“Your mom and Chase stopped by. Your mom explained everything.”
Instead of the relief I expected to hear, there was silence, the kind that was deafening and definitely uncomfortable.
“Em?”
“So, you’re only calling to apologize because you found out what happened, not because you’re sorry you didn’t listen.”
What? Fuck.“No, I’m sorry for both.” I closed my eyes and tried to see this from her perspective. “Look. I understand you’re angry. We’ve both had parents who’ve kept things from us that have thrown us into a tailspin. At least your mom did it with your best interests at heart. And I know I didn’t give you a chance to explain, but there was no way I could have guessed someone else signed the check.”
“You could have trusted me, trusted that there was more to the story. You know your father is manipulative and yet, you believed him instead of listening to my side.”
I bowed my head because she was right. “I know. I’m sorry.”
After more silence, she sighed. “I’m not really mad, just hurt. I know it looked bad from your point of view, especially after everything else that’s happened.”
“So, you forgive me?”
“I do.”
My sigh of relief was halted by her next words.
“But Zach, I think we need to slow down.”
“No. Don’t even go there.”
“Obviously, we have some trust issues.”
“Brought on by other people, Em. Don’t make this about us.”
“But it is.” Her voice was full of exasperation. “It’s our reactions to these issues that are the problem. I wasn’t honest about your father’s involvement, and you didn’t take the time to listen to me. That’s a problem.”
“Do you have anything else you’re keeping from me? Good or bad?”
“Not about us directly, but Mama and I decided to make some changes here. I need to stay to oversee them. Obviously, you’re welcome to come here anytime you want, but maybe this is a good thing in the meantime.”
I wanted to tear my hair out. “Sunshine, please don’t—”
“I’m sorry, Zach. I need to go. We’ll talk more soon.”
“Emalee!”
But she’d already hung up.
CHAPTER43
Zach
“You don’t look very happy for someone who got the internship you’ve been gunning for since last winter.” Clay grabbed a beer from the ice chest I had packed so I didn’t have to bother going inside to grab another one.
I saluted him with my beer bottle. “Doesn’t it look like I’m celebrating?” I chugged the last half of the bottle, dropped it to the balcony floor beside the others, and grabbed another one.
“Call me crazy, but I usually celebrate with other people and offer something better than this.” He frowned at the brand he held. “You could have at least sprung for the good stuff.”
I grunted. It had been the first case I’d grabbed from the convenience store around the corner. I popped the lid off and peered at him over the bottle. “Don’t recall inviting you. How’d you get in here, anyway?”
“I still have the key you gave me to keep an eye on the place.”
I grunted again. It seemed all I was capable of.
