“Anyway. Just wanted to see how you were holding up,” I said.
“Fine,” Devon said. “Go get some rest, big brother.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved him off and headed for the door.
My mind went back to my conversation with Zack.
It hit me all at once, like the punchline of a joke I’d been too distracted to catch the first time. I’d been so wrapped up in the thought of seeing him again that his words earlier finally sank in.
Dummy,I muttered to myself. Zack had been anxious because his bandmates, Noah and Ethan, might not be able to play on New Year’s Eve.
He’d said it almost offhandedly, but I could hear the worry underneath, the frustration of a musician watching plans crumble. I felt something spark in my chest.
“That’s my in,” I whispered.
If his band couldn’t perform, maybe he’d need someone to fill in.
Maybe he’d let me, and maybe it’d be a chance to spend more time with him. To see if that electric pull between us was as real as it felt that night.
I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts. Then froze.
No Zack. I swore under my breath. Smooth, Mark. Real smooth. But then I thought of someone who definitely would have it.
Devon. Of course. Being one of the pack’s healers, he probably had every pack mate’s number saved.
I headed back inside the clinic. He glanced up when I approached, eyebrow raised.
“Mark. Forgot something?” Devon asked.
“Yeah, sort of,” I admitted, trying to sound casual. “You wouldn’t happen to have Zack’s number, would you?”
Devon’s brows lifted higher. He wasn’t going to make this easy, was he?
“I just remembered. He mentioned his band might not make their New Year’s gig, and I figured maybe we could audition together,” I said.
Devon chuckled, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh.”
“Are you giving me the number or not?” I demanded.
“Fine, fine,” he said, scrolling through his phone. He found the contact and rattled off the digits while I typed them in.
“Thanks,” I said, already backing away before he could add another smug comment.
“Good luck, bro!” he called after me.
I ignored him, heart thumping as I stepped outside. My thumb hovered over Zack’s name.
It was ridiculous how nervous I felt. My palms were actually sweating. I shook my head, laughing under my breath.
“It’s just a call, not a confession,” I muttered. Then, before I could overthink it, I hit dial.
The line rang once. Twice, three times, and then?—
“Hello?”
Zack’s voice. Warm and familiar. My stomach did an actual flip.
“Hey, uh—hey, Zack. It’s Mark.”
