CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Blair
My strength wavers as I pull into the parking lot, and when I see Zane’s car, I quietly curse myself.
What am I doing?
My heart gallops inside my chest, and it takes everything in my power not to throw my car into reverse and hightail it out of there.
I left Nathan.
Less than an hour ago, I was in a relationship with my boyfriend of four years, and now I’m meeting Zane. The guy I once thought was forever.
What kind of person does that?
The second I come to a stop, Zane steps out of his car, and when his steely gaze meets mine, the negativity drifts away. I’m here because after all these years, he’s still the same boy I fell in love with. The same bad boy with a good heart. Only he’s not a boy anymore, and I’m definitely not the same girl.
With a shaky breath, I curl my fingers around the handle and open my door, watching as Zane stalks toward me, his intense gaze boring into mine.
“What did he do?” His deep voice rumbles through the air, and it’s like a breath warming my skin. But it’s not the protective Zane I need right now.
Jumping up, I throw my arms around his neck, balancing on my toes to lock my fingers at the nape. “Thank you,” I say, my gaze locked on his, hoping he can see the emotion reflected in my eyes. “Thank you.”
What he did means the world to me, but it’s more than that. In a few short hours, he reminded me I deserve better, and it’s been years since I’ve believed anything close to that.
Since him.
“Why are you thanking me?” Zane’s curious eyes sparkle, and his entire face lights up, sucking me in like he always did.
“I had a call from Lucy.”
“Lucy?” He frowns, confusing me until his eyes widen and he laughs. “Well, fuck me, those guys work quickly.”
“Those guys?” Releasing my hold, I step back, quirking a brow.
His face scrunches as he scratches his head, seemingly embarrassed. “There’s a few guys on the team that all love helping each other out.”
Well, if that’s not the cutest thing ever.“You don’t sound thrilled by that. I’m guessing you don’t help in return?”
“I only found out about it when they added me to a group chat. After I helped Reed and Hayley.”
“Oh.” My hand flies to my mouth so he can’t see my lips when they pull into a grin. “That’s nice of them.”
“Yeah, yeah. Enough about that. What happened? Did you, ah…like the job?” His hesitation makes me smile and I can’t help but mock.
“Did you, ah…know it was near San Francisco?” With an arched brow that I hope is full of sass, I wait for his response, and when he cringes, I have my answer. “I thought as much. But I’m still grateful.”
“So you’re moving?” Wild anticipation flits across his face, but he doesn’t let it linger and my heart picks up speed. He wants me there. Close to him. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“I’m not moving to San Francisco.”Not yet, anyway. “The job sounds great,amazing, but I’m not sure it’s the right time for me. You know?”
“Because of Nathan?” he asks, his tone curt as his eyes fill with disappointment.
“No. It has nothing to do with Nathan. But as I said, I’m still grateful for the help.”
“Is that why I’m here?” His lips pull into a smile, but he holds a little of it back, not quite letting it reach his eyes.
“Yes,sort of.Do you want to walk?”
