Page 82 of Broken Trails
And my chest caves in on itself.
Because Michael stands firmly, leaning casually against the doorframe—helmet hooked in one hand, wearing that crooked half-grin that never fails to spark something inconvenient deep in my gut. His eyes flick to Dani, then land on me. They narrow, just enough to tell me he’s trying to figure out who this stranger is.
“Well,” Dani says, cocking her hip. “Can I help you?”
“Uh, hey,” he replies, casual as ever.
“Michael.” I blink. “What—what are you doing here?”
His mouth quirks. “You texted me about the car, remember? I followed up. Thought I’d swing by and—”
He trails off, finally letting his gaze move between all three of us. The couch. The open bottle of wine. The two strangers flanking my tiny living room like they’ve settled in for the season. Dani turns her head over her shoulder to me, mouth already forming words before sound follows.
“Who is that?” she mouths dramatically, brows high with intrigue.
I swallow hard and cross the room toward them. “Michael,” I say, trying to sound normal, even as my brain short-circuits. “This is… Dani. And Jeff.”
He nods once in greeting, his stance easy but his eyes still scanning every inch of the scene.
“Jeff,” comes the warm, theatrical voice from behind me. “Legal counsel, and the voice of reason when you inevitably do something questionable. Pleased to meet the mystery man we’ve heard absolutelynothingabout.”
I close my eyes briefly. “You haven’t heard anything because there’s nothing to tell.”
Michael’s brow quirks as he extends his hand toward Jeff, who clasps it eagerly, grinning.
“Pleasure,” Michael says, then turns to Dani and offers the same handshake, gentler this time.
She takes it, though her eyes don’t leave his face. She’s studying him. Assessing. Probably mentally noting his height, the helmet, and the way his eyes flick back to me when he thinks no one’s watching. I wish I could sink into the floor.
Jeff leans in a fraction, still holding his wine. “Zoe, my dear,” he drawls. “Have you been holding out on us?”
“Absolutely not,” I bite out, hoping he gets my drift to stop prying. He doesn’t.
“Sorry,” Michael rasps quietly, raking a hand over his shaven hair. “I didn’t realise you had company.”
“So, Michael, right? I’m assuming the infamous local that has been assisting with that demon in the form of a cat, over there?” Jeff says, nodding to Sprinkles, who now prods between mine and Michael’s legs.
Michael lets out a deep chuckle. “That would be one way of describing Sprinkles, but yeah. Infamous, you say? That’s a strong word.”
“Oh, don’t worry.” Jeff smirks. “We only use the big ones for special occasions.”
“Zoe was only just updating us on her time here in town, and mentioned you once or twice.” She’s stirring the fucking pot, and for what reason? I could not tell you. Typical Dani.
“I did not,” I mutter way too fast.
Michael glances at me, clearly amused. “Good things, I hope.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
The four of us stand there in a silence that feels far too crowded. Jeff is still grinning, Dani is watching, Michael isconfused, and I’m stuck between two worlds. Comfort and awkwardness collide at my feet. These two people—Jeff and Dani—have seen me at my lowest. They know who I was before Liam. Before the fallout. Before I had to run.
And Michael? So far, he’s only seen the version of me that came after. The cautious, brittle one. The one who wants to rebuild but doesn’t know how.
26
Ididn’t come here expecting an audience.
One second, I’m standing at her front door with a half-grin and an update about her car. Next, I’m being praised by two strangers with perfect posture, impressive hair, and the kind of knowing smirks that say they’ve known Zoe for longer than I’ve known her last name.
