Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

What I had with Taylor was so much bigger—more meaningful. Which meant it would hurt more if she walked away.

When we finally got back to my apartment, Zach was waiting for me at my door as usual. His face pinched when he saw Taylor. I should have talked to him before I brought her here. I scrubbed my face with my free hand before stepping in front of Zach. “Zach, this is my friend, Taylor.”

“No worries, man. I can go back home.” He took a step toward his door, but I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “No. We came to cook dinner and spend time with you. Taylor wanted to meet you. Please.” I wanted him to know that nothing—no one—would come between us.

“Okay,” he said. When I was sure he wasn’t going to bolt, I unlocked the door, letting Zach and Taylor precede me into the apartment.

“What do you say about fried chicken?” I asked them.

Taylor smiled softly. “What can I do?”

“Can you get the chicken out of the fridge?” I pulled out my heaviest pot and placed it on the stove. “Can you peel and cut potatoes?” I placed the bag of potatoes on the island.

“Sure.” Taylor got to work washing the potatoes.

“Did you want to help, Zach?” Taylor gathered a cutting board, a peeler, and a knife.

“Me?” Zach asked surprised.

“I can show you if you don’t know how.” Taylor stood by the counter waiting for Zach to answer. “Knowing how to cook is a good life skill.”

Especially when his mother wasn’t providing for him.

“Okay,” Zach finally conceded.

A rush of gratefulness flew through me. Why had I never thought of that? That teaching Zach to cook would be a good life skill if I couldn’t be there for him. Impressed with Taylor’s forethought I kissed her forehead and squeezed her shoulder before gathering the breading and seasoning for the chicken.

I heated the oil, coated the chicken with seasonings and breadcrumbs, and carefully placed the pieces in the heavy pot.

We worked quietly, the only sound was Taylor’s soft instructions for Zach. It was nice. It was like we were a family. While the chicken fried, I watched the two most important people in my life interact. Taylor was patient and sweet with him, and Zach seemed to respond to her in a way he hadn’t with me. He soaked up Taylor’s attention and I even saw him smile at her when she placed the potatoes into the oven to cook.

Checking the chicken, I used tongs to pull each piece out to cool. “The potatoes will take longer, but if you’re hungry you can eat the chicken once it cools.” I said this for Zach’s benefit as he was always starving on the weekends.

“Yeah, I’m starving,” Zach said, taking a seat at the counter.

I gave him a plate overflowing with fried chicken. “I talked to Omar, he owns the general store down the street from the bar, about giving you a job a few days a week. He wants you to come in sometime next week to interview.”

“Really?” Zach looked up from his plate in surprise.

“Yup. But don’t tell those guys where you work. Omar doesn’t want any trouble. I’m vouching for you, so don’t let me down.”

“I won’t. Thank you so much.” He was quiet for a few minutes eating. “Maybe if I get the job, I could give the money to my mom and she won’t make me quit school.”

I hated the idea of him giving her his money. I had no idea what she’d do with it—alcohol or drugs. I wanted him to have it.

Taylor stilled. “Why would she make you quit?”

“She wants me to quit school when I turn sixteen to earn extra money. If I can show her I can earn money in the evenings and on the weekends maybe she won’t make me.”

I could see the turmoil in Taylor’s eyes as they shot to mine. I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.” I was speaking to Zach but trying to convey a message to Taylor. Let it go. We’ll talk about it later when Zach’s not here. She seemed to get the message because she nodded and opened the oven to check the potatoes.

I had every intention of speaking to his mother if she insisted he quit, and even going to the school if necessary. Someone needed to stand up for Zach’s well-being if his mom wasn’t going to.

Taylor pulled the potatoes out when they were done and we sat down to eat. The apartment smelled like fried chicken and rosemary and garlic.

Once we’d eaten, Taylor started to clean up and I helped her. Usually, I packed all of the food for Zach to take with him, but I didn’t want him to leave yet. “Did you want to pick a movie to watch?”

“Sure,” Zach said, scrolling through the menu and picking an Avengers movie. We sat down to watch when the kitchen was cleaned up.

When the movie ended, I handed him the container of chicken, potatoes, and corn to take home with him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said to Zach.

“It was nice meeting you, Zach,” Taylor said.

He smiled at her before walking back over to his apartment.

Once my apartment door was closed, we made our way back to the couch, Taylor facing me. I wondered if we could head back to the bedroom, but she looked like she was thinking hard about something.

“I think what you’re doing with Zach is wonderful.” She spoke slowly and softly like each word was meaningful.

“I’m just feeding him.” There was so much more I wanted to do for him. I wanted to step in as a parental figure. I wanted to protect him from bullies or people who tried to use or hurt him.

“No, it’s so much more than that. You love him. You’re guiding him. You’re helping him.”

“It’s what anyone would do. It’s nothing special.” I said the words, but my heart was strung tight. I