Page 83 of Push

“Yeah… Us. And we’ve got Noah now. Gwen’s achieved so much, but the hours she used to work were intense. All night. Weekends. I worry about her.”

“Have you talked to her about how you feel?”

“Sort of. If I push too hard, she shuts down.”

“Mate, don’t give up trying to have that conversation. I’ve been there. I was stuck on a path where work was everything—my whole identity—and nothing my family warned me about was getting through. When the crunch comes, it comes hard. Make sure you’re there, ready to listen and support her when it happens. She’ll need you.”

“I’m there. No questions asked.”

“And keep an eye on the dude she’s working for.”

“Crawford?”

“He’s got a reputation. From what I’ve seen working on the other side of a couple of his commercial deals, it’s a well-deserved reputation.” Zach’s look at me was pointed. “Men in their early thirties don’t run hedge funds unless they’re ruthless pricks.”

I laughed. Bring onallthe trash talk about Liam. I hated that guy. “You know he’s her brother, right?”

Zach stopped dead. “Wait… What?” He braced his hands on his knees and sucked in a breath, staring at me like I’d grown two heads.

“Yup.”

“Piss off.”

“One hundred percent.”

“I mean…” He cocked his head, thinking it over. “Yeah, I guess they look alike… But I had no idea.”

“I think that’s by design, man. The Crawford siblings…” I lifted my shoulder. “I won’t go into the details, but they saw some shit growing up—”

My phone started going off in my pocket. I grabbed it, hoping the universe had sent Gwen a message that I was thinking about her. Maybe she was hungry. We could go out for breakfast. She’d order muesli with sliced strawberries, and NoBo could try the banana pancakes. Or maybe she wanted some downtime. I could grab her a coffee and hang out with the little dude…

My heart practically soared imagining that fantasy life. I glanced down at my phone and groaned.

“Everything alright?” Zach asked.

“Work.” I sighed. “I stupidly offered to be on call for emergencies until the end of time. Looks like some guy has cracked his tooth on his Sunday bruschetta.”

Zach’s eyebrows popped over the top of his glasses.

“Yeah, man,bruschetta.” I laughed. “The crusty bread is killer. I’d better put this poor bastard out of his misery. Raincheck?”

“Of course. Duty calls. Although…” Zach’s grin was sheepish. “Want to skip the run next time and try the drink option instead?”

I laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”

“This arvo?”

My eyebrows furrowed. I was surprised and kind of humbled. Zach was a decent guy, and after all the mistakes I’d made, on most people’s accounts, I was the furthest thing from a good man.

Despite my confusion about why he wanted to hang out with me, I answered him honestly. “I’d like that.”

Zach slapped a hand on my shoulder and sent me on my way with a promise to message the details later.

Sprinting back to the car park was a breeze after that. I couldn’t help grinning. Life was better—easier—when other people were part of it.

The woman leaning against my car wiped the smile off my face. Her hot pink Lycra outfit was impossible to miss, but I hadno interest in looking. Head down, I planted my eyes on the ground and kept heading for my car as if I hadn’t even noticed her.

“Hi, Toby!” Kayleigh’s voice was bright and cheerful.

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