Page 46 of Words We Didn't Say

The salon was brutal.

The noise. The people. There was nowhere to hide. I regularly clocked eighteen-hour days at Worley, but long days—and nights—in the office were a cakewalk compared to the salon. My feet screamed. My calves ached. There was no time for breaks. Yvette had ducked out to the bathroom maybe once, and I’d kept one of Andie’s appointments amused long enough for her to chug a shake for lunch.

How did Eden work in conditions like this and bounce through the door every night? She’d never complained. Not once. And I’d let her dote on me, cook for me, and take care of me, with barely even a ‘hello’ some days.

If I ever won her back, all that needed to change.

Footsteps approached from behind. Not Yvette’s clicky heels. These steps were purposeful. Like a soldier. I’d been waitingfor Andie to come for me. The intense glare she’d shifted in my direction throughout the day hinted a confrontation was coming.

“Slacking off in the laundry, huh?” Andie said, chucking a towel across the room to hit the top of the pile. “You wouldn’t be the first.”

“I was putting on another load of laundry. You guys go through a tonne of towels.”

Andie’s gaze didn’t stray, eyeing me like I was a puzzle she was trying to solve. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, ready for the lashing I was about to face.

“Zach, what was today really about?”

I sighed. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want your approval. You and Eden are a package deal.”

“We are. Do you understand why?”

“Bits and pieces. Eden keeps most of her past from me.” That comment got a deep frown from Andie. “I know you’ve been friends for a long time,” I quickly added.

“Ed’s more than a friend to me. She’s the only family I’ve got.” Sighing, Andie mussed her short hair. “I was worried she wasn’t being honest with you about her past. I love her, but…” She shook her head. “Not my story to tell. Just know there’s more.”

“There were some clues,” I admitted. “Does the story have anything to do with her leaving all the lights on?”

Andie’s eyes rounded. “Shit, I thought she’d gotten over all that.”

I shook my head.

She scrubbed a hand over her chin. “Look, I can’t break Eden’s trust…but…” Another sigh. “We escaped pretty shitty families and a life barely off the streets. The first few years were rough, but we made something of ourselves. Together. So, if you think I’ll stand by and watch you keep treating Ed like an afterthought, you’ve got another thing coming. She deserves better.”

“I know I made mistakes. I put my career first, and I shouldn’t have. But Andie, everything I was doing was for us—for her—so we could have a better life together. I never meant to hurt Eden.”

“What did you think her reaction was going to be when she caught you fucking around?”

“I know how it might’ve looked to Eden that night, but I’venevercheated on her.”

“Prove it.”

“I want to, but how can I?”

“Unlock your phone and give it to me.”

Without hesitating, I slipped my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans, unlocked it, and passed it to Andie on an open palm. Shock flashed across her face—she obviously didn’t think I’d do it—before she snagged the phone.

She swiped through the screens, her heavy brows pinched together. “Where are all your apps?”

“I don’t like too much clutter,” I replied. “And I don’t do much on my phone. I mostly use it for work.”

“Glazed and Confused Doughnuts?” Andie smirked.

“My executive assistant likes snacks,” I explained weakly. “Sue needs to be happy if I want any work done.”

Andie scrolled through my messages. “Damn. You only get texts about boring shit.”

“Yeah, mostly organising settlements or meetings.”

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