Clair walked into the kitchen with her hair still damp from her shower, a robe draped loosely over her shoulders. She made her way to the counter and stopped beside Per, who was busy preparing lunch.
"Starting today, Zach's going to live here with us," Clair announced.
Per continued slicing potatoes, not bothering to look up. "And what makes you think that's a good idea?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Clair asked.
The knife stopped mid-slice. Per set it down and finally turned to her.
"Have you given any thought to how Zach will settle in? Or how Roy is going to take it?" She arched a brow. "Then again, judging by that look on your face, this was another one of those spur-of-the-moment ideas that sounded great to you."
Clair opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Per had a point.
"Zach already agreed," she said instead. "He said he'd be fine with it as long as you and Ark don't mind."
"And Roy?"
Clair shrugged. "I'll deal with him."
Per picked up the knife again and went back to chopping the potatoes.
"If you can give me your word that you'll treat Zach properly and let him have some sense of a normal life while he's staying here, then I won't object."
She paused, setting the knife down once more before fixing Clair with a pointed look. "But this arrangement is only temporary. Once you've recovered, he's moving back to the dorm."
Her expression left little room for negotiation. "Do I make myself clear?"
Clair released a long sigh. "Yes."
Zach returned to the dorm that afternoon and informed his friends that he would be moving out. He left out the part about Clair, but judging by the looks on their faces, they had already figured it out.
He had brought snacks and drinks for everyone, giving them something to do while he packed his belongings.
"I heard Nally's transferring to another school," Calliso said.
Zach barely reacted as he pulled clothes from his closet and folded them into a bag.
"Probably because she lost to Clair," Jacksen said, tearing open another bag of chips.
Calliso immediately nudged him with an elbow.
"What?" Jacksen said. "I'm just saying. That's usually how these things go. The winner moves on, and the loser can't stand sticking around."
He tossed a handful of chips into his mouth. "Unless she's planning a comeback. Or revenge."
"I don't think Nally's that kind of person," Calliso said.
Jacksen ignored him and emptied the remaining chips into his mouth before crumpling the bag.
Zach managed to fit all his belongings into a single suitcase and a backpack. Once he was done packing, his friends helped him carry everything downstairs and out of the dormitory.
Ark was already waiting by the curb when they arrived.
Spotting them, he stepped out of his truck and took the luggage from Zach. He loaded the bags into the back before turning to him.
"All set?" he asked.
Zach nodded. Then he looked at his friends and smiled.
"I'll see you guys at school. Feel free to use my bed while I'm gone."
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Strayed Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach awoke a few days after his surgery, his mind foggy and his heart empty, as though his life had been reset. He moved through what he believed was his normal routine, unaware that fragments of a forgotten past were slo...
