Page 59 of Hold Me Instead
Not that it would’ve been any help in warding off her emotions. Because despite what he’d revealed, Charlie had caught feelings, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to let them go.
Chapter 16
Zachary
“Putthedamnphonedown, Z,” Sandra hissed. “The kids are trying to tell you a story.”
Zachary clicked off his phone and slid it into his coat pocket. “Sorry, guys.”
He looked up at his niece and nephew, who were making the most of their waiting room time until they were called back into his dad’s room.
“Uncle Zachy.” Vivi took hold of his hands, her long hair falling loose from a ponytail and topped off with a princess crown. Sparkly blue and purple plastic necklaces were piled around her neck, hanging to her stomach. “You hafta hear about the princess.”
“I’m ready. I want to hear all about the princess,” he said.
“Dun, dunn, dun, dunnn!” Alex cried, creating his own coronation song. He was draped in a blanket—to emulate royalty—and bopped around with his toy sword, tapping it on the floor. He wore a sparkly purple necklace Vivi had graced him with in an earlier ceremony.
The kids regaled them with a surprisingly short story about a princess and a prince, who were traipsing through the halls of a castle where lots of doctors and nurses worked. They had to whisper when they passed by the rooms of all the people living there, and their mission wasinconclusive. But they knew there would be ice cream at the end, so it all worked out.
Then they settled into a waiting room chair to watch a show on Sandra’s phone.
With their eyes glued to the screen, Zachary pulled out his phone again. “I love that you let them out of the house like that,” he said quietly. “They look like little tornadoes.”
Over jeans and an emerald sweater embroidered with robots, Vivi wore a bright yellow tutu that fluffed over the sides of her chair. Alex, whose short black hair was in a perpetual state of “I nap hard,” wore his woodland creatures’ blanket over a sweatshirt with neon green ABCs and fuchsia hand-me-down snow pants. One snow boot was inexplicably on the ground below his dangling feet.
“They wouldn’t have come otherwise. But whatever, they’re expressing themselves. If I act embarrassed about it, who’s that going to help?”
“Mmm.” No new messages, as he flipped through his texts and emails.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?”
He tapped his phone in his hand, debating. Lying to her was useless—his sister had always been able to read him. Telling her exactly what was on his mind wasn’t at the top of his list either, so he opted for the middle ground.
“Trying to figure out what else I can do to help Charlie. Feel like she’s still taking on more than she needs to. You know, with me in town.”
“That sounds like her.”
“Yeah. She hasn’t changed.” He smiled, remembering how ready she was to tackle anything and everything when she first started at EFVH.She’d arrive early or leave late from front desk shifts so she could shadow techs or his dad. Her eagerness had rubbed off on him a bit—the ability to discuss his career with someone so passionate who wasn’t his father reminded him it wasn’t a requirement to go into the business, it was a choice. One he really wanted.
Sandra tugged the cuffs of her crewneck sweater and tucked her hands between her knees. “How are things coming along for the cookout?”
“I’m not sure. Sounds like she has it under control.”
“You’re going?”
“I’m grilling the food.”
Sandra practically tipped from her chair. “Seriously?”
“Yep. Talked to Mom a bit about Dad’s setup.”
Sandra blinked, the shake of her head slight as she processed the information. “You’re literally filling in for him. At work. At the cookout.”
“Yep.”
“Wow. I’m surprised.”
Zachary raised his eyebrows. “It’s obvious.”
