Thirty-Four

ZORA'S POV

Katherine gasped, looked again at what I had just given her, and stared at me in surprise. I smiled, trying to act as though I didn't know what her excitement was all about. She squealed in delight, darted forward, and wrapped her arm around my neck, hugging me tightly.

"Oh. Thank you, Zora," she cried. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is like a dream come true. Finally, I will get to hobnob with the big shots in the big city and it's all thanks to you. Thank you."

"That is a whole lot of thank yous," I said. "And hey- you are choking me. Ease up a little, will you?"

She relaxed her hold a little but did not entirely let go.

She laughed as she said. "I am just showing you how grateful I am. In fact, you are my only love, Zora. No one else even comes close." I snorted and laughed, giving her a disbelieving look from under my lashes. "What? But it's true though."

"Really? I would like to see you repeat that statement in front of Drew. I would really love to hear