4 ZEE
Zeerolledhisshouldersand blew out a breath, the stop-and-go traffic through downtown more frustration than he wanted to deal with.
Driving at rush hour was one downside of taking the job, and it grated on his nerves.
As excited as he was about being part of a team again, he knew it cost him time with his love.So why was he doing it?
He knew the answer was petty.
Truth was, he was getting older.His glory days as a champion were far behind him.But when he got the unexpected offer from the university to be a full-time technique consultant the same fire that had once driven him, sparked to life again and the thrill of the chase was re-ignited.
Over the summer, he threw himself into training, learning the latest technology and traveling to competitions to get up to speed with his team.
The congestion eased, bringing Zee closer to his tree-lined neighbourhood and Ella.His stomach dropped, thinking of home.
Oh, he wanted to go to get home, but he didn’t look forward to seeing the look on Ella’s face when he broke her heart.
Their daughters teased them for being silly lovebirds, but Zee wouldn’t trade what he had with Ella for anything.
This past summer, bringing Ella on most of those trips was a way to right a wrong.
Why hadn’t he taken Ella and the girls on the road more often back then?He’d made so many excuses, telling her it was too hard to travel with the twins.But deep down, he knew the real reason was that he hadn’t truly valued what he had.
He owed her everything.
That’s why disappointing her now was going to hurt him more than it did her.
But no matter how he turned it over in his mind, there was no way out of this one.
He sighed, brought up Annie’s latest piece that she’d sent him and tried to give over to the peace and beauty his daughter weaved into her piano—just like her mother did.
A car cut him off sharply, and instead of honking his horn futilely, he forced himself to unclench his fists, rolling his shoulders to release the tension.
Years ago, his temper had been a problem.
He never took it out on others, but he yelled, punched walls, and snapped at the people around him.
If he lost a meet or a competition, his competitors quickly learned to stay out of his way.
Coaches had always said he had potential, but he couldn’t seem to get his focus together to clinch that ultimate spot.
That changed when he met Coach Frederick.
Frederick wasn’t just about technique—he believed in Zee.He taught him that success wasn’t just about winning; it was about trusting himself.
He met Coach Frederick right after the twins were born, when he was twenty-one, and that’s the year he won Gold.
Ella was his everything, but he also owed Coach Frederick a lot.
His cell chimed, flashing his friend and the dungeon monitor for tonight, Max’s number.
Zee let it go to voicemail.
Tonight was 1920s night at Club Bandit, and it’s one they planned months ago.
These theme nights were a lot of fun, and Ella had thrown herself into the planning to make this a good night.
His stomach twisted as the gates to their property clicked open.
