We’ve been home from Colorado for a week, and things have settled down a little bit. During the trip, Zac was able to start the healing process, and he is still working on it. It might take some time, but he’ll get there.
I know seeing Maddie overwhelmed Zac. How could it not? I mean, hell, seeing her hit me like a Mack truck, not to mention the emotions of knowing the girl Zac once loved was still alive. The articles and emails…we thought she’d died.
Finding her sitting in the room, had stunned me, and I left Zac and Maddie alone to give them some time and space. I don’t know what was said, but whatever it was, relaxed him. I could see it when he appeared in the living room, informing me that Maddie wanted to meet me. I was nervous but happy at the same time, knowing she’d like to meet me. Looking into Maddie’s eyes, I found her love for Zac reflected there…and I could also see that she had already let him go. Her words about his love being the greatest gift were true, and I couldn’t agree more. My heart swelled with happiness for Zac and Maddie.
We’ll definitely be visiting again. My most memorable moment of the trip was hearing Zac sing to Maddie. And now, I can understand why he reacted the way he did when I sang to Raine.
The trip had been tiring, and I was ecstatic when we finally got home. Unfortunately, today, I’m lying in bed with a headache, completely exhausted and hurting. It’s like I have the summer flu–if there’s even such a thing.
We have a few more weeks before we have to leave to go back to the condo and get ready for the next school year. We will be finishing up with the house, making sure everything is stored away and locked up before we leave.
Sighing, I know that I need to open my computer to check my syllabuses and calendar. I can’t put it off any longer because I have to figure out what supplies I’ll need to buy when my sisters and I go shopping today.
Ugh! Time to get moving. Tossing the covers off of me, I get up and go to the bathroom to take a shower. The water feels so good on my body. I let the hot water beat my muscles and run over my head as I try to rid myself of this headache.
Eventually, I turn the shower off and open the curtain to reach for my towels. I wrap one around my hair, and the other I use to dry off. Afterward, I take my time with the lotion to really rub it in so that it–hopefully–helps with my headache and fatigue. I still have to deal with my hair though, and I’m seriously thinking of cutting it all off at this point. For now, though, I blow dry it.
Exiting the bathroom, I find Cydney sitting on my bed. “Jeez, Cayd. You almost ready?” She asks.
“Yes, just let me get my clothes on, and I’ll be ready to go.” I step over to my dresser and pull out a matching set of panties and bra. I dress in my ripped shorts and a tank, slide on my flip-flops, and I’m done. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“‘Bout time. Let’s go find Callie,” Cydney states, and we head out of the bedroom door.
We stroll down to Callie’s room. Before we can knock though, the door flies open.
“You ready to roll?” Cydney and I question at the same time.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Callie grabs her purse, and we head downstairs to leave.
When we arrive at the store, we make a beeline for the school supplies, needing to restock our stuff for the next semester. I’m looking at the notebooks. “Hey, how many notebooks should we get?”
“We’re all taking full loads, so we’ll need at least six a piece,” Cydney says.
I reach out and grab eighteen notebooks.
Callie turns to me, practically bouncing with excitement. “Oh my God! Are these not the brightest markers you’ve seen?” She loves her markers–well, school supplies in general.
I laugh. “Yeah, they’re right up your alley.”
Callie tosses four packs of the bright markers into the cart as Cydney walks over and drops in three reams of paper.
“Damn, Cydney, how much paper do you think we’re gonna need?” I ask.
Cydney shrugs her shoulders. “Well, you know we write papers all the time, plus notes, homework, etcetera. Might as well be prepared.” We continue down the aisle, our cart becoming half-full of supplies with each step we take.
“I think we have all we need, and then some,” I state, peering at the cart. As we leave that aisle and turn down the next, I glance over and see the feminine products, which does the job of reminding me that I need to get some tampons. “Hold up, sisters. I have to pick up some stuff.” Standing there, checking out all of my options, it hits me that I’m not sure when my last period came. I pull out my phone to check my calendar.
I’m late.
Putting my phone away, I glance up at the shelves again and find the pregnancy tests next to the tampons. All I can think is that I may need one of those if my period doesn’t come soon.
“Hey, you good?” Callie asks from beside me.
“Yeah. Just had a hard time finding the tampons I use. That’s all,” I reply.
We make our way up to the front of the store and check out. The next stop for us is the clothing stores downtown. We park the Jeep on the street and start walking. The three of us enter store after store, picking out something at each location we visit.
With all the packages loaded into our vehicle, we head home. We bought shirts, skirts, shoes, and anything else we felt we needed…well, wanted. When we pull up to the house, the guys are standing on the porch and are shaking their heads when they get a small peek at the number of things we bought.
“Damn! Did you girls buy everything in town?” Maverick teases, grabbing a handful of bags.
“What’s it matter? It’s things we had to get, Sparky.” Cydney kisses his cheek.
“And how ‘bout you, Callie?” Dex inquires, reaching for some of the bags.
Callie raises up on her tip-toes, pecking his cheek as well. “Yep, things I needed, and maybe a little something for you later.” Ah hell, I forgot Callie bought the barely-there outfit.
Zac starts going through the remaining bags. “Big Boy, what are you looking for?” I laugh because I know exactly what he’s searching for.
He keeps probing. “Something sexy.” He grins.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” I slap his ass and give him a kiss.
We get all the bags inside. After sorting the packages, Zac takes mine up to the room as I head into the kitchen in order to get some water from the fridge. I’m exhausted from our shopping trip. When Zac comes in, he wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a fiery kiss. “Mmm. That’s nice,” I say after we break apart.
Zac squints his eyes, staring at me. “Baby, are you feelin’ alright?”
I tilt my head back to meet Zac’s gaze. “Yeah, just a bit tired. I’m thinking of going to take a nap.”
“Okay. Go rest up, baby.” Zac presses his lips against my forehead.
With a slight smile, I make my way up to my room. Dumping all the bags on the bed, I start to unpack some of the clothes, and then I come across the sexy red lace lingerie with black trim that I bought. I get an idea. I change quickly and send Zac a text, asking him to come up to my room. I position myself on my pillow, waiting for him, and sadly, I drift off to sleep.