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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Zach
Three Months Later
“My mom and Corey will be coming over in afew days from San Diego to spend Christmas with us and Iknow we said we’ll do an exhibition after the new year, but Idon’tsee how we can make it work,” Erin said.
The three of us—she, Thomas, and I—sat on their living room floor on an early Saturday afternoon and watched as their kids padded around on the carpet. They turned on the fireplace and the flames warmed the house, but my heart didn’tget the memo.
The poor bastard had been frozen ever since that day Laura told me to leave.
“Earth to Zach,” she repeated, waving her hand and chuckling.
Suffice to say Ihadn’tbeen in the best of moods these days either.
“I’mhere, sorry.”
She caught Rowan, helped stabilize him, kissed his cheek, and sent him on another grand tour of the living room floor. “What’sup with you? You’ve been off for afew months now and Thomas won’ttell me anything.”
He took it as his cue to cough. Iglimpsed at my smiling friend. “What?”
“Ithink it’stime.”
Erin turned her head between her husband and me. “Time for what? Why the secrecy? Just tell me you’re not sick. Thomas, he’snot, is he?”
Thomas grabbed her gently and brought her to his lap, her back against his. “He is. Nothing terminal though.”
“What?” She looked up so fast she almost banged her head into his chin.
“He’sjust heartsick.”
And he had the audacity to laugh.
Ishook my head, physically hurting for being reduced to ateenage girl. “For fuck’ssake.”
“Language.” Erin’seyes widened. “Heartsick over what? Over whom? Thomas, why didn’tyou tell me? And don’teven try bros before…before you know what.”
While he couldn’tstop laughing, Ianswered for the both of us, “It’smore complicated than that. It’snot only my secret he’sbeen protecting, it’salso Laura’s.”
“What?” She kissed each of Violet’sfingers when the girl patted her mom’sface, trying to soothe her in her cute little toddler way of hers. “Mommy’sokay, Daddy and Uncle Zach will not be soon, if they don’ttell me what’sgoing on.”
“Best to just let it out, Iguess,” Isaid, and replayed the entire, censored story to Erin, like I’dtold Thomas. Ihadn’tforgot to mention the sad ending, the one where I’dbeen too in the moment to tell Laura I’dmake sacrifices at work for her until it was too late in the conversation and she sent me off. Icouldn’tblame her for not hearing me out after Isuggested we do more of the same, bang our heads against the wall and wait for it to crack inevitably.
Erin’sface changed from shocked to elated, to eventually saddened. None of those expressions resembled what Laura suspected would’ve been disappointment.
“Everything makes sense now.” She pinched her chin when Iwas done. “Thomas, you were right that early morning.”
He kissed the top of her head, murmuring something likeIusually am. These two were too sweet, and even though Imade fun of them often, Icouldn’tthink it’dbeen anything but sweet that day. Asickly-sweet adoration that Icraved for myself.
“Okay, Iget why neither of you told me, because Iprobably would’ve been the voice of reason and told you both what I’mabout to tell you now.” Erin leveled her eyes with me, which looked really serious despite her messy bun and paint-stained T-shirt. “You’re perfect for each other. Obviously, I’mglad you’re compatible in the bedroom department.”
Irubbed my face, feeling I’dbeen sent to asex talk with my mother, if we’dever had one.
“And you like her, alot,” she continued, “which is the best Icould’ve hoped for Laura.”
“Seriously?” Iraised an eyebrow. Erin loved me, but after everything Ishared with her, Iwasn’tpositive she’dstill think Iwas the best man for her best friend.
“The absolute best.”
