Even when my best friend, Laura, invited me for a shopping trip, Zach had to tag along.
"Must be tough for you, being stuck with a bloated, nagging wife like me all day," I said sarcastically.
Zach's expression darkened. "Did you hear that?"
I scoffed, "Zach, why are you so insistent on watching over me? You've got a whole line of girls eager to have your child. Do you really want to risk both my life and the baby's for this? Aren't you afraid that neither of us might make it?"
Zach clamped his hand over my mouth. "I've said it before, only you can bear my child. The baby will be fine, and so will you."
At that moment, Laura waved at me from the entrance of the mall.
Seeing Zach, she teased, "Oh, Mr. Brooks, are you that worried about Nora? You have to keep an eye on her even when she goes shopping?"
Zach responded with a smile, "Of course. My Nora is just too charming to be left alone."
I was caught between their banter, listening to their playful exchange.
Had it been before, I might have laughed and told them to stop joking.
But perhaps the incident with Zara had made me more sensitive, and I felt an odd vibe between them that I couldn't quite put my finger on.