Page 13 of From the Ashes

“Yes,” Zahir says, his voice flat.

The hope and excitement that was tentatively rumbling in my belly fades away, leaving me disappointed. But really, what did I expect? For us to laugh and joke like the good old days?

That was a lifetime ago.

“So you’re back for good, then?” He juts his chin toward the office. “I Googled your dad’s company and came here to see if they had a way to get in touch with you for Nevaeh’s sake. But then I was told you started working for the practice a few weeks ago.”

“Uh, yeah,” I say guiltily.

He had to search online because we certainly never came here when we were teenagers. Hell—I remember telling him I would set foot in this place as an employee over my dead body.

Turns out that my dad’salmostdead body was all it took.

I sigh apologetically. “I would have let you know I was back, but…I wasn’t sure if you still lived here.”

Sure, that’s it, buddy. Not that you were terrified of seeing him and facing the consequences of your actions.

“Still here,” he says in that same firm, hollow voice. “Never left. This is my home. And now I have fulfilled my obligation to my patient, I don’t see any reason why we should cross paths again. I hope you’ll be very happy in Redwood Bay once more. Although I imagine you’ll be spending more of your time in San Clemente.”

The implication that’s because it’s fancier lingers in the air. Because he thinks he was never good enough for me or my family. My grandfather set up business here because it’s all he could afford at the time, and we’ve stayed here for nostalgicpurposes. But my parents moved us to San Clemente as soon as they could and absolutely look down on anything else in Redwood Bay, including the people.

So, yeah. I’m sure they still believe that someone like Zahir isn’t good enough for me. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, at least as far as I’m concerned.

He turns to leave and my heart somersaults in my chest. “Wait!” I cry.

He pauses, looking at me expectantly.

If I knew what I wanted to say, that would really help. There are probably a thousand—a million things—I should tell him. But instead, I feel my resolve crumble. The disdain in his eyes is clear. I have no right to ask anything of him.

It doesn’t mean I can’t try, though. I didn’t become a brilliant attorney by shying away when the shit hit the fan.

“I am living in Redwood Bay,” I say simply. “My dad had a heart attack and surgery. So I moved back to a place close to the office. I’m not going anywhere soon. And I…I’m sorry. For everything.”

I wish I could say that I came back for him, but we both know that’s not true.

This time, though, I can see myselfstayingfor him. Even if just for a little while.

For a second, the words simply hang in the air as we stare at each other. Then he huffs out a sad laugh, shakes his head, and turns to walk away, really doing it this time. I watch him until he vanishes out of sight.

Dizziness washes over me, but I take a breath and rub my chest, letting it pass.

No, that didn’t go well. But I have more information than before, and so does he, actually. We both know that the other is living in town, and I can make an educated guess that means he’s at the Redwood Bay firehouse, so we both now know where theother works as well. Sure, he basically said he never wants to see me again, but me being the sonovabitch I am, I cling to the hope that we could stillaccidentallyrun into each other.

I glance at the paper I’ve got crumpled between my fingers, then smooth it out. We’re linked now by this event, this girl. Saving Nevaeh’s life together creates a bond, no matter how unwelcome it might be. Perhaps there’s still a chance for me to find my way to back to Zahir.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I’m going to make him see how truly sorry I am. It’s not just a word I’ve thrown at him. I mean it with every breath I take. And he doesn’t have to forgive me. I understand how much that would be asking of him. I just need him to believe me.

With my new mission clear in my mind, I spin around and head back inside the office, prepared to face my father. I’ll take his ire. Just speaking to Zahir again after all this time makes me feel like I’ve got a suit of armor on, which is probably ridiculous considering how much he obviously hates me.

Everybody hates me. I’m a lawyer. But I’m not going to rest until Zahir understands that the boy I was before loved him and never should have left him the way I did. After that, I’ll let the chips fall where they may.

But I’m not giving up on Zahir Delacroix. Not this time.

CHAPTER 6

Zahir

I figuredthat going home alone to stew on my interaction with Colt would be a bad idea. That’s how I find myself driving the familiar route to my teta’s home like I’d originally planned when I’d gotten off work a couple of hours ago. I might be too late for breakfast, but like most grandmothers, I’m sure she’ll be delighted to feed me no matter the time of day.

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