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“Gordy and I left while they were still...uh...talking. I put in a good word for you and Zayne, but...”
“Mom didn’t listen to you, either.”
Vickie looked uncomfortable. “No. I talked to Helen Russo after—you know her niece is best friends with Evie, right?” Andrea nodded. “Well, I wasn’t hunting for gossip or anything. I was just worried... Anyway, Evie told Whitney that Marissa said some things Evie couldn’t hear, and Zayne left in a hurry. Didn’t even take the two take-out meals he’d paid for.”
“Uh-oh,” Tani said. “Forget what I said about giving him space. You need to find out what line of nonsense Marissa fed him.” Andrea was already sliding off the bar stool. Tani pointed to the door. “I’ve got the drinks. Go. And text me later to let me know your mother didn’t drop a bomb into things.”
There was no doubt that was exactly what Mom had done. The only question now was how bad the fallout was. The shop lights were on when she drove up the hill, so that was where she parked. She knocked on the door, then walked inside when there was no answer. She could hear machinery running.
Zayne was standing at the band saw, head down, shoulders hunched over whatever he was working on. He was concentrating on the piece of wood in his hands, turning it carefully. He had his safety glasses on, but not his earplugs that she could see. She called his name. Instead of looking up, he just stopped, pulling the carved wood back slowly before reaching down to hit the switch that made the machine wind slowly down to silence. Even then, he didn’t look up right away. This was not a good sign.
“Look at me, Zayne.” He wouldn’t. “I know what happened with my mother.” That got his attention. His blue eyes hit her like an iceberg. “I don’t know all of it, but I know she did her Marissa Wentworth thing all over you.”
He gave a brief nod. “She did.”
Andrea started toward him. “Why did you cancel our plans?”
“I just think we need to...” He looked away. “I’m no good for you, Andrea.” She stopped next to the table but didn’t touch him. She had a feeling that would be a mistake.
“What the hell did she say to you?” She held back the panic pushing at her heart. “I don’t want us to end.”
“She said she bribed you to turn on me back in school.”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes. But we were seventeen, Zayne. She told me I’d never go to college if I didn’t do what she said. I’ve already told you how sorry I am. Why are we still talking about this?”
He stared at her, and she stood there, hoping he could see straight to her soul to know how sincere she was. But something he saw must have bothered him, because he blinked and looked away.
“She said she’d do it again, to keep us apart now.”
Andrea barked out a laugh. “She said she’dbribeme again? With what? She has nothing more to take from me. It failed with Hudson and it will fail with you.”
His head snapped back. “What do you mean, it failed with Hudson?”
She swallowed hard, emotion choking her again. Her mouth opened, but she held back the words, ashamed.
“Andrea?” Zayne took her hand, his voice suddenly tender. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say... Hudson’s father wasn’t the only one who offered to pay for him not to be born. When I refused, she withdrew the financial support she’d promised when I quityouin high school. She said she’d pay off my college loans, contribute to my expenses, all kinds of broken promises.”
His mouth fell open. “But she...she takes care of him. He’s with her tonight.”
“Well, how would it look if she didn’t? Remember, my mother is all about appearances. Once Hudson arrived, she had to be the doting grandmother.” She thought for a moment. “To be fair, I think shedoescare about him.” She gave Zayne a crooked grin. “I don’t think she’ll be offering to babysit much now that she knows about us.”
“There isn’t anus, Andrea.” He grimaced. “At least, there shouldn’t be.”
She stepped closer, putting her hand on his chest. “Thereisan us. Right here. Right now. Can’t you feel it?”
He put his hand over hers. “Icanfeel it, but of all the miserable things your mother has said and done, she said something very true today. I can’t get past it.”
“What was that?”
“You want to get this new job. You want to run more festivals. You want to show your mother how much you can accomplish on your own.” He took a deep breath and stepped away from her, making her heart constrict at the loss of his touch. “You can’t do that sleeping around with a Rutledge.”
He probably thought he was being noble and wise. But in reality, he was being incredibly selfish. Her panic changed to rage, and she slapped him across his cheek.
ZAYNEABSORBEDTHEblow in silence, but inside he was breaking. He’d hurt her. But he was doing what needed to be done. Marissa Wentworth was right. He was bad for Andrea. He was a Rutledge. He’d spoil her future.
“You are so full of bull.” Her eyes narrowed and she stabbed at his chest with her forefinger. “You’re not ‘a Rutledge’! You’re not your last name, damn it. If that were true, I’d be ‘a Wentworth,’ and I refuse to believe that.” She poked him hard again. “And if I can do that, so can you.”
