Page 82 of Not Until I Found You

Ashton’s gaze finds mine, his brows knitting together as if he’s reading the thoughts I haven’t managed to hide. I offer him a smile that’s meant to reassure him, but the way his mouth tightens tells me he doesn’t believe it for a second.

He nudges his chin toward the bathrooms. “I’m going to show Maxinne where the restroom is.”

I get up and follow him, but before we are fully out of sight, I turn and see Zane’s eyes watch us. Ashton leads me down a narrow hallway where the hum of the diner seems to fade, stopping outside of the restroom doors. He turns to face me, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, pretending like I don’t know what he’s talking about. “Nothing. Why?”

A muscle in his jaw twitches. “Don’t lie to me. You were blinking away tears just now.”

“I—” The words catch, the truth too heavy to explain, so I reach for something else that’s been bothering me. “Have you talked to Mom?”

He pauses, his hands uncurling as he studies my face. “Mom?” he repeats. “No. I’ve been tied up every time she’s called. Why? Is she okay?”

“She says she is,” I answer, though doubt seeps into my voice. “But she sounded off when we talked earlier. And I’ve been so busy trying to help with Dad that I feel like I abandoned her.”

He softens instantly. “You didn’t abandon her.”

I shake my head. “Then why do I feel so guilty every time I talk to her?”

He exhales, stepping closer. “Mom’s always been the strong one. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need us sometimes. We’ll call her tonight. Together.”

My throat tightens. “You will?”

“Of course,” he says, like it’s obvious. “You don’t have to carry everything by yourself anymore.”

That does it. My eyes burn again, but this time, I don’t fight the tears. Ashton wraps his arms around me, bringing me into a tight hug.

“I’m sorry if you’ve felt like you’ve been alone in all of this.”

I shake my head, pulling away from the embrace so I can wipe my cheeks. “I don’t.”

Ashton squeezes my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s not worry everyone.”

After I freshen up in the bathroom, we head back toward the table, laughter greeting us before we slide into our seats. Zane looks up immediately, his gaze finding mine, and I offer him a small smile, one that I hope says I’m okay, or at least I’m trying to be.

Chapter Nineteen

Zane

By the time church lets out Sunday afternoon, I’ve been talked into going to the local ice cream shop with Annabelle and Maxinne. The place hums with families escaping the summer heat, laughter bouncing off the checkerboard floor while the scent of fresh waffle cones fills the air. We squeeze into a booth near the window.

“My mommy said her favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip,” Annabelle says nonchalantly before taking a lick of her strawberry ice cream cone.

I scrunch my face at her. “Mint with chocolate? Gross.”

“That’s what I said,” she giggles.

“I like mint chocolate chip.” Maxinne’s eyes twinkle with humor. She leans toward Annabelle, lowering her voice like she’s sharing a secret, “But strawberry, by far, is the best flavor.”

The two of them tap their cones together in a cheer before taking another lick. There’s a faint smear of pink at the corner of Maxinne’s mouth, and my gaze locks in. Her tongue darts out right as a drop of melted ice cream slides free and lands against her collarbone.

Don’t look, Zane. Don’t you dare.

It takes concentrated effort to drag my eyes away. I swallow, hard enough that I’m sure she can hear it, and stare down at the rest of my cookies and cream. How can it be so hot in this ice cream shop? Shouldn’t there be industrial-strength air conditioning in this place?

I take a massive bite of my cone, shoving far more into my mouth than necessary. I’m unconcerned with how it makes me look, because I’m clinging to the hope that this will cool me off. It doesn’t help, especially not when Maxinne dabs at her skin with a napkin, her focus elsewhere, completely unaware of the sweat gathering along my hairline at her motion.