The Next Best Thing: Part II

Twenty-One

They tried their best to make me laugh, each taking some time off of their weekend to hang out with me in bed, the rain providing the perfect background noise for a day in.

Lily had a family dinner to attend and Rae was hosting her former model and super cool mother: she was literally only branded cool because, occasionally, she was our party companion. Just so that she'd be the designated driver, of course.

I drifted off to some animated movie Min and Ty were paying close attention to, on opposite ends of my bed under the covers with me. They kept their chatter to soft whispers so as to allow me the courtesy of a peaceful rest without any interruptions...

"She's resting right now and I wouldn't want to wake her up." In the distance, I heard Ty address somebody at the door.

"Will you tell her I dropped by and give her these?" the caller said, handing to her what I supposed were flowers.

"Sure, Eoin. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

He was exactly the person I wanted to see, regardless of his close relationship with Sebastian. He must have felt guilty by association and I did appreciate him coming over to personally apologise for what he must have felt like was endangering my life.

"Min?" I called out, sitting up in bed. "Tell Ty I said it's okay. Please can I see him?"

Two pairs of footsteps ascended the flight of stairs to my room and someone knocked softly on the closed door. Ty poked her head in and told me to fix my hair with a smile before opening the door for Eoin. "I'll be right outside if you need anything."

In he walked, not having changed since I last saw him. He still looked good, more so than ever actually in a long black coat and a wide brimmed hat. He held a colourful bouquet of flowers in his hands, glinting with rain drops from the city's downpour.

"This is getting old, Zoe," he greeted with a quirky smile, walking up to the side of my bed.

"Nice to see you too, Eoin," I replied likewise. I motioned for him to sit on a chair conveniently placed next to the bed and I accepted his flowers with a smile. Lilies; I placed them to the far side of me, far away from my allergic skin and my sensitive sinuses.

"It's lovely to see you as always," he said. "I want to start by apologising for putting you in this position. I want you to know that I take full responsibility for everything that happened last night."

He locked his eyes with mine during his apology, clearly a firm believer in nothing meaning anything without eye contact. I quickly dismissed him as I didn't want him feeling guilty for his reckless friend. "None of this is your fault and I won't hold your relationship against you."

He looked me over while he asked if Sebastian hurt me beyond the obvious bruises on my face. "No, it didn't get that far. Just my wrists and my lip. I won't be wearing light lipstick for a while," I joked.

"You don't have to be strong for me, Zoe. I know I wasn't there but what you went through must have been horrifying." I could sense his deep regret and concern over my condition. It was sweet how much he cared about me. I reassured him that I was fine, admitting how scared I had been.

"It's over now and I would rather not relive it," I replied. I reached out for his free hand and I squeezed it. I smiled again at him, this time a genuine smile he reciprocated. "Thank you for my pretty flowers. Some advice for the future, I'm allergic to the lilies." I sneezed and flashed him a shaky grin, wiping my nose with my shirtsleeve.

"I'm not getting any better at this, am I?" he laughed contagiously, a spark lighting up in his smouldering eyes.

"Not really, no. But I guess you have to start somewhere," I answered with a shrug. I just watched him for a moment, silent and observant, my cheeks warming up - I was blushing at him and it felt...right.

"You should know you are making it really difficult for me," he groaned. Oh, but I did. And I liked it.

I flipped my hair in an attempt to be sassy, not as smoothly as I would have liked - it slapped me hard across the face and I was embarrassed. I buried my face in a pillow and I burst into contagious laughter because I would rather mock my dismal flirting skills.

Eoin had an amused look on his face when I shyly looked up, unsure of what had just happened and how to respond; in the end, he merely shook his head.

He took my hair into his hands and tied it up for me, running his fingers skillfully to untangle the knots and massage my scalp. "There you go. You can pay me back later," he spoke in his silky accented whisper and he left me watching him, new feelings flitting in my gut. Feelings I missed.

Tyler saw him out and just as fast, she was back in my room, a look of mischief painted on her face. I knew exactly what she was about to say; I turned my face away to hide the grin plastered on my lips.

"So, Eoin huh?" she began, her naughty smirk emerging as she strolled towards me.

"Mm," I muttered.

"Why didn't anyone tell me just how good looking he is?" Min interrupted, right behind Tyler through the door. "I might have slapped some colour onto Zoe's cheeks to make her somewhat attractive."

"He's okay," I said nonchalantly.

"Zoe, shut up. You're so hot for him and it's too adorable," Ty shot me down. "You look much, much better than a few minutes ago."

"You even fixed your hair for him, babe. I'm impressed," Min observed.

I giggled, a real outburst of giddiness I hadn't experienced in a while and I covered my face with my hands.

"I didn't. He did."