Page 29 of Hold Me Instead
He reluctantly closed the door, if only to prevent his neighbors from being part of whatever this fiasco would be. She’d reached out the night before, asking if there was a time she could see him. Considering Bella’s tip-off, she must have been doing some sort of damage control, despite his inactivity on social media. Since he needed to grab things for work, he’d told her she could swing by his apartment during the one hour he’d allotted himself there.
“So. What’s up?”
She paused by the edge of his sparse, plain kitchen and turned to face him, one perfectly manicured hand clutching her designer purse strap, the other holding a small handled bag. Her light brown eyes were wide with concern, her face and copper hair done up and perfectly placed. “Brought this for you.”
He took the bag and peered inside, finding a wild, smoky loose leaf black tea, packaged by a small business in Los Angeles. His favorite. Coincidentally, one they had shared during her first social media influencer business trip to the West Coast. “Oh, thank you.”
“I heard about your dad. How is he?”
Zachary reared back slightly.How is he? She had no relationship with the man. “He’s doing fine. Recovering.”
She nodded, free hand to her chest. “Thank God.”
“How’d you find out?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t tell me yourself.”
His laugh sputtered. “You are?”
She looked at him like he was adorable. “Of course. It’s not like we have bad blood between us. We’re still friends.”
Zachary raised his eyebrows.
Anna pouted, her lips dark pink against a machine-generated tan. “Iconsider us friends.”
“Yeah, that’s why you so generously fought for the house, the car, and as much of my money as they’d allow.”
“Money you earned working for my father,” she said firmly.
“Fucking Christ,” he muttered. “It’s been real, Anna.” He reached for the door, but her words stopped him.
“Speaking of Dad,” she said. “He’s hired someone new, but you should know, none of it had anything to do with you.”
He shook his head. “What?”
Anna huffed, popping her jean clad hip to the side, heeled boots on display.Always a pose.Always intentional. At one time in his mind, always sexy. “The vet happens to be my boyfriend, my new partner. But none of it had anything to do with letting you go.”
The residual taste of his breakfast sandwich staled in his mouth, and his gut churned. “Sure, Anna. Okay.”
“I’m serious, Zachary,” she said with a huff.
He nodded. He really didn’t know how much he believed her, but he knew it wasn’t worth a fight. He needed to move on.
“Fine. Didn’t have to come all the way over to tell me that,” he said, opening the door.
She sighed again, then stopped in front of him on her way out. “Bella told me you knew, and I just felt like it was right to talk to you in person.”
“I don’t know what we cleared up, but I’m good. I’ve gotta get going, so…” He gestured toward the hallway.
Anna swayed out the door with one last pleading look, her eyes softer. “I really am glad your dad is okay.” She added a small smile, then clicked away in her boots.
Zachary shut the door. There, at the end, that had been the Anna he’d fallen for in college. He’d felt her sincerity, surprised to realize he even appreciated it. A part of him missed their friendship, but she did everything she could to smother that version of herself from view. Eventually, that also meant Zachary.
He tossed the tea, which now felt more like a “sorry my dad fired you” consolation than a “thinking of you and your family” gift, on the counter. Pulling out his phone, he walked toward the living room. It felt empty without Maple there to curl next to him on the charcoal fabric couch or to lie on the orthopedic bed at his feet as he sat in the swivel leather armchair.
“Hi!”
“Bella Mazzolari, did you ream out my ex-wife?” Even though she couldn't see him, he couldn't help but smirk, knowing full well Bella was incapable of such a thing.
