Zoey narrates.
We sit opposite each other at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, as Aaron stares into my eyes. He never moves, except to narrow his eyes, suspiciously.
'You think you're gonna win?' He asks, his eyes piercing.
'I know I'm gonna win.' I say, confidently.
'A 10 pancake stack. Covered with thousands of calories worth of toppings. It's basically man versus food. And you know that I eat all the time. You're gonna lose, Zoey. Are you sure you want to do this?' He asks, definitively. I look down at the huge plate in front of me.
'Just start the clock.' I say, immediately regretting it after 2 minutes, when I can no longer stomach anymore.
'I give up, you win.' I say, pushing the plate away from me, and taking a deep breath.
'Yes! Yes! I won, you lost!' Aaron says, celebrating.
'Move the plates, they're making me feel queasy.' I say, as he obliges, getting me a glass of water and then sitting back down, as I gulp it all in one go.
'Don't challenge me to things you know you can't do, Zoey.' He says, shaking his head.
'Lesson learnt.' I reply, sighing, although smiling at how triumphant he is.
He takes my hand in his and holds it, running his thumb across my palm, and then looking at me again.
'You have something left on your face.' He says, pointing.
'Where?' I ask, trying to wipe it.
He leans forward and kisses my lips, swiping his tongue just above my lip.
'All gone.' He says, keeping his face close to mine, as I smile.
'Are we going to have to do more of these silly challenges once the kids leave us and we have nothing else to do?' I ask, frowning.
'Zoey, the point of this was to make you forget about Zara leaving.' He says.
'I know. I'm sorry.' I say, as he lifts my chin so I'm facing him.
'Don't be sorry. We've spent so much time trying to ignore the fact that she's leaving soon, that maybe it's now time to face reality.' He says, as I nod, knowing that he's right, but wanting him to be so wrong.
_____
'Hey, sweetie, do you need any help packing?' I ask Zara, coming into her bedroom and sitting on the edge of the bed, as she folds her clothes, packing them into boxes.
'No, it's all good, mom! I'm nearly finished.' She says.
I nod, and watch her, as she continues.
'You're staring again.' She says, as I laugh.
'I'm sorry.' I say, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve.
'Hey, mom, can I ask you a question?' She says.
'Of course.' I reply, listening intently.
'Do you think I've made the right decision? You know, picking Cal U over NYU?' She asks, coming over and sitting beside me.
'I mean, that's a big question....what is your heart telling you?' I ask.
'My heart is telling me that I'm going to Cal U because I don't want to be thousands and thousands of miles away from you and dad and that I need a fresh start. A fresh start away from Nathaniel.' She says, and I nod.
'And what about your head?' I ask.
'Well that's the thing. I don't know. I absolutely loved Cal U and I really think I'll thrive there.' She says, and I smile.
YOU ARE READING
Zaaron: Grown-ish, but for real (BOOK 3)
Fiksi Penggemar10 years later. Zoey and Aaron were successfully running their respective careers and managing their little family together. 10 years later, they are still as in love with each other as they were before. However, as time moves on, life becomes more...
