When The Night Falls Book 2 of When Good Things End trilogy

CHAPTER 27

"It's more a proposal," I tried to explain as his eyes widen and he looked at me. "You asked me few times actually." My nerves started to tingle with embarrassment. It's not like I could expect him to remember when he was heavily drugged.
I awkwardly laughed at his silence as he noticed the ring around my finger.
"You let me propose to you with that?" He groaned, trying to hide his face.
I chuckled, "What's wrong with a simple gold band?"
"There's nothing wrong with it. It's just I have one prepared that's..." he slowed down, "better."
I pulled him into a hug, still feeling as if it's been a long time since I've had one. "Are you saying you're nullifying your proposal?" He probably just doesn't want to get married right now. I shifted, about to take the ring off as he hugged me back.
"Keep it."
"You said it's not the ring you wanted?"
He slipped my ring back on as the both of us stood. "Keep it as my promise."
I smiled. This again? "What promise?"
"You're mine now. Mine to take care if until were both old. It's a promise that I'll stay with you and properly give you the proposal you deserve."
"It's a promise." Instinctively raising my hand to solidify it with a pinkie promise. I blushed, trying to hide my hand. I'm not a kid anymore.
He playfully put his hand between us and raised his pinkie. "You gotta promise me you'll wait."
"I promise." Sealing the pack between us with a pinkie promise before heading out.
I stood in front of Zina's closed door. My clothes were clean and I tried to put my hair up into a ponytail. It felt strange having her angry at me.
We have the potential of becoming good friends. I could feel that.
"Why am I here," I groaned. What if she thinks I'm here to flaunt my ring as a way to spit at her face?
My nerves only got stronger the longer I stood. Can I pretend like I need help or something? I don't have anything I need help with though. What am I supposed to do just tell her, "Oh. Hi I just wanted to check up on you." I waved as she looked me up and down. I wasn't expecting her to open the door.
"Your pacing back and fourth was annoying me." She headed back into her room. I hesitated before following her in. She didn't close the door so does that mean it's okay?
I awkwardly nodded, realizing she must of heard me mumbling to myself as well. "I was just nervous I guess."
"What's wrong with your face?" She bluntly stated as she took a good look at it.
"You didn't hear?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound judgmental. Everyone at Laurent's guild had been notified about what happened. They were even a part of the searching groups that found me.
She elegantly sat down on her divas couch and motioned to the arm chair or couch opposite. I sat down on the armchair. "I was nabbed?"
"When?" She asked, her eyebrows drawing close. "Was Laurent not with you?"
Of course she has to ask about him. "He was still healing. The accident did its damage so I wanted him to rest." I tried to explain.
She rolled her eyes, something I didn't think she was ever aloud to do. "How does that have anything to do with your face?"
"I was kidnapped Zina."
"And they uprooted poison over you?"
"No, they put on- it was metal. I was forced to wear some mask." I could feel my heart start to sway. Why am I telling her this? Couldn't I just have gone to Dollia?
Zina got up and walked over to her vanity. Rummaging through her drawers she threw at me a bottle. "Just use this, your skin might end up being one big scar if you don't take care of it."
"Thanks?"
I didn't come here for gifts.
She sat back down, waiting for me to say something to break the silence that kept third wheeling us. "I'm going to end up marrying him."
"I know." Her answers felt too curt and cut throat.
Were going to end up being family at one point of our lives. Even if I don't have a great relationship it doesn't mean I want to ignore her existence. "Are you gonna be mad at me my whole life?" I asked.
A long drawl of air was her way of calming down and thinking. "I'm not mad at you. Well partially yes, but it's not like all this is your fault. Some of it is." She kept contradicting herself.
"Can I know what parts?" I asked carefully interrupting her.
Her smile didn't faulted as she listed my charges. "You strangled me. Drugged me. I think you broke my nose at one point. But to be fair I think I deserved it. I was acting like a kid at the time."
"Same," I chuckled along with her. "I'm sorry for doing those things." It's not like I don't feel bad for her, I just don't want to justify acting that way because of my emotions.
She seemed to look hurt. "So your heading home now right?"
"You can come with us," I offered. Surprising her as I thought it over. She's not a bad person, she probably doesn't have much tting her down to this place now, and who knows she could stay for my wedding.
If I do get married.
"What about Laurent? He won't like having his cousin living in the same place right?" She was also thinking things over while considering everyone else.
"Laurent wouldn't mind as long as you promise not to try and marry him ever again."
"And you would be okay with me going with you?" She asked.
I'm the one who offered in the first place. "Your practically family Zina. You might as well be a sister. I won't mind, I can even introduce you to my kids—"
"You have kids!" Her face grew pale as I laughed.
It's always a supersize to others as I confirmed what I just said. "I have three now. Milo, Tide, and Irene. Two older boys and a little girl."
"Oh my goodness. I'm an Aunt." She fanned her shocked face.
My heart seemed to grow warm at her reaction. She's already acting like family.
"And Laurent, my goodness that guy. How long have you been together?" She asked in shock.
My eyes widened. "It's not like that, we adopted them." My face was a bright burning shade of red as I tried to cover it up.
Zina's shoulders started to shaking, covering her mouth as she burst out laughing. "My bad. I'm sure you can understand why I thought that."
I nodded, still feeling embarrassed. At one point I want to stop explaining that their adopted and just let others think whatever they wanted. "Tide is actually from Vildrid. I took Milo in when my village was still small and forming. Irene was saved by Laurent and just stuck with us both."
She asked a few more questions about her extended family. Her eyes sparkling in comparison to the lifeless and dull ones she had when she opened the door.
"I've been wanting to get them all gifts when I come back," I shared.
"Can I do that too!" Zina asked excitedly. "I know a great market area we can head to, they have a huge selection of things and you can help me out with finding things the kids might like. That is if you let me."
It sounds like a blast! "When do you want to go? Can I bring Laurent along?"
"I can bring Cabit or one of my colleagues along. We can go tonight. The market looks amazing when all the lights are turned on and glowing."
"It's a date then, I'll see if Laurent can come but I'll come by tater today and we can get ready together and go out."
Excitement was evident in my voice. A girls outing. It's been ages since I've been on one.
We both said our goodbyes and I went to go tell Laurent about the date.