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“Nothing.” Zach clasped my arm, his fingers frozen. “Farrow and I were just leaving.”
“I’d like to spend the night in your house,” I blurted out.
Romeo’s expression shifted from irritation to confusion. “Ah, fuck.” He ran a hand over his face. “Shortbread collecting strays again. She promised to stop after the fourth kitty.”
“She’s no stray, and she isn’t staying, either.” Zach tugged me again. “Come on, Farrow.”
I kept my attention on Romeo, standing my ground. “Can you call Dal?”
I knew I wasn’t being fair. Zach and I had a deal, and so far, only I had broken it. But I couldn’t help it.
Did he have to court Eileen in his house? He had the means to take her to the moon if he wanted to. He didn’t have to throw her in my face time and time again.
Why do you care? And how could he possibly know that you care?
God, I really needed to confront these pesky feelings head-on.
One day. Just not now.
Romeo turned to Zach, brow raised.
I frowned. “Did you really just ask your friend for permission? Are you five?”
“Not helping your case,” Romeo said at the same time Zach drawled out, “No.”
I jerked my arm away. “Yes.”
Zach glared at Romeo. “I’ll short your new pharmaceutical company.”
“I can’t, man.” He seemed genuinely apologetic. “Shortbread will make caviar out of my sperm, and we’re not done having children.”
“Farrow,please.” Zach spat out the word like it was acid in his mouth. “We need to get back inside.”
I finally turned to face him. “Why?”
“Because.” Zach sent a quick glance to Romeo, his ears turning a little a pink, hidden by the fast pellets of rain.
I popped a brow. “Yes?”
“Because I cannot fucking stand the rain.” He threw his hands in the air. “Happy, now? I’m triggered. PTSD’d. Whatever you want to call it. I have never—in the past twenty-one years—been out when it rained.”
The rain turned into hail, striking every inch of our skin.
I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard.
Romeo cleared his throat. “I’m going to leave you two to it…” He slid the door shut, pausing before the click. “Farrow, let me know if you still need a place to crash.”
Zach and I remained standing before one another. We were both panting hard. I had an idea. A terrible idea. But one that needed to be executed, nonetheless.
I reached into my pocket, checking for the metal object. “You want to explain yourself?”
He stuck his hand in his hair and tugged, flinging raindrops everywhere. “Desperately.”
“Let’s run to my Prius. I’ll drive.”
“I don’t—” He clamped his mouth shut.
“You’re ready, Zach. It’s time.” I grabbed his arms. “I’m here to heal you, right? So heal.”
