I woke up next to Angelica, the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a gentle glow in the room. Gently nudging her awake, she mumbled in her sleep, showing signs of reluctance to wake up. Retrieving my phone from the nightstand, I found an overwhelming number of messages from Zane—twenty in total.
"It's not what it looks like," I read aloud, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. Angelica stirred next to me, her drowsiness dissipating as she became aware of the situation. "Is that Zane?" she asked, her voice groggy but alert. I nodded, confirming her suspicion.
Curiosity piqued, Angelica pressed me further, her eagerness evident. "What else did he say?" she inquired, now fully awake. I continued reading the messages aloud, the words from Zane providing snippets of an explanation. "He didn't know she was in town, but they ran into each other in Pandora..." I trailed off, momentarily puzzled by the mention of Pandora.
"What was he doing in Pandora?" Angelica interjected, mirroring my own bewilderment. I shook my head, unable to offer an answer. "I don't know," I replied honestly, my focus returning to Zane's messages. Reading further, I conveyed Zane's account of the events. "She asked me to go out for dinner for old times' sake and to catch up, and I agreed. I know you saw the pictures—Savannah saw Angelica in her views—and I'm pretty sure Angelica told you about it. But I promise you, sugarplum, I wasn't cheating on you."
The words hung in the air, their weight palpable as silence settled between us. The mixture of relief and confusion tugged at my heart, unsure of how to process this newfound information. Zane's explanation painted a different picture—a narrative that challenged the initial assumptions and suspicions.
"See," Angelica said, exhaling audibly, "he wasn't cheating on you with that married woman. I'm sorry I stressed you out for nothing last night." While her reassurance provided some comfort, a lingering sense of uncertainty still clouded my thoughts. Despite Zane's seemingly sincere messages, I couldn't fully dismiss the doubts that had plagued me.
"It's fine," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of hesitation. "But do you think he would tell me that he went out with her?" I asked, genuinely unsure of Zane's capacity for honesty in such a situation. Angelica shrugged, her expression conveying a mix of belief and uncertainty. "I want to believe so," she offered, her faith in Zane's integrity apparent.
With a sigh, I pushed myself to get out of bed and begin the morning routine. The anticipation of the day's events loomed over me as I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up and prepare breakfast. However, before I turned the doorknob, I paused and faced Angelica, who raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
"And next time, Angel, don't get caught stalking."
-
As I stood in the kitchen, sizzling bacon in the pan and humming a catchy tune, Angelica joined me, preparing fresh orange juice. The cheerful atmosphere was momentarily interrupted when she expressed her concern about her boyfriend's silence. "Alex hasn't texted me the whole morning, that's so unlike him," she sighed, glancing at her phone once more in the hopes of a message that never arrived.
Handing her a plate filled with bacon, eggs, and a buttery croissant, I offered a reassuring perspective. "Maybe he's just busy," I suggested, trying to ease her worry. Angelica shook her head, her expression tinged with disappointment. "Even if he's busy, he always makes sure to let me know," she lamented.
We settled on the kitchen counter, enjoying our breakfast together, when a notification interrupted the calm. I excused myself and made my way to the front door, wondering who could be there. As I swung the door open, I was greeted by Alex's beaming face, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "Where's my worried girl?" he playfully asked, glancing past me. Angelica squealed in excitement, rushing towards him for a tight embrace.
After their warm reunion, Alex turned his attention to me and handed me a Pandora bag. Perplexed, I accepted the unexpected gift and slowly opened it. Inside, a note lay nestled amongst tissue paper, instantly capturing my attention. After I read the heartfelt words on the note my doubts and uncertainties regarding Zane completely faded away.
Dear sugarplum, I was supposed to give this to you in New York. But I know you would be wondering what I was doing in Pandora after you read those texts. So instead of telling you, I'm just going to show you."
The anticipation swelled within me as I unveiled the contents of the box next to the note. Before me lay the most exquisite bracelet I had ever seen, its intricate design sparkling with delicate beauty.
With a heart full of gratitude and affection, I reached for my phone and quickly composed a message to Zane, eager to express my appreciation.
"I know you're in a meeting right now, but I just had to tell you how much I love the bracelet. It's absolutely stunning. Thank you," I typed, a smile spreading across my face as I pressed send.
Zane had a remarkable talent for surprising me with thoughtful gifts, always finding a way to make me feel cherished and loved.
As I waited for his response, a wave of gratitude washed over me. It was moments like these that reassured me of the depth of our connection and the love we had for each other.
Shortly after, a familiar chime notified me of an incoming message. I eagerly unlocked my phone to read Zane's reply. "You're welcome, sugarplum. I'm glad you like it. It's just a small token of my affection for you," his text read, punctuated with a heartfelt emoji. His words resonated deeply within me, filling my heart with warmth and dispelling any lingering uncertainties.
-
As we arrived at the sushi place for dinner, Alex, always the joker, couldn't resist teasing Angelica about her stalking habits. "You should never listen to Angelica," he quipped, addressing the events of the previous night. "She's a bad stalker and will only give you half stories."
Angelica wasted no time in delivering a well-deserved whack to the back of Alex's head. He winced and rubbed the spot, feigning injury. "Ow!" he exclaimed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You have a lot to say for someone I caught flirting with his work wife." Angelica hissed, not mincing her words. "I was not flirting and she's not my work wife. She's fifty five!" Alex yelled.
Indulging in their amusing exchange, I chuckled, thoroughly entertained by their drama. Third-wheeling with Angelica and Alex always had its moments of hilarity and excitement.
Alex turned his attention back to me. "Are you and Zane officially a thing?" he asked, a hint of mischief evident in his voice. I paused for a moment, contemplating our status. "I guess so," I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
In an exuberant outburst, Alex couldn't contain his excitement, hitting the table with glee. "Yes!" he shouted triumphantly. "Ivan owes me five thousand dollars."
I raised an eyebrow, utterly perplexed. "For what?" I asked, genuinely confused.
Amidst his laughter, Alex explained, "So, we made a bet at Milan's wedding. I said that you and Zane would get together in less than a year, but Ivan insisted it would take at least two years because you don't easily forgive. Well, looks like I won!"
The absurdity of their bet left me dumbfounded, and I couldn't help but slap my face in disbelief.
Boys will be boys.
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