Free Love Takes Hold: The Helena's Grove Series Book 3 by Ivy Alexander

She grabbed her bag, paid the driver and hurried to security. It wasn’t until she was seated and waiting for take-off that she started to relax but it was short lived.
    Her mind began to race with scenarios. She imagined showing up at Zack’s apartment, only to find another woman there. What would she do! She quickly dismissed the thought, knowing Zack wasn’t that type. Her next fear came in the thought of him turning her down flat. I wouldn’t blame him, she thought. He would have every right to not ever want to see me again. As painful as that thought was, it was less painful than the thought of him already having found someone else. She picked up her phone. I should call him. I should at least make sure he’s at the apartment. He’s probably at the hospital – would he even see that I called? I could page him, but he’s so busy. Would he be able to take the time to call me if I did? It’s more romantic if I just show up. But I don’t want to spring this on him…
    When the pilot finally announced their descent into Boston, Jen had made up her mind to surprise Zack. She wanted see the expression on his face when he saw her. She wanted to look into his eyes and see whether he was happy, surprised, angry, hurt, or just plain annoyed to see her. Whatever the emotion, she wanted it to be real and genuine – without him having time to think about it. She got off the plane quickly, picked up her luggage and ran to the front to get a cab. She told the driver the address to the apartment and then sat back and let the butterflies in her stomach consume her. She took deep breaths. Anything worth having is worth the risk of getting, she chanted to herself over and over as the cab got closer and closer to their apartment.
    When the driver announced they had reached their destination, Jen quickly paid him and unloaded her suitcase. She went up the stairs but stopped outside the door. She tried to mentally prepare herself for whatever she would see. She knew the chance of Zack being home at this time of day was slim but she still had to try. She knocked once, no answer. She knocked again, still no answer. She searched for the key under the mat. Inserting it, she was just about to turn the knob when the door opened. Jen jumped back, startled, her heart racing, mind whirling. There was a figure standing before her but it wasn’t Zack.
     

Chapter 10
     
    Jen stared, taken aback. She had no idea who the shirtless man standing before her was. However, the fact that it was a man was a relief!
    “Who are you?” she asked cautiously.
    The man ran his fingers through his shaggy, sandy hair. She had clearly awoken him. “I’m Jeremy,” he yawned. “Who are you?”
    Jen felt a flood of relief. “Jeremy? Zack’s friend from the hospital Jeremy?”
    “The one and only.” He smiled sleepily at her.
    “Oh I’m Jen,” she said, holding out her hand.
    He shook it slowly. “Zack’s ex girl, Jen?”
    “The one and only.” She faked a smile, not really liking how he said ex girl. “Is Zack here?” she asked, looking past him into the apartment.
    “Uh no, he’s at the hospital today.”
    Jen nodded. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you living here now?”
    “No, well kind of. My apartment had an outbreak of lice so I asked Zack if I could bunk with him for a few days.”
    Jen’s eyes widened. “Lice?”
    “Yeah like the little bugs, ya know?”
    “That’s gross,” she said after a moment of silence.
    “Yeah, pretty much.”
    “Okay well, I have to go.” She quickly placed her suitcase inside the door. “I’ll be back to get this,” she informed him. She turned and headed back down the stairs; stopping, she turned back to Jeremy. “It was nice to meet you and I’m sorry about your…” She gestured to her hair. “Your lice,” she said finally, feeling awkward.
    “Thanks,” Jeremy said, waved and went back inside.
    Jen bounded down the rest of the steps. Stopping on the road, she quickly calculated