“Okay what, baby girl?”
“Okay, we tell her tomorrow, but on my terms. I do it how I want to do it because I swear to God, Zach, I just got her back. I’m not going to lose her again.” I fight back the tears forming behind my eyes as he pulls me swiftly back into his arms, protecting me from my feelings.
He kisses the top of my head before placing his cheek against it. “Okay. We will do it your way. And then we are going to pack your shit up, and you’re coming home. End of discussion.”
I giggle at how fast his tone changes at the end. The man has made up his mind.
“Oh, really?” I love to tease this man.
He rolls me over onto my back, settling between my legs. “Really. And you know I usually get what I want. I might have to spend some more time convincing you, that’s all.”
Pulling back up to the house, I don’t know if I’m more nervous to see my best friend for the first time in years or to see how she reacts to me and Zach being together. We agreed this morning over coffee that we would come home first and talk to Danielle—that is, if she hasn’t run off after their fight—and then we could finish packing up my stuff from the apartment and bring it all back over. First things first though. We stop on the front porch as Zach moves in to put the key in the door. The hand that is not linked with his, I place gently on his arm, bringing his attention to me.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Zach steps closer to me, cupping my cheeks and placing a sweet kiss on my lips. “Yes, Hails. I’m sure. It’ll be okay. Like I said last night, I’m done hiding…hiding this. Us.” He holds up our conjoined hands, placing a brief kiss on our knuckles. “You ready?”
I let out a breath and nod as he puts the key in the lock. We hear raised voices on the other side of the door. Zach and I look at each other, confused—maybe the TV is just too loud. As we open the door, I stand behind Zach, nervous again. The voices belong to Dani and Kyler. Zach and I look back and forth at each other and then back to Dani and Ky. Dani is standing while Ky is sitting on the couch. Zach’s hand tightens in mine.
Dani looks very confused, her gaze going back and forth between
Zach and me and our joined hands. She’s here! She is actually here. I knew she was, but seeing her with my own eyes is something else. Part of me wants to run and slap the shit out of her for leaving the way she did and ignoring us all, but the other part wants to take her in my arms and make sure she promises never to do it again.
“Dani,” Zach begins before turning his gaze to me and smiling, reassuring me that this will be okay. “Hails and I are together. We’ve been dating for almost three years. I was waiting for the right time to tell you.”
The look of surprise on my best friend’s face is priceless as she plops on the couch. I squeeze Zach’s hand before I let it go and head over to where she sits. Kneeling in front of her, I reach for her hands. My eyes fill with tears as I realize how much I had missed her.
“Hey, bestie, it’s been a while. About time you got your ass back here.”
The older I get, the quicker Mondays get here. Making my way to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, I am startled to find Dani already up and in the kitchen, standing at the stove, sipping on a cup of coffee, and stirring something in a pan.
“Morning, sis.”
She startles.
“Shit, you scared me. Morning, Zachy.”
I instantly feel the caffeine rushing through my veins with the first sip. I lean against the counter and watch my sister make herself at home in the kitchen.
She stiffens before turning to face me.
“So I was thinking about maybe joining you and Haylee at brunch this weekend.”
I push off the counter and stare at her. Is she serious?
“Really? Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured or anything.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s time. I can do this.”
“If you’re sure, I’ll let Mom and Dad know. They’ll be so excited. I know it’s been difficult.”
Her smile falters, and I step up to pull her into my arms. “Hey, they understand. It’s okay. I’ll set it all up. Okay?”
She wraps her arms around me and nods against my chest. “Sounds good. Do you want any breakfast before you head to work?”
“No, I gotta hit the road, but Haylee was in the shower; I’m sure she will eat something before she leaves.”
I press a kiss to the top of her head before I make my way out the door. My parents are going to be thrilled. I mentally go over my schedule today and figure I’ll call my mom on my lunch break.