Page 29 of Fade With Me

His eyes stayed on mine, warm with empathy. “Yeah, I know you’re used to it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.” He paused, then added with a grin, “And hey, I’m always here if you want to vent. I’m agreatlistener. Practically professional.”

I ignored the playful note in his voice, letting the weight of his words press into me. Frustration crept in. Quiet at first, but enough to make my breath catch. I drew in a slow inhale, trying to settle the noise in my head.

“You know what, Zeke? You’re absolutely right.”

He spread his hands like he was presenting an obvious truth. “Well, yeah. Am I ever wrong?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I straightened, fists tightening at my sides. The heat in my chest sparked into something sharper. “I have every right to be upset. And if I want to be pissed—then fine—I’m going to be pissed.”

His face lit up with pride, his grin widening like he’d just won some victory on my behalf. “Yeah! Own it!” he cheered, fist-pumping the air with the enthusiasm of a coach rallying his team.

I lifted my chin, my voice gaining strength with every word. “If I want to throw a fit, I’ll throw a fit!”

He raised his arms in triumph. “Loud and proud, baby! Let’s scream it out! Let it all go!” His eyes danced with excitement.“On three—as loud as you can...One, two, THREE!”

We both inhaled deeply, then let out a pair of ear-piercing screams, the sound rising and colliding in unison. It echoed through the trees, raw and cathartic, releasing all the pent-up tension.

We screamed ourselves hoarse, then stood there, panting as the last echoes faded into the trees. When our eyes met, laughter bubbled up, unrestrained and contagious, until it spilled from us in waves. It wasn’t just amusement; it was release. A crack formed in the heaviness that had settled over me, the tiniest piece of me beginning to mend. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t just existing. I was alive.

Zeke wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, his face flushed with exhilaration. “I don’t know about you, but I feel way better.”

A lightness took hold of me as the tension that had been knotting up inside me began to unravel. I exhaleddeeply. “Sally’s negativity isn’t worth the energy I’ve been wasting on him.”

He threw up a hand in agreement. “Amen to that!”

As we ventured deeper, the path grew more treacherous, rocks jutting up sharply under our boots. I instinctively reached for Zeke to steady myself as the ground shifted beneath our feet.

“This is way tougher than I remembered,” I admitted, my voice tinged with unease. “I have no idea how I made it through on my own before.”

Zeke’s brow knit as he scanned the rough landscape ahead, his posture tense. “Looks like there’s been a recent landslide or something,” he said, voice cautious. “Maybe we should turn back.”

I met his gaze, worry flickering across my face. Was he disappointed? Still, I didn’t want to back down. “You were so excited about this trail. I don’t want to quit yet. Let’s go a little further before we call it,” I said, trying to sound hopeful.

He paused, then gave a slow nod. “Alright…I guess we can go a bit further.”

We continued down the winding trail, our pace slowing. Each step was deliberate, careful, as the path grew more unpredictable. The only sounds were the crunch of gravel underfoot and the occasional rustle of leaves.

After a quiet stretch, I decided to break the stillness. “So…what do you do for work?” I asked, the question slipping out before I could second-guess myself. “I know you’re here for business, but I never asked what exactly that is...”

Zeke kept his gaze ahead, his voice steady. “I’m in finance. Investment banking, specifically. I’m here to close a deal that’s been in the works for a while.”

It all clicked. The flashy car, the perfectly tailored clothes, the polished demeanor. Of course he was out of my league. Andthank goodnesshe hadn’t seen my old clunker. He’d probably be mortified to be seen with me.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be seen with me either.

“Whoa, Mr. Fancy Pants,” I teased, poking him lightly in the ribs. “So, what about your friends back in New York? You must have a whole crew of them, right?”

Zeke brushed my poke away with a grunt, eyes flickering with amusement. “Yeah, I’ve got a big social circle, but only a few people I’d really call close.”

I leaned in, curious. “Like who?”

“Well, there’s Israel, my best bud—and twin brother,” he added, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

My feet stopped dead, a rush of disbelief flooding through me. “There aretwoof you?!” I gasped.

He let out a soft laugh, running a hand through his hair as he kept walking. “Yeah, but I’m the older one. By a whole four and a half minutes,” he said with a hint of pride.

I snorted at the thought of two Zekes in the world. “Now I’m dying to know. Tell me about him.”

---