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.

in her bathrobe, with her hair cascading down her shoulders,

into pajamas?" Zach asked, eyeing her

the robe," she replied, not wanting to wear her day clothes again

to change into pajamas, Zach was

the sleepwear. He then quickly offered her one of his shirts as a makeshift nightgown, saying, "Here, make do with this for

their sizes turned Zach's shirt into

Elvira changed into the shirt and returned, ready for the

night,

legs. The unbuttoned top revealed her graceful

agitation, 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

closer.

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

share the financial burden. "You really mean that? Joining forces to

1/2 Chapter 10

fortune, and my savings won't cover it all. I have to borrow some. You're 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

can try borrowing from a friend, too, Elvira added,

had stirred within him. Thinking he was overwhelmed, Elvira 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 her making it

intimate collision. With Elvira falling onto Zach, their

silent, charged

chaos of the night, Zach had shed his shirt, and Elvira, only half-dressed, found the buttons of her shirt undone, bringing them dangerously close, skin to skin. The impracticality

Zach quickly covered her mouth with his hand and wrapped his other

the hell am I not supposed to?' Elvira said to herself, acutely aware

buttons in a frantic attempt to reclaim some dignity. But Zach's