🏡 INK & INSTINCTS
✨ CHAPTER SIX: Brunch With Ghosts
Trigger Warning ⚠️ Adult Themes
She said she wouldn’t let him back in. She said it was a one-night slip. She said it was about Cassie. But now his hand is back on her hip, and her heart's beating like it still belongs to him.
It’s early. Quiet. No one’s around except the water and whatever still lingers between them. Zion’s leaning into her like he can’t help it like he’s chasing something unsaid.
Joy lets him.
But she doesn’t smile.
“You think this changes anything?” she asks. “I don’t know,” Zion says. “But I had to show up anyway.”
They didn’t even make it to the table..
Listening to the tone in his voice she couldn't help herself. Hell she never could! She found herself face down and ready to take it all in.
Breathing hard. Silent.
Zion kneels behind her, palm steady on her back. He doesn’t say anything not sorry, not sweet, not questioning where this goes from here.
Just emotions, weight and memories..
The silence stretches long.
She scrubs her hands like she’s trying to erase something.
“You always did make me sick,” she says. Zion almost laughs. “That a joke or a confession?” “Depends what you’re hoping for.”
He watches her in the mirror. She doesn’t look back.
Brunch is cute. Blue umbrellas, soft jazz, fake forgiveness.
Joy made sure to show up and show out. Zion orders wine he won’t drink.
And then. . .
She shows up.
Tall. Glossed. Familiar.
Zion blinks. Joy smiles tighter.
“Heyyy, I didn’t know you’d be here,” the woman says. Joy breaks the third wall not believing the bullshit.
Zion’s tried to keep things cute the second Joy turned her head.
The other woman stays planted. Too comfortable. Like this ain’t her first time haunting a table she wasn’t invited to.
“Y’all know each other, huh?” The woman grins. “We go way back.”
“Cute,” Joy says. “Then you already know how this ends.”
Zion doesn’t speak fast enough. Doesn’t stand. Doesn’t follow.
And just like that, Joy makes her exit.
One last glance. One last sigh. She walks away not rushed, not shaken. . . .just done.
And Zion? Still sitting. Letting the ghost get comfortable while the real thing walks away.
.
.
.
He pissed me tf off this chapter because boy go get your girl!!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹.
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