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“You can just say it,” I tell her, and she laughs a little. “I know there’s something you want to ask me because you rarely stop talking when we’re together.”
“Are you doing okay?” she asks. “And I don’t mean today. I mean since it all happened. We haven’t talked much about it and that’s partly my fault because I was so fucking scared I was going to lose you. I don’t even want to think about it now that you’re back.”
“I’m okay, Delaney, seriously,” I tell her, reaching over to take her hand. We’ve been through a lot in the last few months, and she’s still recovering too. “It’s been hard, I’m not going to lie, but I’ll be fine. I have you and Ethan and I’m on meds. I have plans to start seeing a therapist.”
“Has it been hard to be here?” Delany asks, looking around, her voice low. I know she’s trying to keep things quiet since we both know how quickly word can spread around here.
Not that I care if anyone knows I’m seeing a therapist or that I’m on meds for my anxiety. I survived being abducted, and that alone is reason for me to tell everyone else to fuck off.
“Not really. There are times that I forget, which is weird, I know. How can I forget what happened to me? But it’s not like that. I forget that it was me, that I didn’t dream it.”
“It feels surreal, right? I feel the same way about when Alex and I went missing. It felt like a dream, like it couldn’t have possibly happened,” Delaney says, echoing my feelings. “Hard to forget when you’ve got that security guard following you around,” Delaney adds, lightening the mood. “Did Ethan hire a retired WWE wrestler?”
“He is a little intimidating, but I’m sure that was what Ethan was going for,” I tease. “Remember when Max thought he wanted to be a bouncer at The Matterhorn?” The sudden change in conversation has both of us laughing and a woman in the room with us points at a sign hanging on the wall.
She holds a finger to her lips, shaking her head at us. She thinks we’re two young girls disrupting her peace, that we don’t belong in here. She’d be floored to know our positions at the resort. I’ll probably be the one greeting her at the front desk when she demands to speak to the manager. Even better, it’ll be Delaney who sets her up with ski lessons when she returns in the winter.
“Sorry,” I whisper, but not really meaning it. Laughing has been good for me. Spending time with Delaney in a place that I know I’m safe has me feeling the most normal I have in a while.
“Don’t get me wrong, Max has a fucking killer body, but he couldn’t hurt a fly,” Delaney says, and I instantly wrinkle up my nose in disgust.
“Oh my god,” I whisper-shout, trying to keep my voice level low so the woman sitting in here doesn’t complain. “Don’t talk about my brother having a killer body. He’s your boyfriend’s best friend and your best friend’s brother.”
Delaney slaps a hand over her mouth, trying to suppress the laughter that is trying to slip out around it. We’re giggling away, and I feel the tears falling down my cheeks before I even realize what’s happening.
“Oh, Zoey, you’re crying,” Delaney says, leaning over to pull me into a hug. “You don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay for you to break down.”
“I know,” I reply, sniffling. I have no idea why I started crying. It feels like I haven’t let what happened hit me, and it is now. I’ve been so focused on finding the person who did this, so focused on why it happened and how to fix it, that I haven’t let myself really feel.
“I think you need another massage and maybe a pint of ice cream,” Delaney says, smiling at me as she pulls back.
“What I need is this guy to be caught so it’s not sitting there in the back of my mind, creeping up on me and ruining my day at the spa with my best friend,” I say, only partially joking.
“See that therapist,” Delaney presses, nodding her head, letting me know it’s okay for me to admit I need help. “I want you to be yourself. I want to help you the way you helped me after the mess I left in Vermont.”
“Thank you.” I swallow hard, taking in a long slow breath. “You have anything going on tonight?” I now ask, needing to focus on something else.
“I do, actually. Alex is taking me out on a date,” Delaney answers, this adorable smile on her face. I love seeing her so happy. “It’s a surprise, which I’m having a bit of trouble with. It’s a little tough to give up control to him,” she jokes.
“I’m sure it’s something great.” Alex has been trying to make it up to her ever since he got sick while they were trapped, and she saved his life. It’s so cute, and I never thought I’d see Delaney so happy after the shitty time she had during her freshman year in college.
“I’m sure it is too. He knows me better than I know myself at this point,” she replies. “How about you? Anything going on?”
“I’m meeting Ethan and his friends Brandon and Tracy for dinner tonight,” I say shrugging. “An easy night. I think Ethan worries about doing too much and overwhelming me, but honestly, I feel like being overwhelmed by normalcy would be good.”
“How’s it been with Brandon and Ethan working together again?” Delaney asks. It’s casual conversation, nothing of real substance, but it’s nice to chat mindlessly.
“It’s good as far as I know. He put the expansion on hold for a bit, pausing the tearing down of the old motel. I’m not really keen on that though. He did it because of me,” I say, feeling badly that Ethan isn’t able to do what he planned.
“He did it because he cares about you and wants to make sure he has time to devote to you,” Delaney says. “Get used to it. When boys fall in love with you, they’re like that. Alex is forever doing annoying things too.” She has me smiling again with her grumpiness that has always been her signature. It’s what Alex liked about her. She’s a good match to his infectious happiness.
“You about ready?” I ask her now, looking at the clock on the wall. “What time are you meeting Alex?”
“No, I’m not ready. I’ll never be ready to leave here, but I am meeting him in an hour. I still need to get home and get ready,” Delaney replies. “You planning to stay and use the sauna and shower?”
“I think so,” I say, following Delaney as she gets up and begins to walk toward the locker room. “I’m not sure how Ethan would respond if he knew I’m here alone, but I’ll be fine.”
“Do you want me to stay?” Delaney asks, and I instantly shake my head. I can’t have everyone I know babysitting me, and I won’t make Delaney late for her date with Alex.
