Zoey groaned as she pulled the blanket up over her face, then rolled onto her stomach, stretching her arms out to reach for Harriet. She opened her eyes, only to find the other side of the bed empty. Furrowing her brows, she sat up.
"Did she already leave?" Zoey murmured, tilting her head. "But she doesn't have work," she added, remembering that Harriet was still on suspension this week. As she got out of bed, she noticed she was wearing an oversized polo shirtâdefinitely Harriet's. Smiling, she inhaled the comforting scent lingering in the fabric.
She wandered out of the bedroom and toward the living room, where she paused, catching sight of Harriet. She was there, all right, doing cardio on an inclined treadmill with a dumbbell in each hand. Zoey leaned against the wall, her gaze tracing the lines of Harriet's back. She squinted, noticing a few faint scars along her skin.
Harriet paused the treadmill, sighing deeply as she stepped off and turned around, only to spot Zoey watching her. "You're awake," she said with a smile, patting her sweaty face and body with a towel.
Zoey swallowed, averting her gaze, realizing she'd been staring for a bit too long. Harriet was dressed only in a sports bra, dry-fit shorts, and running shoes, her athletic form making Zoey's cheeks flush. "Y-Yeah, g-good morning," Zoey stammered, face growing warmer as Harriet stepped closer.
"I see you've been staring for a while," Harriet chuckled softly. "Are you hungry? I made breakfast, and there's no skipping today, okay?" She looked at Zoey with a playful smirk.
Zoey scoffed, "You're up early even when you don't have work."
Harriet shrugged. "Body clock. And, for the record, Ms. Zoey Foster, I'm dropping you off at work today," she said, letting her gaze sweep over Zoey in the oversized shirt. "You know, my clothes look great on you. You should wear them more often," she teased with a grin.
"There you go with the smooth lines again, Doctor," Zoey said, gently tapping Harriet on the nose. Harriet laughed softly and leaned in, brushing a kiss over Zoey's lips.
"Come on, let's eat. I bet you don't want to be late," Harriet said, taking Zoey's hand and leading her to the dining area.
Zoey's eyes widened at the sight of the spread on the table. "Good God! Are you sure this isn't my last breakfast?" she asked, seeing how much food Harriet had preparedâfor just the two of them.
Harriet laughed. "Isn't this how breakfast is supposed to be? You need the energy to get through the day," she said, pulling out a chair for Zoey. "Eat up; I'll just take a quick shower."
Zoey crossed her arms, smiling up at her. "I'll wait for youâI'll eat with you after you get back."
Harriet paused, giving her a mischievous look. "How about you join me in the shower? You know what they say, conserve water, save the planet," she said, winking.
Zoey scoffed, shaking her head. "Harriet, please. It's way too early in the morning for this."
"What? I'm just offering a better option," Harriet replied, feigning innocence. "You in?"
Zoey rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Just go take your shower, Doc."
"Alright then," Harriet said, heading toward the bedroom. She paused, casting a playful smile over her shoulder. "If you change your mind, I'll leave the door unlocked. Feel free to join me."
Zoey laughed, calling after her, "Whatever!"
Harriet smiled as she watched Zoey eat, tilting her head thoughtfully while she chewed, her gaze fixed on Zoey. Sensing Harriet's eyes on her, Zoey looked up.
"What's with the big smile this morning?" Zoey asked, meeting Harriet's gaze.
Harriet chuckled softly. "Nothing, I'm just happy you're here."
Zoey raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Right. Mind if I ask you something?"
Harriet paused to slice her egg, glancing up. "Of course not. Ask whatever you want."
Zoey hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Well, feel free not to answer if it's uncomfortable... but those scars on your bodyâdid they come from the accident?"
Harriet paused for a moment, setting down her utensils as she looked at Zoey. "Which scars? The ones on my back?" She laughed lightly, taking a sip of water. "Some of them are from being a bit of a daredevil back then, but yeah, most came from the accident. I had to go through several surgeries."
Zoey tilted her head, clearing her throat. "Did... did Sophie have scars like that too?"
Harriet blinked at the question, leaning forward thoughtfully. "How would I know? I never... I never actually saw her like that." Harriet's brow furrowed as she sighed. "I mean, sure, I was with her in the car, but after the accident, I never got to see her again." She looked down, avoiding Zoey's eyes. "They told me she died at the scene, but I never saw her body, her scars, her wounds... I didn't even get to go to her wake."
Zoey raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You never went to her wake? Was it too hard for you to process, or...?"
Harriet shook her head, giving a small laugh. "No, it wasn't that I didn't want to. Zoey, I was in a coma for a year after the accident." She managed a faint smile. "Maybe that's why it was so hard to let go. I wasn't there for her, couldn't say goodbye... knowing I was part of the reason she died."
Zoey swallowed, as though trying to clear a lump in her throat. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have askedâ"
"It's okay," Harriet said gently. "I told you, I want to be betterâfor myself and for you. So, ask anything you need to know. I'll share what I can... and if there's something too hard to talk about, I'll let you know." She reached across the table, giving Zoey's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Zoey looked into Harriet's eyes. "Do you... still miss her?"
Harriet blinked, then gave a small smile. "Honestly? I do miss Sophie. Sometimes I wonder if we should've just broken up before the accidentâthen she'd still be alive. I miss the memories, I guess. It's not like we were together that long."
Zoey looked at her closely. "Harriet," she said softly.
"Hmm?" Harriet looked up, curious.
Zoey leaned in with a gentle smile. "Your eyes don't look as sad when you talk about her anymore."
Harriet blinked, then chuckled softly. "I guess you're right. Maybe it's because I'm starting to live my life from scratch... and maybe because you're here."
Zoey leaned her right elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed at Harriet. "I'm proud of you for taking such a big step. It's good to see you doing something that'll benefit you in the long run."
Harriet shrugged with a small smile. "Well, I never liked the idea of wanting to be with you while still holding onto my past. And like I said, I'm taking this risk, even if it scares me."
Zoey's smile grew, her heart warming at Harriet's willingness to leave her comfort zone. Then I should start making better choices tooâfor myself and for you, she thought, looking at Harriet with deep affection.