The Affair (Zauren)

18

Chapter 18

I untangle my bare body from Zayn's grasp. I swing my feet over the edge of the bed standing slowly not to wake him.

I wince when a shock of pain shoots through my body. I guess Zayn and I have been doing to much. Even though I enjoyed it every night I wasn't enjoying this. A whimper leaves my parted lips when I try to take another step.

Zayn stirs in his sleep. "Babe?" His deep morning voice called out. "What are you doing?" He asks when he sees me standing in an awkward position my eyebrows knitted together in a frown.

"Trying to get to the bathroom," I say a gentle laugh leaving my lips. "I'm sore."

He quickly stumbles from the bed to my side helping me to the bathroom.

"I'll run you a hot bath," he says turning on the tap to the bath.

He helps me in after it was filled and turned on the jacuzzi. "I'll go get the kids ready for school," he says leaning down to place a kiss to my lips. "Relax." He walks out of the bathroom.

I lean back into the warm water closing my eyes as the jets massage my sore muscles.

After about being in the bath for thirty minutes, I pull the plug and get out wrapping a towel around my body.

My phone dings from the nightstand I look at the illuminated screen I had a message from Zayn and Normani.

Zayn😍: I dropped the kids off on my way to work. Have a good day.

Lauren: thank you, guess I was in the bath longer than I thought.

I tap on Normani's message.

Mani: who's the hot guy?

Lauren: can you meet for coffee?

Within seconds she replied.

Mani: Yea, meet you there.

I quickly get dressed into high waisted jeans and a cropped cream colored sweater.

+

I push open the door of the quaint cafe, the jingles fill my ears and the strong aroma of coffee beans fill my nose.

I spot Normani towards the back of the cafe, I slide into the booth across from her a steaming cup of coffee already waiting for me.

"Hey," she greets once she notices I'm here as I quickly greet her back.

"I see you still remember my order," I say gesturing towards the small cup of coffee. She simply replies with a genuine smile.

"Who's the guy?" She asks looking up from her hot chocolate with a smirk.

I glance down at my coffee stirring the creamer around. "Zayn, he's um a guy I'm seeing now."

"What happened between you and Justin?" She asks her eyebrows furrowed together her eyes scanning my face.

"He had drinking problems. We had a lot of problems." She nods noticing I didn't want to elaborate on the subject.

"He seemed great with the kids," she complimented as I took a sip of my coffee that was now cooled down.

"He really is." I smile. "So anyone special in your life?" I asks becoming curious with the diamond on her finger.

"Yea, his name is Don, he treats Skylar like his own," she said smiling from ear to ear. "He proposed two months ago." She placed out her hand so I could admire her ring.

"It's beautiful."

After we spent about two hours in the cafe talking about our lives and joking about the past until we both had to go pick up the kids.

+

After picking up the kids and getting them settled in the car I began my drive to Zayn's.

Since I forgot to ask Brylee what she did at her Dad's the other night I decided to ask her now while she had no other choice than to give me her full attention and not go run off to play. I turn the radio down to a low hum.

"Brylee, did you have fun at your dad's the other day?" I question her glancing at her through the rear view mirror seeing that she was watching the cars pass by.

"Yea, he played with us but then some lady came."

Some lady? I wonder what she meant by that maybe it was just Justin's lawyer.

"I'm glad you had fun baby. Do you wanna go back this weekend?"

"Not if that girls there cause daddy didn't play with us anymore." She says pouting. The sight of her seeming so upset when that girl arrived sent anger through my veins. How could Justin ignore his kids over a stupid girl.

Brooks starts whining asking for his juice grasping the air while stopped at a stoplight I grab his juice from the cup holder handing to him as he hums in content when it was in his grasp.

I didn't know what else to say to Brylee so I turn the radio back up and she begins singing and Brooks starts dancing in his car seat or tries to.

+

After dinner I bathed the kids and now they are fast asleep in their room while Zayn and I are cuddled up on the bed enjoying each other's presence.

"What do you think about a trip?" Zayn asks running his long fingers through my hair taking a strand and absentmindedly twisting it.

"It would be nice where to?"

"Visiting my mom in Bradford and of course the kids would be coming."

We talk about the trip awhile longer until I dozed off with my body tangled with Zayn's.

***