Page 30 of Ted's Temerity
“Don’t be mad…” Zephyr has the decency to shift guiltily in his seat.
If I weren’t driving, I’d close my eyes and count to ten. Instead, I flex my hold on the wheel and take a deep breath. “What did you and Ash do?”
“Nothing!” The quick, defensive reply sets off all my internal Daddy alarms.
“Zephyr…”
“I mean, we just thought that if you guys got together-”
I groan, cutting him off. I was right: this whole thing tonight has been a setup.
I’ve been Parent Trapped.
Unwilling to snap at him, because he really did mean well, I shake my head and indicate to turn onto Ash and Charlie’s street. “You should have let it be,” I manage to keep my tone level.
Zephyr remains silent.
As we approach Charlie’s house and I pull up on the curb behind Chance’s truck, I bite back further irritation that the guys are all here. Nothing like having an audience for tense moments. Turning in my seat to face my errant boy, I’m unsurprised to see the flat expression on his face, complete with pursed lips and folded arms.
“Zeph,” I reach for him, but he leans back against the passenger window.
“Ash and I did what we thought was right,” he insists, meeting my gaze unflinchingly. “You and Charlie weren’t making any moves to get past whatever went down between you.” His shoulders droop. “And I really wanted to have a play-date with my friend. A real one – not just at the club.”
It’s times like this where I’m reminded of his Little side. Zephyr acted on impulse, not even thinking about the implications of his and Asher’s scheme, or how inviting the whole gang might make me feel.
Nevertheless, guilt still lances through me at his softly spoken admission.Damn it.It hasn’t been fair of me to keep him all to myself for so long. Sure, part of that was all the shiny new relationship feelings and exploration, but I can’t deny that avoiding Charlie was also a great motivator.
“You’re right,” I acknowledge, even though doing so is difficult. “I’m sorry, tiny dancer. I’ve been selfish.”
Zephyr’s expression softens. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have just sprung this on you. I should have just spoken to you about it. And we probably shouldn’t have made it a whole group thing, but we didn’t want it to look like a setup…” He turns his gaze towards the house, then back to me. “If you’d rather go home, we can do that.”
It’s tempting, and I do appreciate the offer, but I’ve let this strange limbo with my closest friend go on for too long as it is. “No,” I state softly, but firmly. “I need to do this.”
I don’t deserve the look of pride he gives me in response, but it warms me anyway.
Chapter Twelve – Zephyr
Ash and Charlie’s house is lovely. From the street, it gives off a pretty cottage vibe. It’s two stories, constructed out of light gray clapboard with white accents and a nice front porch complete with a flowerbed full of brightly colored flowers. It’s homey and inviting and (though I hate to think it) far less intimidating than Ted’s mansion.
As we walk in -with Ted just opening the front door and sauntering through without ringing the bell- the same color scheme continues inside. Ted leads me through the small foyer and past an office and staircase on my left and a carpeted lounge room on my right. When we get into an open plan kitchen/dining area which leads further on to an outdoor entertainment space, Ash notices us first. He steps away from Kate and Matt, both of whom I met at his wedding, and bounds over to greet us.
“Hey, Uncle Ted,” he grins, wrapping his arms around my Daddy before turning to me, “Hey, Zephyr. I’m so happy you could come!”
I can’t help smiling back in the face of his genuine enthusiasm. “Me too,” I agree.
Ted, on the other hand, gives Ash a stern look.
I sigh, explaining, “We’ve been busted.”
Ash turns back to Ted and shrugs. “We gave you and Daddy long enough to sort your shit out. You didn’t do it on your own so,” he spreads his arms wide, “here we are. Sorry not sorry, Ted.”
“Actually,” I interrupt before Ted can scold my friend. Having had the discussion with Ted and gotten a very vague idea of what happened between him and Charlie, I do feel a little guilty for just springing this intervention of sorts on him, “we’re a little sorry.”
Ash furrows his brow. “We are?”
“We are.” I give him a meaningful look. One that says ‘I’ll tell you later’.
“Hmm,” is all my fellow little says before he turns back in the direction of the gathering out on the deck, “Daddy,” he calls cheerily before anyone can stop him, “Ted and Zephyr are here!”
