Page 21 of Fade With Me

I was captivated, my heart clouded with an unfamiliar sorrow. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until Ifinally released it, hesitating before asking, “What happened to her?”

A faint tremor ran through him as he exhaled, his body shaking. The words that followed were so soft they barely reached me, a fragile confession that made my stomach twist. “She’s gone.”

Without thinking, I placed my hand on his, offering a silent gesture of comfort. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice faltering in the face of his grief. “You’re still deeply in love with her, aren’t you?”

Zeke looked down at our joined hands, blinking as if the touch alone was too much to bear. Slowly, his focus lifted to mine, and what I saw there made my heart ache. His stare cut through the sadness clinging to him, raw and unguarded.

“I will love her until my very last breath,” he said, his voice thick with a devotion that bordered on desperation. “And even then…” He choked on the words, eyes closing tight as if shutting out the pain. His jaw flexed, throat working against the strain of everything he couldn’t say, everything he didn’t want to believe was true.

His confession hit me harder than anything he'd said before, leaving me with the sense that I was witnessing something sacred. To love so completely, with such intensity—it was a kind of love I could barely comprehend. But the power of it wove itself into the still air, impossible to ignore.

Then, as if pulling himself together, he took a deep breath and stood, resolve settling over him. He gave my fingers a light squeeze before releasing them, his posture straightening with quiet determination.

“Time to shake off the gloom,” he said, his eyes suddenly alight with a teasing glint. Leaning slightly forward, he met my gaze, almost as though inviting me into the moment. “Up for a quick swim with me?”

I sat there for a beat, my heart still carrying the weight of everything that had come before. But Zeke’s infectious spirit was a welcome change, his playful energy sparking something inside me. I exhaled, feeling the tightness in my shoulders ease. A sense of relief washed over me, lifting the strain just enough to make room for something lighter.

It wasn’t just the invitation. It was the effortless, freeing way he made it sound.

Without realizing it, I mirrored his expression, the tension easing as my own smile took shape. Before I knew it, my face lit up with excitement. “I’m in! Let’s do it!” I exclaimed, jumping to my feet.

In one swift motion, he shed his shirt, revealing a sculpted torso that flexed with each movement. His bronzed skin gleamed in the sunlight, leaving me momentarily stunned by how effortlessly attractive he was. My God, he wasbeautiful.

Next, he peeled off his pants, revealing sleek black shorts underneath. Clearly, he had come prepared forthis moment. My eyes followed his every move, captivated. He caught me staring and flashed a cheeky grin.

“On your marks, get set…” he called out. Then, with a whoop of excitement, he sprinted toward the deeper water. “Last one in buys ice cream!”

Without thinking, I surged with exhilaration, yanking off my tank top and tossing it aside. In my bright purple sports bra, I felt bold and confident as I raced after him, laughing all the way to the water’s edge.

By the time we started the hike back, our bodies were drained, our clothes clinging to us with the dampness from the swim. My usually lively curls had become a wild, frizzy mess, making me look like a bedraggled escapee from some institution.

Despite the exhaustion, joy rose in me, wild and almost uncontainable. It was the most unadulterated fun I’d had in years.

Zeke smirked, glancing over at me. “Your hair is absolutely, utterly wild right now!” he announced, lifting his arms like he was witnessing a masterpiece. “I’m obsessed with it.”

I narrowed my eyes, sending a sideways glance his way as I raised an eyebrow. “You’re such a liar.”

With a hand pressed to his chest, he recoiled dramatically. “I am shocked, SHOCKED, that you would evensuggest such a thing!” Theatrics practically dripped from every syllable.

I fought the urge to smile, keeping my tone flat. “Please, I’ll be scarred for life by your false praise,” I said, though the twitch of my lips gave me away.

We left the trail behind, and the warm, golden light of the afternoon sun washed over us, as if the world itself was welcoming us back into civilization. Zeke scanned the area, his eyes searching for my vehicle. “So, where’d you park?” he asked with genuine curiosity.

I looked down, embarrassed, the flush creeping up my neck. “I walked,” I admitted. “My car’s been acting up lately, but I live just around the corner, so it’s no big deal.”

His expression softened with sympathy. “Ah, okay. Well, let me take you home, then. After all that hiking and swimming, you’re probably ready to collapse.”

I hesitated, my thoughts flashing to Reggie. If he ever got even a hint that Zeke had driven me—or worse, saw us together—well, that would be a whole new set of problems. I forced a smile, brushing the concern aside.

“Thanks, but I’m good. I actually kind of enjoy the walk,” I said, my voice light, hoping he wouldn’t push. I knew if Reggie found out, he’d make my life miserable, and I wasn’t ready to face that.

He studied me for what felt like an eternity, then gave a half-hearted shrug. “Guess this is goodbye, then.” Heheld out his hand in a formal, palm open gesture that felt a little too official for our laid-back vibe.

I stared at his hand, bewildered. Was he serious? Was he really trying to shake my hand like we were strangers or something?

Before I could say anything, laughter spilled from him, a rich, throaty sound that sent a spike of delight through me. “Oh, dear, you look horrified,” he said, his grin widening. “I just thought it’d be fun to have a secret handshake, like all the cool best friends do.”

I giggled, feeling a little silly, but surprisingly excited. “You’re crazy, you know that?” But as I looked up at him, I realized I was kind of into it. “Okay, fine. Let’s do this.”

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