“No.”
“Then not telling me was a strong move.” I shrug nonchalantly and Zane frowns.
“No, it wasn’t. You’re important to—”
“I wouldn’t have kept quiet about it, Zane. If you’d have told me, I would have confronted Nathan about it, and it would have become a big thing.”
This time when Zane smiles, there’s a spark to it. “That would have been fun to watch. Please tell me you tore him to pieces when he finally told you.”
“Nope.”
“What? You let him off the hook?”
“I letmyselfoff the hook. I’m done worrying about Nathan and the selfish way he lives his life. I’m done worrying aboutanythingthat hurt me in the past. I’m ready to move on. I’ll never forget, but I can’t live my life in the shadows anymore.”
“You were always so strong, and it’s nice to see it all coming back.”
“You’re moving on too,” I tell him and he raises an eyebrow, making me laugh. “I’m not kidding. It’s time. Landon’s deathwillbe ruled an accident. I know it. Your dad’s charges against you have been dropped. You’ve gotme. I’m not going anywhere. You should be smiling from ear to ear.”
That earns me a smirk and it lights me up inside. “I see your sass is coming back too.”
“In droves.”
“God, help us all.”
Zane chuckles again when I lightly shove him, but he’s still holding on to something, and I’m almost certain I know what it is. And it’s going to be hard on both of us.
“I have an idea.” I stand up, brushing myself off. “And before you say no, hear me out.”
“Oh-kay.”
“We’re going to visit Sierra’s lookout.” My voice wavers slightly as Zane sucks in a breath, his body tensing. I take in a breath of my own, continuing on with a little more confidence. “We’re going to her favorite spot. The one place we always knew we’d find her. Especially when you pissed her off.”
“I never pissed her off.”
“You most definitely did.Regularly.”
“You’re thinking of your brother.”
“Him too. Sometimes Cade and Sierra acted more like siblings than the two of you did. But no matter who pissed her off, we’re going.”
“I can’t.” His shoulders drop as his demeanor darkens again.
“You can. Instead of helping you when Sierra died, I pushed you away, focusing on my own feelings of guilt. That guilt will never leave me. Just—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That guilt will never leave me,” I repeat, “regardless of what anyone else says. Just like yours won’t. But if I know Sierra, she’s rolling her eyes, looking down on us both like we’re goddamn idiots for spending our lives in pain, rather than living it to the fullest. When she can’t. I’m not going anywhere this time, Zane. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
“Technically, I’m the one that left.”
“Now is not the time to be a smart-ass.”
“You’re right.” He reaches forward and grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers, and the simple gesture starts filling the cracks in my heart.
“If you’re here for whatever I need, does that include giving me time?” He pauses, swallowing subtly before continuing on. “I’mnot ready to go to the lookout. Not yet. Being back here is hard enough.”
My pressure softens at the vulnerability in his eyes. “Baby steps then. How about the beach?”
