Zoey

A week had passed and his attitude toward me was still the same. Bitterness, anger, and hate consumed him. He was broken. So broken that merely existing was what he'd become accustomed to. The one thing he didn't understand was that we were all broken in one way or another. Yet through all the jagged edges of the pieces that made him up, he was still strangely beautiful.

Nora had Sadie prepare a special dinner for the three of us. Carter had agreed to stay in and she wanted me to join them. I felt unsure because I knew he wouldn’t approve of it. It was six o’clock when he stepped off the elevator and made his way into the kitchen. He mumbled a hello to me and then walked over to Nora and kissed her head.

“How are you today?” he asked her.

“I’m fine. I had Sadie prepare dinner for us.”

“Good. I’m starving.”

“Zoey will be joining us,” she spoke to him.

“I see.” He glanced over at me.

“It’s okay, Nora. I’ll go to my room so you and your brother can have some time alone.”

“Don’t be silly. We want you to join us. Don’t we, Carter?” she spoke through gritted teeth.

“If she feels more comfortable in her room—”

“Carter!” Nora loudly voiced.

“Please, join us, Zoey. It would be ridiculous for you to eat in your room,” he spoke.

“It’s okay, really. I don’t mind.”

“Enough with the arguing. Nora wants you to sit with us and so you shall. Understood?” His brow arched.

“Sure. Fine.” I lightly smiled. “If you insist.”

I helped Nora from her wheelchair into a seat at the table and then took my seat next to her while Carter sat across from me.

“Tell us about your family, Zoey,” Nora spoke. “So far since you’ve been here, I never really asked you about them.”

“I have two dads who have raised me since I was a baby.”

“Your parents are gay?” Carter asked as he picked up his fork.

“Yes. I was left on the stairs of the church they attended,” I lied.

“Oh my god, you poor thing. So you never had a mother?” Nora pouted.

“No.” I gave a small smile. “But, John and Scott, are the best parents anyone could ever ask for. They gave me a good life.”

“Do you still live with them?” Carter asked.

“I do. Right now it doesn’t make sense to get my own place since I’m not home much, with my job and everything.”

“I guess that makes sense,” he spoke.

“What do your parents do?” Carter asked.

“John is a doctor who works in the ER and Scott is a firefighter.”

“Nice.” Nora slowly nodded. “I’d love to meet them.”

“They come to the city a lot. Maybe we can have lunch with them one day.”

“I’d like that.” She smiled. “Or maybe we can have them over for dinner.”

“No. I don’t think so,” Carter spoke.

“Why?” Nora asked him.

“Because Zoey is the hired help. We don’t need to have her family over to the house.”

“Wow, Carter.” Nora looked at him in disgust.

Was I surprised he said that? No. It fit his demeanor. I brushed it off and took my plate to the kitchen. When I returned to the dining room, Nora asked if I could help her with a bath. After getting her settled into bed, I walked back out to the dining room to finish cleaning up. As I was loading the dishwasher, I became startled when I turned around and saw Carter standing there staring at me.

“Shit, you scared me!”

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Cleaning up from dinner.” I gave him an odd look.

“Why? That’s what I have a housekeeper for.”

“You can’t let these dishes sit out all night,” I spoke.

“Whatever, but don’t expect a bonus or anything in your check because you chose to clean up.” He began to walk away.

“Wait!” I yelled.

He stopped and turned to look at me.

“I don’t expect anything extra, especially from you. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do. But someone like you wouldn’t know anything about that.” I pointed my finger at him.

He had finally broken me. His attitude towards me and his verbal abuse finally sent me over the edge.

“Are you finished?” His brow arched.

“I have more to say, but for the fear of losing my job, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

He cocked his head and folded his arms. God, how I wished he wasn’t so handsome.

“No. Go ahead. Tell me more.”

“Just leave me alone, Mr. Grayson. Please let me finish cleaning up and then I’ll head to my room.” I turned and put the last dish in the dishwasher.

“Fine.” He stormed out of the kitchen.

After wiping down the counters, I retreated to my room, where I called my dad, John.

“Hey, sweetheart, how’s the job going?”

“That man is unbearable!”

A light laugh came from the other end.

“You mean Carter Grayson?”

“Yes. He’s so rude and mean. I try to be nice, but with him, it’s becoming impossible.”

“Just remember why you’re there, Zoey. Don’t let someone like him distract you from what’s really important.”

“I know, Dad.” I sighed.

“What’s going on with you? You never let anyone get to you like this.”

He was right. I always saw the good in everyone and never reacted like this. I knew Carter was hurting and I saw the pain in his eyes every single day, but I still struggled with his behavior.

“Nothing is going on with me. He’s just annoying.”

There was a brief moment of silence on the other end.

“Are you sure you’re not developing some sort of feelings for him?” he asked.

“Dad, he’s a mean and miserable person. How could anyone develop feelings for someone like him?”

“Okay, sweetheart, just checking.”

Just as I ended the call, I heard Carter scream my name from Nora’s room. Throwing down my phone, I ran in there to see what was wrong.

“Shit, she’s having a seizure!” I pushed Carter out of the way so I could help her. “Has she had a seizure before?” I asked.

“No!”

“Call 911.”

As soon as her seizure calmed, I rolled her on her side to keep her airways open.

“You’re going to be okay, Nora. Just try to relax and breathe normal.”

“I’m so tired,” she softly spoke.

“I know. Just relax. An ambulance is on the way to take you to the hospital.”

“No.” She shook her head. “No hospital.”

I reached over and grabbed her hand.

“This is your first seizure. You need to go. It’s not a choice and I’ll be there with you.” I turned and looked at Carter to make sure he was okay. He was as pale as a ghost. “Are you okay?” I asked him.

“I’m fine,” he spoke with a shaky voice.

Not too long after Carter called, the paramedics arrived, put Nora on the stretcher, and transported her to the hospital. I rode with her in the back while Carter had Juan drive him separately. Once we arrived at the ER, they rushed Nora back and told me and Carter to sit in the waiting room. He took a seat in a chair with his elbows rested on his knees and his hands covering his face. I had a feeling we were going to be there for a while, so I grabbed two cups of coffee from the machine in the waiting room and handed one to him.

“Here, I thought you could use this.”

He looked up at the coffee and then at me.

“Thanks.” He took it from my hand.

“I didn’t know how you took it, so I just got black,” I spoke.

“Black is fine.”