“He went back to your home town.”
I watched as my words settled over Zoe and she took them in. I saw her square her shoulders and suck in a deep, fortifying breath. “Why?” she squeaked.
Guilt was a bitch. The knowledge that I was responsible for putting the frown on her face didn’t sit well with me, but I had to push through. “Wait here.” I slipped off the barstool and dashed into Derek’s room and retrieved the invite, tightening the drawstring on my sweat pants before I went back out. Zoe’s eyes tracked my movements across the room. She was nervous. Understandably so. “Here.” I handed her the unopened envelope.
Minutes felt like an eternity as Zoe read and reread the invite. A silent tear slipped over her cheek undisturbed. Feeling like the tears were my fault, I reached out and placed my hand on the small of her back. I felt her tremble beneath my fingers. Needing a moment just to breathe, we sat together.
“Do…you…think…Derek…went?” Zoe hiccupped.
“Yeah.”
“Why did he hide this from me?”
I gulped. I think deep down, this is what I was most afraid of. I didn’t want Zoe to be pissed with Derek. I hadn’t had the conversation with him, but I felt like I knew him well enough to be sure that he didn’t do it to hurt her. He’d do anything not to. I’d bet money that’s why he hid it. “He probably didn’t give it to you to protect you, Zoe,” I attempted to assure her as I rubbed my hand up and down her back, in what I hoped was a comforting gesture.
“Asshole!”
“Asshole?”
“Derek! Grrr, that man’s going to be the death of me. He keeps treating me like I’m a kid. Like I’m fragile. I’m broken.”
“I don’t think?” Zoe was working herself up. I watched as she huffed and struggled for breath. She was upset. The truth was though, I don’t think she was really upset at Derek. Really, I think she was just blindsided by the whole thing.
“I’m not going to fall apart again. Not like before. I’m stronger now. It’s not okay, but in a way, it is.”
I hadn’t planned on it. Until the moment the words fell from my lips I hadn’t given it a thought. “Let’s go tonight.”
“What?”
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To the awards. I mean, come on. You got an invite with a plus one. I’ll be your plus one.”
It took some convincing, but here we are, a handful of hours later stuffing our faces on potato chips and drinking more energy drinks than was recommended, as we drove through the vast countryside. I was driving. Zoe had started out behind the wheel, but at the last stop I realized how nervous she was. It wasn’t the shaking hands that gave her away but the terrifying silence that settled over us. Part of me was excited to see Derek, but I was a bit afraid what I’d find when we got there. This wasn’t a happy homecoming.
“We’re staying at Jenna’s,” Zoe announced, breaking the heaviness in the car.
“Who’s Jenna?”
“Jenna is Spencer’s mum. She’s amazing. She’s tough, and strong, and gentle, and when she hugs you, everything just feels better. Jenna has this uncanny ability to see the world from a different angle. I don’t know why, I don’t think I ever will, but Jenna, well, Jenna’s the mother I don’t have.”
Glancing across at her, Zoe’s face was alight. Maybe this Jenna was a miracle worker after all. In all the time I’d known Zoe, I’d never her seen this relaxed or happy. “You’re pretty incredible yourself, Zoe. Don’t forget that.”
She just shrugged at me.
I wanted to slap her. This girl couldn’t take a compliment. Surely she’d received her fair share over the years. Hell, I couldn’t imagine anyone who spent any time at all with Derek that he wouldn’t have inundated with them.
We turned off the highway and crossed the rickety old bridge and I held my breath. I felt the tension in the car. It almost sparked. Without looking, I reached over the console and wrapped my palm around Zoe’s trembling hand. Here we go.
