Nick had avoided Zoe completely since their kiss, certain that his feelings towards her would become obvious, more obvious than they already were. Even lecturing her about another late start was risky. The temptation to have her there and then was too strong.

Of course he had flashed her a wink from time to time, it was simply natural for them to flirt- it always had been. Zoe didn't react in her usual way however, there were no sarcastic, borderline inappropriate comments or cheeky smirks. The most he could get out of her was a rolling of her eyes.

As Zoe stood against the no smoking sign, her cigarette keeping her from exploding, Yvonne approached. The way that she strutted, trying to look much better than she was was comical to Zoe.

"Zoe" she snarled, coming to a stop and joining her at the wall.

"Yvonne" Zoe's tone mirrored Yvonne's but of course was ten times as harsh.

The two women stood beside each other for a matter of moments before Zoe put her foot down.

"Look is there any real reason you're here? Last time I checked we weren't exactly the best of friends" She questioned whilst rubbing her forehead, her eyebrows raised.

"Of course there's a reason! You think I'd just drop by to catch up with a brat like you?" Her words were laced with venom but didn't have the desired effect on Zoe. Rather than being intimidated, she let out a small laugh, a sarcastic one.

"Charming"

Yvonne ignored Zoe's comment and proceeded shouting the odds. "What happened between you and Nick- it never, ever happens again you hear me?"

Discarding her cigarette, Zoe straightened her dress. "Oh believe you me, I wouldn't have anything to do with him again if he was the last man on this planet"

"Oh really, but you'd still kiss him first, just like last week?" Yvonne spat- right now she despised the other woman.
Her words hit Zoe hard. Any possibility of her day being any worse was now obliterated.

She span around, pretending that her words hadn't upset her. Putting on a brave face was something she had done time and time again; she was quite the expert.

"The man you supposedly love is a liar, nothing else. I didn't kiss him first, I wouldn't have. Believe it or not Yvonne, I actually have some respect for you"

Leaving Yvonne standing alone, Zoe's mind switched to over-drive. Nick had lied, he had promised Yvonne that he hadn't kissed Zoe first, that it was all her doing. That hurt, but the fact that he had kissed when she was most vulnerable and made everything seem so perfect before ripping her heart slowly and painfully, hurt a hell of a lot more. She couldn't cry though, she had a reputation to live up to. Granted it wasn't the most desirable at the best of times but she still hadn't cried in front of her colleagues.


The previous eight hours had been the shift from hell. Yvonne's words and Nicks lie had been on her mind the whole day. As she let herself through the front door, she broke down. Making it towards her wine rack was a struggle with salty tears streaming down her cheeks. Once again the wine was her only comfort.

Slouched on the leather sofa, her phone grasped in her hands, she scrolled. She scrolled through her contacts until she reached his name. Just looking at the four letters was torture. Knowing that he would never be hers again was torture. She ached all over, no other man had ever left her truly heartbroken. Of course, only Nick Jordan could tick that box. He was everything she wanted in a man- he was demanding, caring in his own way, sexy, powerful and would always keep his promises. Until now, now his promises weren't promises, they were empty lines. Rehearsed lines.


A couple of hours had passed and Zoe had made it to her bed, cradling the wine bottle as she attempted to catch up on some well missed sleep. But as usual nights were the time for over thinking and over evaluating.

A familiar grasp was recognised as his strong arms held her as she lay sideways. The irresistible scent of his aftershave hit her. Nick. She wasn't aware that he had kept his key to her house, but she didn't care. She hated him but she loved him. She needed him.

For the first time since his spontaneous arrival, Nick spoke. "I'm sorry" probably the rarest words that Nick Jordan knew how to speak, admitting that he was wrong had never been his forte.

"I hate you" Zoe replied, her voice shaking and tears continuing to fall. Nick soothed in the only way he knew how; stroking her hair.

"Sh, sh. I know you do baby but I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied. You've got to believe me, I love you. I just wanted to do the right thing for once and I thought that meant making things work with Yvonne" His voice was pleading and one tear fell onto Zoe's shoulder as he placed a soft kiss on it.

Zoe sniffed away her next sequence of tears away and brought on shaking hand up to her face. "So while you were trying to be some kind of Saint, I was left heartbroken once again. It's like you don't even care who you hurt"

His own heart began to break as she revealed how she felt. Hurting her had never been an intention of his, it never would be. "Of course I care- I love you Zoe Hanna" the way he spoke so genuinely calmed Zoe and her breathing steadied gradually.

"Why would you love me? I'm a mess"

If she was a mess, she was his mess. His beautiful mess.

"Because I saw you and you were perfect, I loved you. And then I saw that you weren't perfect and I loved you even more."