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“You think I don’t know that?”
Sophie’s head swam. Zane wouldn’t break her heart. Not on purpose.
“Then don’t do shit like take her to meet your mom and sister,” Bryce said.
No one made a sound, and she really wanted to peek to see what was up, but she didn’t dare risk getting caught. She pictured Zane shaking his head.
More silence, then, “She quiets the crap in my head,” Zane said.
Her heart squeezed and, afraid she’d let out a happy sigh, she covered her mouth with her hand. She did mean something to him.
“You know it can’t go anywhere,” Danny said.
A loud clatter sounded from the kitchen. Sophie jumped and made a mad dash to get there before one of the guys went to check it out.
“Let me get that,” she said to Elena, a little out of breath and leaning on the kitchen counter. A glass bowl had fallen and shrimp were scattered everywhere.
“Good thing I bought extra shrimp,” Elena said with a chuckle.
Several hours later, Sophie stood back from the group gathered around Zane in the living room. The evening had gone off without a hitch, Zane chatting and mingling with everyone until about ten minutes ago when he’d excused himself. She guessed it was to gather his thoughts before the Q&A started. Now several questions in, he’d answered every inquiry with sincerity and humbleness. She was so proud of him and pretty sure everyone in attendance—even the men—had a crush on him now, too.
“This new Zane Hollander everyone seems to be talking about,” the reporter said. “I’m assuming has everything to do with SHE?” He glanced over his shoulder at Sophie. “Or could it be your recent beach rescue has turned into more than that?”
“Both,” Zane said without missing a beat. His eyes caught hers, but only for a split second, because she had to look down at the floor.Both?Her cheeks heated.
“Sophie’s a friend, and she’s driven by charitable causes as well, so we’ve been sharing thoughts on that.”
“Really? So there’s nothing romantic going on between the two of you?”
“I’ve decided to keep my personal life off the record from now on.”
“SHE’s founders are pretty conservative,” the reporter said. “Think they can forgive your wild past and put their faith in you?”
“I, uh…I think their interest in me answers that question.”
“In order to succeed competitively, though, you have to be intensely focused on your career. Do you have what it takes to balance your life as a surfer with your new humanitarian goals?”
Zane took a look around the quiet room. “I think I do. Surfing consumes most of my life, but the more I succeed there, the more I’ll be able to…” He paused and cleared his throat. “The harder I work at surfing, the more chances I’ll have to make a difference and bring attention to my philanthropic work.”
“Sophie,” the reporter said, nearly stopping her heart. “Any truth to the rumor that, given your background, you’re helping Zane with the mental aspect of the sport?”
Stunned by the question, Sophie looked at Zane, then Bryce and Danny. The three of them looked equally surprised. How had anyone found out about her past?
“Zane doesn’t need my help. He’s connected to the sport in ways I can’t even comprehend. He’s a great example of how surfing offers equal parts lifestyle, sport, and spiritual pursuit. What he feels in the water is based on experience and sensory stimuli that I’m not familiar with. He’s reached the level he has all on his own.”
The reporter nodded and turned around. “Zane, can you describe your upbringing and how it developed your philanthropic goals? Forgive my cynicism, but you were a high school dropout and your father was unsupportive, so I’m wondering where these sensibilities and morals are coming from.”
Sophie’s jaw clenched as anger thrummed through her. She thought she’d made it clear that those sorts of questions were off the table.
Zane’s eyes met hers, and she wasn’t sure if it was irritation or embarrassment that clouded their depths, but she looked at him with confidence, certain he could answer this question with success.
A few moments of silence passed, and she almost spoke up to end the interview, but then Zane turned his attention to the group and started talking, and everything he said sounded perfect. At least to her. She’d swear she heard her brain sputter in relief.
He handled the questions that followed, too, and she hoped he saw the pride in her eyes whenever he glanced in her direction. Hearing strength in his voice, she let her thoughts slip back to the question that had been directed to her.
She’d been quoted before in small medical journals and interviewed for her local paper, but never put on the spot like that. She hadn’t realized her brief public appearances with Zane had warranted a background check. Small towns had inquisitive eyes and ears everywhere, she guessed.
And she hoped their interest didn’t hurt either of their careers.
