“Jealousy is unavoidable.” I admit. “But we talk about it.”
Chance lets out a low chuckle. “Sometimes we fight about it. But we know that Zara doesn’t really have a favorite. She loves each of us with all her heart. And we love each other too. So we talk and fight until we get over it.”
He’s right. “I’m gonna be honest, Dad. I was the one who struggled the most with not asking Zara to choose. But with everything that happened with Fox and Morelli, I realized that I couldn’t have kept Zara safe without Chance and Lev. That they would have given everything for Zara just like I would. That was what sealed the deal for me.”
There’s a long moment of silence between us.
It seems today’s theme; telling each other the truth and taking everything in.
“I’m not going to promise anything.” Dad finally says. “This is really unconventional. But I’m not against it if there’s no lying and cheating. It’s up to you to prove to me that this is real. But unless you show me otherwise, you have my support.”
This is huge. It’s more than we could have expected from our father.
“Thanks, Dad.”
His smile is hesitant, but it’s there. “I have one last question. Are you going to keep up the ruse that Zara is dating just Lev? If that’s the case, you should be careful with PDAs. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea if they see her with one of you. People would judge, and even though I hate double standards, Zara would be the one judged more harshly.”
Kelly agrees. “It’s sad, but true. Besides, you two grew up in Star Cove, but Zara is new in town.”
“We haven’t really talked about what we would do once we talked to you,” Chance says. “I’m not ashamed of our relationship.”
I clasp my brother’s shoulder. “Me neither, and I know Zara and Lev are on the same page on that. How about we just start breaking the news to people who matter to us gradually?”
“That sounds like the best way to handle this,” Kelly says.
Dad sighs. “Well, this has been a strange and eventful day. Let’s go out to dinner now, or Zara and Lev will think we ditched them.”
As I follow my family out of the house, I look at the evening sky. Things are starting to slowly fall into place in my life. I just wish we could be sure that Zara is safe. There’s no guarantee that the person who wants to hurt her won’t try to get to her outside the racetrack.
Chance, Lev and I need to keep our guard up. We have too much to lose.
Chapter 22
Fathers And Daughters
ZARA
Two weeks later
“Hey what are you doing?”
Ares’s voice reaches me from the front of the garage, and I rise back to my feet to wave at him.
I point at my Ducati. “She’s making a weird noise, something between buzzing and clicking when I start the engine. I just checked the battery, and it’s fine. I’m thinking it could be the starter relay. I don’t think it has been changed since I got it. I was just to see if it’s that. Can you start it for me so I can do it?”
Ares does what I ask, and I tap the relay box with a screwdriver to test it. The buzzing immediately changes.
“Thanks, you can stop now.” I exhale a relieved breath. “It’s definitely the starter relay. Thank goodness, that’s an easy fix.”
My stepbrother’s eyes bore into mine. “Princess, why are you working on your bike? You aren’t thinking about breaking the promise we made to Dad, right?”
I shake my head. “No, I swear. I don’t want to disappoint Scott, especially now that he’s ok with us being together. But since the ban was lifted, I don’t see anything wrong in going for a ride around town.”
Ares considers my words. “Hmm, do you think that’s safe?”
“Whoever wanted to hurt JJ Smith was obviously aware of the races. They would have no way of knowing that I’m taking out the bike to go to the pier or out to Shell Cove. Unless they’re watching me 24/7.”
“That’s true. But maybe I could come with you?”
