Broken Hearts

Chapter 10. The Cult and the Leader

After they are all gone, Zayn offers to have a late snack and says we should go out for a walk. It comes to mind I've never been around the property, too focused on getting to him as soon as possible. So I accept and he gets us some sliced fruits, grabs my hand and off we go.

We go around the house and I see a huge green area. He explains why he decided to move to a property like this one, why he is attracted to the quiet and tranquil places.

"There's something to be like this, in nature, yeah? When I need to gather my thoughts, to be with myself and self inspect, I just walk around, breathe and try to find another perspective to whatever is bothering me."

"Sounds about right. You definitely cannot do that in the city with all the noise and people around. This is beautiful, Zee. It's so Zen."

"Exactly. I even have some animals around."

"You do?" I say excitedly. I'd love to pet them and he can see it, because he smiles at me tenderly.

"Yeah. Few chickens and a couple of cows."

"No dogs?" I wonder, because it calls my attention that he got cows but no dogs. Rhino must've left a deep scar on him. He looks ahead and shakes his head.

"No. I guess I never really felt ready to have a dog, to create that personal, deep connection again. I considered it, even drove myself to a shelter that is like twenty minutes from here, but wasn't able to go in."

"At your own time, baby. Y'know, you helped us all heal and I'd love to do the same with you, someday, somehow."

"You've helped so much, love, Matilda means a lot to me, you've listened to me and you love me. That's more than I dreamed of."

"You deserve so much more, Zayn. You deserve the world. If I could give it to you, I would."

"As long as you keep loving me, you're giving me the world, babe."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, babe. How did we get so deep in like two seconds?" He giggles and I smile.

"Well, dogs tend to bring sentiments out, or so 'm told."

"Right? That explains everything."

"So....cows?" I say, nonchalantly.

"You wanna pet my cows, don't you?"

"Yes!" I squeal and then sober up, clearing my throat. "I mean, yes, please." I try to say in a more collected way which earns me a laugh.

"Like an open book, my love. Let's go then." He kisses me and we start walking again, as we stopped for our PDA.

He tells me more as we go, he wants to have an orchard, and he's been preparing the designated spot with a bunch of things he mentions and I just nod, gawked. I would've never imagined Zayn has a farmer side.

We get to the cows in no time, and 'm a little taken aback when they almost run to him when he calls. They almost look like huge dalmatians, coming to greet their master. After making sure they won't take a bite outta me, he lets me pet them to my heart's content. There are two lads who help him with most of the heavy duty for a couple of hours every day, and he handles the rest.

He tells me he usually feeds the animals, and tries to spend some time with them, which would explain why the cows are so familiar with him and we didn't even go to see the chickens, else I guess there would've been a lot of melting involved as well.

Since 'm well aware I can't hide my thoughts from him, I know he knows where my mind is right now, so he just laughs and pulls me in for a hug. 'M sure I look as confused as I feel and he shakes his head and elaborates.