Chapter 18
Zoe didn’t know what to think. She’d gotten a text from Gavin saying he’d see her in a few days, that he had more to work out. Then nothing.
A call to Ava yielded a similar answer. Gavin hadn’t been at the gym either. Everyone wanted to know where he was, but no one had an answer other than the old not-feeling-well excuse he’d given Mac.
Zoe worried about him, but she’d also grown angry. She had no idea what bothered him because he didn’t talk to her. She could understand posttraumatic stress issues. The survivor’s guilt Landon had mentioned. She appreciated that Gavin had sought treatment for his problems.
But no communication with someone you loved didn’t make sense. Would this be the way of their relationship? Gavin had issues, so he’d disappear for days in a cone of silence, and Zoe would just need to deal?
So by Tuesday night, afterfour daysof not one phone call, text, or message from Gavin, she’d gone from worried to nervous to angry. And still in love with the jerk.
A knock at her door surprised her. Had Gavin come to beg forgiveness after all?
Her heart thundered as she went to the door, glad she hadn’t undressed for bed yet. If Gavin thought they could take up their sexual play without talking this time, he’d be in for a rude surprise.
But the Gavin standing outside her door didn’t have sex on his mind. He had a hollow-eyed, gaunt look, and his expression made her want to cry. He cleared his throat. “Hi, Zoe. Can I come in?”
She stood back and let him enter, then automatically locked the door behind him. “Hi.”
He stood with his hands in his pockets, so unsure, so…lost.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked.
“Water would be good.”
She grabbed some water and handed it to him. He took the glass, but then he put it on the counter and pulled her in for a hug.
The desperation in the gesture allowed her to swallow her anger. Instead she only wanted to alleviate his hurt. He held on tight, and to her horror, she felt her shoulder grow damp. From his tears?
She pulled back. “Gavin? Are you okay?”
Watery gray eyes blinked at her. “I’ve been better.”
“Sit down.” She took his hand in hers and sat with him. “Now what the hell is going on?”
He gave a short laugh, but there was no mirth in it. “God, where to start?”
He sat staring at her, studying her features with an almost hopeless, hungry look. As if she was all he ever wanted but could never have.
“Talk to me. Is this because I said ‘I love you’?” She hadn’t meant to ask that so soon. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.”
“But you did. And I’m glad.” He held her hand in his. “Zoe, I…” His eyes grew damp again. “Do you have any tissues?”
She hurried to grab a box and handed them to him.
“Thanks.” He blew his nose. “Been doing this a lot lately. Crying. I fucking hate it.”
“Oh, Gavin.”
“Don’t be nice to me,” he warned.
“I won’t.” He was breaking her heart, looking so sad and trying to be so strong. She blinked back her own tears. “So talk. What the hell happened, and where have you been?”And is this where you break up with me? God, please, no. Not when I’ve finally found you.
“A week ago, in a dark conference room in that snazzy hotel at your office party, you told me you loved me.”
“I do.”
“But you don’t know me. The real me.” He tapped his heart, looking so sad. “Zoe, you brought me back to life. You make me smile. Make me happy.” He sighed. “I wanted to be the guy that does the same for you.”
