AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stare at him.
“I actually used to ask her for updates on you since I felt like such shit for what I did. At first, she wouldn’t give me the time of day—which I deserved—but I didn’t give up. I think they figured I’d never let up on making things better, so she and your parents gave me another chance.” His eyes soften. “When she started to have difficulty with chemo treatments, I stepped up and helped however I possibly could. It was nothing, promise.”
“But it wasn’t. It was everything, Zayn. Really,” I say.
A second later, his arms are wrapped around me. Instead of resisting, I wrap my arms around him and allow myself to cry against his chest. “It means the world to me knowing that you did that.”
“Hey, don’t mention it. I heard through the grapevine that you had to stay in Greenwich except for a few trips you made, so I wanted to help.”
I pull away and wipe the tears from my cheeks. “Ugh, I should’ve been here.”
“Hey now, don’t ‘should’ on yourself. Even if you had gotten down here sooner, you couldn’t save her. You did your best, Autumn. And Summer knew that.”
Perhaps, he’s right. Even if Liam and I had moved back here, it wouldn’t have kept her here any longer.
I nod. “Thank you for saying that. And for . . . all your help with Summer.” I take a deep breath. “And it explains how you got the letters in the first place.”
“Yeah. Sorry that was so confusing at first. I should’ve told you, but I knew you couldn’t stand the sight of me at first.”
“That is true. You really do like to wear people down. I’m glad Summer gave you another chance, though.”
“I guess you could say I’m persistent. My guilty conscious is what prompted me in the first place, but nevertheless, I’ve got no regrets from it. Anyway, I’m off for the next two days, so let’s take advantage of it. Why don’t you come to my place tonight? I have a special surprise again.”
I squint my eyes. “You and these damn surprises. You’re starting to sound like Summer, or just a creepy guy trying to get me to get into your van for some ‘candy’ or something.”
Zayn laughs and says, “Ha, sorry! I totally didn’t mean for that to sound as creepy as it came out. I really do have a little bit of a plan if you want to come to my place.”
“Fine, let’s go,” I say before wiping away any remnants of tears and giving him a huge grin.
* * *
I followZayn inside the house. I kick off my shoes by the door and set my crossbody bag on the couch before taking a seat. I grab a couch throw pillow—which the man has two of, shockingly—and sit cross-legged on his couch.
“Want something to drink?” he asks, heading into the kitchen. I look around the room and stop when I noticed the axolotl we painted together hanging in his living room.
“Just some water would be great, thanks,” I tell him.
“You got it,” he says. “Oh, and feel free to put on the TV if you want to watch something.”
He heads back into the living room and sits next to me on the couch. “Here’s your water,” he says setting it down on the coffee table.
I thank him and take a sip. When I set it back down on the table, I notice a brown paper bag and lighter next to him. He’s staring at me, and my guess is he’s trying to gauge my reaction.
I hesitate to react right away. Finally, I ask, “Um, is that what I think it is?”
He nods. “Indeed, it is.”
It finally clicks. The WOLO list. “Wait . . . are we getting high tonight?”
Zayn shrugs before releasing a chuckle.
“Okay. Oof. I’m just nervous. Not sure if I’m ready for this, to be honest,” I tell him.
“I mean, me neither really. I—I don’t do this stuff, usually. I only bought it for us to do for the WOLO list. It’s on there, remember?” he asks right as he grabs my hand in his. It sends a warm shock throughout my body at the very touch. I pause and stare at him.
“It’s all right,” he says. “We don’t have to smoke it if you’re not comfortable.”
“No, it’s fine. I am. I—” I bite my lower lip.
