She Got A Better Man

Chapter

10

It seems Tracy's grand plan had indeed put them in quite the bind, considering she had never owned anything less than a sprawling residence for her little schernes.

Zach watched Tracy's plot unfold before him. Despite his initial resistance, he found himself unable to say no to her, ultimately agreeing to stay.

Elvira suggested she should share a room with Tracy for the night, to be on hand if needed.

However, Tracy insisted she sleep alone, claiming she was a light sleeper and wouldn't rest well with someone else nearby.

Seeing Tracy's point, Elvira didn't push further. It was only after stepping out that she realized they had a serious logistics issue - there were only two bedrooms in the place.

This meant if Tracy took one room, Elvira and Zach would inevitably end up sharing the other.

Zach, noticing Elvira frozen in place, figured she had just pieced together the awkward situation ahead.

"I can crash on the couch," Elvira suggested, masking her discomfort with a strained smile.

Zach shot her a skeptical look. The couch is a tight fit for a kid, let alone us. How's that gonna work?" His tone mixed annoyance with a hint of humor. It was clear neither of them would fit. "So, what's the plan?" Elvira's voice was laced with concern, seeking a solution.

"Guess I'll hit the floor. You get ready for bed, Zach said, fetching his pajamas.

Returning to their makeshift bedroom, the cramped space and the barely sufficient bedding made Elvira feel a pang of guilt for the luxuries Tracy had lavished on her.

"She lives in this shoebox, yet she spoils me rotten with clothes, Elvira thought remorsefully.

bed on the floor. Dressed only in

aren't you changing into pajamas?"

to wear her day clothes again due to the lingering

Elvira was hesitant to change into pajamas, Zach was

she could stop him, Zach's face flushed at the sight of the sleepwear. He then quickly offered her one of his shirts as a makeshift

Zach's shirt

the shirt and returned,

it a night, Elvira in his shirt stopped him

knees, revealing her fair legs. The unbuttoned top revealed her graceful collarbones and

Lying down, she suggested, "Mr. Gilbert, how about we hire a full-time nurse for Tracy? Living alone at her age, especially with her health, isn't safe." Zach, who knew the house was already staffed to the brim, couldn't help

closer.

expenses, Elvira quickly added, "Look, don't worry about the costs. I've got savings, and we can handle

by her offer to share the financial burden. "You really mean that?

1/2 Chapter 10

okay with this burden?" Before, his mention of financial strain would've sent anyone running. Yet, Elvira's response was heartwarmingly different. "Of course," Elvira said earnestly. "Even though our marriage started unconventional, we're legally married. I've got some money saved up, and we can always figure something out. Isn't sticking together through tough times what families do?" In the darkness,

too, Elvira added,

lay there planning to ask Olivia for a loan, prioritizing the urgent need over all else. As Elvira drifted to sleep, Zach lay awake, her proximity and the faint scent of

to an unintended, intimate collision. With Elvira falling onto

charged with an

his shirt, and Elvira, only half-dressed, found the buttons of her shirt undone, bringing them dangerously close, skin to skin. The impracticality of Tracy's lingerie options had left

mouth with

supposed to?' Elvira said to herself,

frantic