Zach cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. His shoulders rose as he shrugged. “For over stepping, you know…” He leaned forward, hoping she’d catch the weight of his words.
Danielle’s expression grew strained as she tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded. “Don’t worry about it. It was a long time ago. You really don’t need to keep apologizing.” She glanced up at him with a small smile.
Zach wasn’t sure if it was forced or genuine and it ate at him. How could two people who were best friends come to this? Not knowing what else to do, he nodded as he glanced around the kitchen and then pushed off the counter. He ran his hands through his hair and glanced around, the awkwardness around them hanging heavy in the air.
“I, um, should go,” he said as he watched for her reaction.
She hesitated as she stared at the sink and then turned, “Okay,” she whispered.
He nodded and then walked over to the door and paused. “I’ll be over to help with the drywall,” he said, in more of a statement than a question.
Danielle parted her lips and he could see the hesitation in her face but he didn’t wait to hear her response. Instead, he gave her a small salute and then pulled open the door and walked out into the hallway.
He wasn’t sure why, but by the time he got to the street, he felt better. Maybe it was the warm Georgia sun or the soft breeze that rushed over his skin, but he felt lighter and maybe a bit hopeful. Things with Danielle were complicated, there was no denying that, but there was something there and he wasn’t going to let her walk away again.
This time, Danielle Danaher was going to hear what he had to say even if it killed him. He just needed to pick the right moment to say it.
Chapter Eight
Danielle sat on the side of the tub, staring at the water stain next to her. It had only been twenty-four hours since Zach had been here, but it was like he was still here. His presence had cemented in her mind and home.
She closed her eyes and rubbed them with the heel of her hand. What was she thinking? Why was she allowing him back in?
There was too much wrapped up in their history. Too much pain. She shouldn’t let her guard down. It needed to stay up if she was going to keep sane.
There was a loud knock on the door, pulling her from her revere. She straighten as she patted her cheeks, not wanting anyone to know that she was off her game. Sunny was like a blood hound when it came to Danielle’s emotions and Jesse, well, he wasn’t too observant but she didn’t want to worry him incase he decided to change that.
“Come in,” she said, as she stood and caught a quick glimpse of herself in the mirror.
The door opened and Jesse stood in the hallway, nervously looking in. “I couldn’t find you. I’m hungry,” he said as he peered past her as if to see what she’d been doing in the bathroom.
“Sorry, bud. I just needed a minute.” She reached out and pulled him into a hug. Then she planted a kiss on the top of his head—to which he made a face and ducked down so her grasp on him would break.
“Eww,” he said, turning to shoot her a disgruntled look once he was a safe distance away.
“When did you get too old for my kisses?” she asked as she flipped off the bathroom light and shut the door behind her.
Jesse shrugged. “I’m eight,” he said like that was the only answer. Every time she got on his case about wearing wet shoes in the house or not eating broccoli, that would be his reasoning.I’m eight.
“You know, that will only work for so long. Someday you’ll be nine, then what’s your excuse going to be?” She headed toward the kitchen, giving him a pointed look as she passed by him.
“I’m nine,” he said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
Danielle shook her head as she entered the kitchen and pulled out some tortillas and cheese to start some lunch for him. “Boys,” she muttered under her breath.
It didn’t take her long to whip up three cheese quesadillas and set them on the table. Once Jesse heard his name, he came barreling into the room and sat down at the table.
While he ate, she sat on the chair across from him and pulled out her computer. She clicked on her email and a message from Seth flashed on her screen.
Wincing, she clicked on it. Last night, she’d sent him a preliminary video, hoping it would be good enough and this whole exposé on Zach could be over. She was ready to stop following him around and asking him questions. She was ready to get back to her quiet life where she’d forgotten about her pastand the pain it brought her. To forget the new Zach and the feelings that stirred when she thought about him.
After skimming the email, frustration boiled up inside of her. Seth was not happy with her offering. His email was short and to the point. Get more information, they are turning it into a few episodes to run on the YouTube channel.
The more Danielle read, the more out of control she felt. There was nothing that she could do or say that would get her released from this assignment. And by the way Zach had shown up at her house today, there was no wayhewas going to let her go either.
She sighed, letting the pressure inside of her release with the air and shut the computer. She might as well contact Zach and get this over with.
What sour luck she had. Here she was, forced to be around the one person who linked her to her past. The one person who could make her feel things. Things that she wasn’t sure she could feel anymore. Good or bad.
