you like crazy.
2. I’m hopelessly in love with you.
3. I’m at the happiest place on earth.
Where are you?
Zora pressed send, and almost instantly, the phone pinged again. Her smile was too wide to suppress, but she couldn’t look at the screen, otherwise she might lose her nerve. She took too deep breaths and met Oli’s searching gaze.
“Okay. I assume you guys are still acting like freaking two-year-olds, playing games, and you’ve made your choice. Are you ready to put the phone away before you ruin the whole night?” Oli flashed her a pointed look, but her tone was more playful than pissed. “You do know you’re about to see him in like a nanosecond, right?”
Zora’s shoulders were drawn back and her chin was held high. She wasn’t telling herself any lies anymore. She didn’t want to hold him at arm’s length. Finally, she wanted to tell him how she felt, and let the cards fall where they might. Zora knew exactly where her heart lay. Yes, she’d lost a little, but she’d found a happier version of herself when she was with Mike.
“I’m ready now,” Zora said.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Mike
“She’s coming in now.”
Mike cracked his neck and shook out his arms. A few more minutes of discomfort in exchange for happiness for the rest of his days... His nerves were all over the place, and his heart was pummeling his chest, but he couldn’t imagine what his life would be like without Zora in it.
Through the curtains, somewhere in the auditorium, he heard shushing wash over the crowd.
“Oh, good. Zora, you’re here. They’re about to start.” It sounded like Sophia, but he couldn’t be sure without seeing. Mike stiffened.
“Your seat is up front,” someone else said.
Then Zora’s voice.
“Is this a surprise?” she asked, her volume growing louder as she seemed to approach the front row. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? We were standing in the middle of the lobby. He totally could’ve seen us.”
A giggle bubbled up inside of Mike. His palms were sweaty, and he felt like at any minute he might faint, but it was going to be worth it.
Zora was worth it.
Through the small cracks in the curtains, Mike noticed the house lights dim. He took a deep breath and clapped his hands together. He exited stage right and waited in the wings for his cue. Showtime.
Slowly, the theater drapes parted. The spotlight shined on a life-sized cardboard cutout of Phoebe Cates fresh out of the water with slicked back hair and the infamous teensy red bikini from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
“Hold it for a few more beats,” Mike said into the headpiece. His eyes were fixed on Zora. Sophia and Oli were on either side of her, but she was right where he needed her to be, dead center in the front row—his main focus.
She was a sight for sore eyes, but tonight, she was different. Her outfit wasn’t as drastic as the tight blue dress she’d worn to the silent disco, but she’d dressed for the occasion. She looked chic and cool with her own bohemian flare in a long skirt and leather jacket, but it wasn’t just the cloth
es. Her dark pixie cut was layered and fringed to frame the delicate curves of her face, and she had deep wine-stained lips.
It was still her, only, more mature somehow.
Mike licked his lips.
His friend Eric’s voice hummed in his ear. “You still want us to hold it?”
“Uh, yeah.” He snapped out of his trance. “Almost. Give me a few more seconds.” He was still watching Zora, waiting for a reaction. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
She slouched back, and her feet hooked around the chair legs as she studied the single cardboard cutout on stage. Her eyes twinkled—sparkled— with an almost child-like glee. She seemed alight with some kind of renewed joy and zeal for life.
The corners of Mike’s mouth quirked up. “Cue the music. Spotlight two.”
On the stage, the upbeat drums of Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves filled the air. As the horns blared, the light glinted off a Michael J. Fox cutout from The Secret of My Success, and Zora’s mouth fell open.
It was the exact reaction he was hoping for.
Mike now had a full-blown smile as he watched the corners of her eyes crinkle and recognition brighten her face.
“Go,” he instructed.
By the first hook, spotlights had already lit up a Pretty in Pink Molly Ringwald, a Short Circuit Johnny Five, a Flashdance Jennifer Beal, Howard the Duck, and one of Mike’s personal favorites Ralph Macchio, The Karate Kid.
As soon as the hook ended, the music scratched, the auditorium went silent and dark, and Mike got into position. He stood behind another cardboard cutout. Dressed in a full flight suit with a bomber jacket and aviator sunglasses, he tightened his grip around the mic.
“You never close your eyes…” he sang. Light flooded the stage. In his deepest baritone, he belted out the first lines of The Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.
Zora jolted upright and slapped her hand over her mouth. Affection glowed in her eyes as she sized him up in all of his Maverick splendor.
Mixed Emotions Page 23
