Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy

Author:Taj McCoy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2023-02-02T19:19:02+00:00

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After cleaning and closing up the store, Zora drove home with PJ Morton’s Piano Album playing through her stereo speakers. Granny had invited Dr. Clarke to hang out with her and some of her friends to reminisce on what D.C. used to be, and Emma had a date with some guy she met online. Emma had strict instructions to text Zora her location and to use their safe word “froyo” if she needed backup.

At home Z showered to wash the day away, donning a cozy, powder-pink loungewear set of wide-legged pants and a cropped hoodie. In the kitchen she boiled water for pasta as she thinly sliced cloves of garlic and chopped fresh Italian parsley. She melted butter into a pan coated in olive oil and sautéed the garlic with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. She spooned in a little of the seasoned pasta water. Once the pasta was cooked and drained, she tossed it in the sauce, sprinkled the fresh parsley on top, and shaved some fresh Parmesan over her bowl. After pouring herself a glass of wine, she carried her meal to the couch, set her wine on the coffee table, and flipped on the television to a kitchen renovation show. Quiet nights at home like this were so rare that Zora had to take advantage of them when she could—the peaceful stillness of the evening coaxed a reminder that she needed to make decisions about some potential new hires for the store. These nights don’t have to be so rare.

Zora closed her eyes to pray over her food, and immediately the images of Reid and Lawrence appeared behind her eyelids. Shaking them from her mind, she spoke over her meal and the hands that prepared it. Twirling pasta around her fork, she savored her first bite, making sure she got some of the crisped garlic, pepper flake, and Parmesan. She moaned out loud, shaking her head at her bowl. “And no one will ever experience it,” she sighed.

She pulled a notepad and pen from the storage cubby within her coffee table, sipping her wine as she sat back on the couch. Still marinating on Dr. Clarke’s words, she wondered if she had enough information to make an educated decision about who she wanted to date. So much time had passed since her last relationship, and she longed for the intimacy of having a partner, but she didn’t want to make any rash decisions. She thought about making a new list of pros and cons for Lawrence and Reid, but then she decided against it. “Better I take my time getting to know these guys,” she surmised.

She took another bite of food, skimming her list once more as her phone rang. Lawrence.

“Hey, how are you?” she asked, muting the television.

“Hello, Zora. I’m well, and you?”

The smile in his deep voice made her face soften. “I’m good. Are you back already?”

“I am. I just got home and figured I’d call you and see what you’re up to.

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