Chapter 14

Cora

“ W ait, what?” I blink a few times, wondering if I heard him right. “No, Zack I can’t.”

“Why the fuck not?” he asks, nostrils flaring. Is he mad at me? I don’t think I’ve seen him like this before.

“Because. I can’t just come back into your life after being gone for so long. You have a life, a wife and a career,” I tell him, shaking my head as I step away from the door.

He comes in and closes the door behind him. “I’m not letting you stay in this shit hole,” he growls. “Do you have any idea how many times this place is in the fucking news because someone went missing, was kidnapped or raped? I knew you said you were staying at a motel, but I didn't think it was this one.”

“How did you find me?” I ask him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I followed you.” He steps towards me until he’s looming over me. I have to tip my head back to look at him. When he grabs my chin softly, I have to swallow down a whimper. “Do you think I’d let you get away that easily after just getting you back?”

My eyes volley back and forth between his, breaths coming in shallow and fast. I lick my lips. “What about Kimmy?” I whisper. “You can’t make these kinds of life changing decisions without talking to your wife.”

He gives me this smug sexy grin that makes my belly clench. “Who do you think called me and demanded that I bring you back?”

My lips part in shock. “Really?”

“Yes. Now, get your stuff, Cora.” He brushes his thumb against my lower lip and I shiver. This man loved me once. In this moment, I wish so badly that he still did.

Part of me wants to tell him no. That I’m fine. That I’ve been doing this on my own for years, I don’t need any help.

But another part of me is tired of fighting. Tired of spending every day just trying to survive. I loved spending time with them this weekend. And I know I wasn’t ready for it to be over.

“Fine,” I tell him, voice soft. “Until I’ve saved up enough money to get a place of my own.”

He grinds his jaw but nods.

Taking a step back, I stand with shaky limbs. My heart is racing so much, I feel like I might pass out.

Tossing a few things into my backpack, I grab the two suitcases that are by the bed, still packed.

“That's it?” he asks, brows furrowing. Shame hits me and my cheeks heat.

“Yes.” I hate how small I feel. “I had to sell anything of value. I didn’t have much money to spend on anything that wasn’t necessary.”

He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his brown locks. “That changes today.”

I’m not sure what he means by that when he grabs both suitcases from me and goes for the door.

I don’t say a word as we walk down the creepy halls through the dingy motel and out to the parking lot. Gun shots sound in the distance and Zack shoots me a look that tells me even if I tried to argue, I wasn’t going to win.

Maybe it’s a good thing he’s taking me out of this dump. If what he says is true about this place, I want to be far away from here.

“I don’t want to live at your place for free,” I tell him after ten minutes of smothering silence.

“Cora, I’m not charging you rent, for fuck’s sakes,” he groans. “We own the place, you’re not putting us out in any way.”

“It’s not who I am, Zack. I can’t just live at your place and mooch off you,” I grumble.

He chuckles. “Mooch?” he shakes his head. “Can’t this be an old friend doing you a favor? If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be in this situation. And I sure as hell know you won’t let me give you the remaining money you owe.”

“You would be right about that.” I glare. “I’m not taking handouts. This is my problem to solve, not yours.”

“No.” he shoots me a pissed off look. “This isn’t your problem. You didn’t do shit. It was your bastard of a dad who fucked you over and left you to clean up the pieces. If it wasn’t for me, you would have been still living at my place. You would have had a parent who loved and cared for you. You wouldn’t have had to work yourself like a dog for a selfish sack of shit who only used you while he wasted away in a fucking chair every day. I was the one who didn’t push, who accepted what my mother told me and I fucking hate myself. I could have saved you.” His chest heaves, eyes locked on the road. “So let me save you now. You don’t want my money, fine. Just stay with us, we have the room. Use the money from your job to save up and get yourself out of debt faster.”

My lips part as I’m stunned into silence. I stare at the side of his face, his jaw tight, eyes wild.

“Why do you keep saying it was your fault?” I ask finally. “You were just a teenager, Zack. It wasn’t your job to protect me.”

“But it was,” he grinds out. “Remember what I promised that time you got into a fight with your dad?”

Blinking, I look away and think. It takes me a moment but then I remember. It was the first time I really saw what lurked beneath. I came home from school, it was report card day and he demanded to see it. I was so proud because I got really good grades in everything but math. I was never good at math and even with all the studying I did, it never helped.

He took one look at it, got pissed and rage took over. He got in my face and told me that no man is going to want to marry an idiot and that I’d better do better or else.

I wasn’t sure what the ‘or else’ meant but I knew I didn’t want to find out.

Zack ended up hearing the last part and when my dad left, he pulled me into his arms and let me cry.

And then he said something I forgot until now. “You said not to listen to him. That I was smart and any man would be lucky to be with me.”

“Yes. And what else.”

I think harder. “I-I don’t know.”

“I told you that you were perfect just the way you were and I’d spend every day reminding you just how amazing you were.”

“Okay?”

“And I told you not to worry about your dad. That I’d make sure he never talked to you like that again.”

He did? Shit. He did.

My eyes widen. “Yeah, exactly. And I didn’t keep that promise. I fucked up.”

“Zack. Like I said, you were just a teenager. There wasn’t much any of us could have done.”

“No. Maybe you’re right. But there's something I can do now. And that's making sure you're safe and cared for. I’m not going to argue with you, Cora, please.”

“Okay.” I say, letting the fight in me die. The fact is, all of that sounds nice. Call me selfish, but fuck, I need someone to take care of me for a change and if Zack is so insistent, why not? Now isn’t the time for my pride to come into play.

I’m going to be a little selfish for myself this one time. I won’t depend on him for everything, but who am I to deny a free place to stay. With good people I want to spend more time with.

“Okay?” he casts me a quick look.

“Okay.” I smile.

“Okay.” He nods and I laugh.

When we get to their house, he’s out and rounding the car to my side in seconds, opening the door for me.

Like last time, he holds his hand out and smirks, brow raised. I roll my eyes but take it.

Kimmy is waiting by the front door when we walk down the path. A wave of nerves hit me. “Hi.” She smiles. “Back so soon?” she says playfully.

“Surprise?” I try and joke, making her laugh. “Your husband is one stubborn man.”

“I know.” She grins. “One of the many reasonsI love him. But don’t be too hard on him, I’m the one who put the idea in his head, he’s the one who ran wild with it.” She winks but her face goes soft. “But really, are you okay with this?”

“Are you? I don’t want to impose.”

This smile is different, packed with so much emotion I don’t know what to do. “You are never imposing, Cora. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do than have you move in. I know it’s a lot in a small amount of time, but maybe fate put us all in the same place for a reason.”

“Yeah.” I smile, a giddy feeling taking over. “Maybe you’re right.”

THE NEXT MORNING IS a lot like the last. Kimmy is in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand. But this time Zack is there too with his own sitting on the counter. It’s so casual, so... them? They might have money, but they don’t act like it.

It’s one of the reasons I loved being their friend back then. They never made me feel less than.

I notice an extra cup of coffee and bite my lower lip. “For me?”

Kimmy looks over and grins widely at me. She’s about to speak but Zack does.

“Nope. For me. Right and ready for when I’m done with this one.” He holds up his cup.

“Oh fuck off.” Kimmy slaps his arm and Zack chuckles. “Yes, babe, it’s for you.”

Babe. She used to call me that all the time, a friendly, fun nickname. But why does hearing her say it now fill my belly with butterflies.

“Thanks.” I take it from her and sit at the table where a pile of pancakes sit.

“So, what's your plans for today?” Zack asks.

“I have to go down to the bank and transfer all the money to the proper places. Then, job hunting I guess.”

“What kind of job are you looking for?” Kimmy asks, taking a sip of her coffee.

“I have experience working as a waitress and bartender, so I think I’ll try with that first. Both have tips and that means extra money.”

Kimmy shoots Zack a look. He grins and sighs. “I think we might be able to help you out with that.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, narrowing my eyes slightly.

“Well, as you know I own a few businesses.”

“Uhuh.” I nod.

“Two of them happen to be a restaurant and a club. And we just so happen to be hiring at both.”

“Really?” I ask. “You're not just making up some job to give me, are you?” I raise a brow.

“And risk you chewing my head off like last night?” Zack scoffs light heartedly. “Never.”

“So, take your pick. What one would you like?” Kimmy asks.

I just left a job of surviving a bunch of creepy men who didn’t know how to keep their hands to themselves. If I went with bartending, I’d have to deal with drunk people, but I’d have a barrier between us.

“Both pay really well. None of that minimum wage bullshit.” Zack says. “I believe in paying my people good money. Both are high-end classy places.”

“I mean, that wasn’t something I was worried about, but good to know.” I smile. “I’d love to try my hand at bartending again.”

Zack nods. “Job’s yours. And if you ever need a night off or to call in sick, I know your boss would be okay with that.” He winks.

And then it sinks in. I’m working for Zack. I’m living with my boss. And his wife. Who I used to be in love with. And still might have strong feelings for.

This ought to be interesting.