Chapter 127

It takes another hour before we can get everyone to leave, except for Estelle. She and Zara go back into Zara’s office and make a long list of tests Zara would like done on the blood and sweat samples.

I keep myself busy in the kitchen, pretending to wipe the counters down and shuffling things around in the pantry.

“What are you doing?” Rocky huffs at me. “You’re making me nervous?”

“What if things are different once we’re alone with Zara, Rocky?” I confess my worries to him. “What if she doesn’t trust me anymore? I wouldn’t blame her, but the thought of it hurts.”

“Since when are you this guy?” He asks me in a tone that makes me think any way I answer is going to be wrong.

“What do you mean by ‘this guy’?” I stop what I’m doing and lean back on the counter.

“The guy who has zero confidence with a woman?” I can feel him pacing as he becomes more irritated with me.

“Okay, but this woman is our MATE, or have you forgotten?” I say, as if I need to remind him who Zara is.

“All the