Page 34 of Faith
“That is a good idea,” Zeke said, walking over to Nina. “Stop staring or I’ll need another shower,” he whispered so only she could hear.
Nina smirked at him and let herself have one more good look.
“So what’s up, Mont? It’s early for you to be here,” Zeke said, moving away from Nina.
She chuckled to herself and decided spending the day with Zeke and Monty was going to be fun. So much fun.
8
Zeke’s legbounced all the way through breakfast with Montgomery and Nina. Where was the line? What did he have to share with his best friend? Did he have to share?
Zeke never told Montgomery he was in love with Nina. She was seventeen when she went missing. It wasn’t okay for him to want her, so he locked all those feelings up and stuffed them in a box deep inside. A box he never opened.
But the lid was off, and Zeke wasn’t sure how long he could keep his feelings from his friend.
“I’m going to shower, if we have time for that?” Nina said, looking at Montgomery with a question on her face.
Montgomery chuckled and nodded. He wasn’t giving her any indication of where they were going or what they were doing. Which meant Zeke didn’t know either.
“We have no schedule. Take your time,” Montgomery told Nina.
Nina sighed like she couldn’t believe she had to put up with him, but the light in her eyes said she was happy to be there. Happy to have Mont’s insufferable ass right there. “Fine, don’t tell me anything.”
Mont chuckled and reached for her, pulling her in for a tight hug.
Zeke wanted to leave. He was such an asshole. Mont had missed twelve years with Nina, and instead of giving them space and time alone, Zeke was always there.
Montgomery released Nina, and both men watched as she ascended the stairs. When the bedroom door closed, Montgomery let out a long sigh.
“You okay?” Zeke asked.
Montgomery turned to him and nodded. “She said she didn’t want to sleep alone last night. That the day took a lot out of her.”
Zeke nodded. It was the truth, but there was so much more that he should confess.
“Thank you,” Mont breathed. “Thank you for being here for her. For all of this. For letting her invade your space and take over your life.”
Gene’s meow called out the lie, but Zeke ignored the brat and kept his gaze on Mont’s. “I’d do anything for her.”
Montgomery nodded. “I know. And I appreciate it.”
Zeke nodded, knowing that was the best he could hope for at the moment. He wanted to tell Mont everything, to confess that he was wrapped up in Nina when Mont let himself in, but he wasn’t sure how it would go. He wasn’t sure Mont would be okay with it.
Because Zeke wasn’t sure if he was. Nina deserved better than him. She deserved the world. A nice guy who would love her and treat her like the precious doll she was. Zeke was rough. He filled his skin with tattoos and filled his bed with women he never wanted to see again. He wasn’t built for permanence.
Because he never had Nina.
He knew that was the truth, but he also knew he wasn’t a good bet. If he’d had a sister, he wouldn’t want her with someone like him.
But Zeke wasn’t strong enough to deny himself of a taste of Nina.
“You got any ideas for today?” Montgomery asked as they cleaned up the kitchen.
Zeke snorted. “I thought you had a plan.”
Mont laughed. “Nope. Just wanted to spend time with her. Figured it might be good for her to get out of here.”
“Think she’s ready for that? Think it’s safe?”
