Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Nope.”
“Okay, enough small talk,” I cut in, and Zack chuckles. “What’s going on with you? You never just show up out of the blue.”
“Oh, if you guys need to talk, I can go—”
“No, stay,” Zack says, shaking his head. “I don’t think you have the tabloids on speed dial or anything.”
“Not anymore,” Darby says, making us both laugh. “I’m a vault, but honestly, I don’t mind letting you guys talk.”
“You’re sweet,” I murmur to her.
“I don’t mind having you here,” Zack says. “I like you, and I’m glad Tuck found someone. About time. Anyway, Mom had a stroke, and I had to come home to see her and make sure that she’s getting the care she needs since she can’t really advocate for herself.”
“What?” I feel my heart jolt. “You should have called me, and I would have gone over there.”
“I know, but I was able to charter a plane and get here in a matter of hours.”
“When did this happen?” Darby asks softly.
“Last night,” he replies, and drags his hand down his face, and I see the worry and exhaustion there. “I’ve been with her since I got to town, but the nurses suggested I leave for a while since she was sleeping. So, I came here.”
“Should have fucking called me,” I say again. “Seriously, man.”
Zack blows out a breath. “I’m her son. If something happens, it’s on me to help her.”
“Did you have to leave work to get here?” Darby asks, mirroring my thoughts.
“Yeah. The producer is pissed, but it is what it is.” Zack cringes. “I’ll be here for a few more days to make sure things settle down before I go back. And trust me, they’re reminding me that they’re losing millions every day that I’m gone.”
“That’s so kind,” Darby says with a saccharine smile. “How lovely of them to treat you that way. Assholes. You can stay here.”
Then her eyes go wide, and she looks over at me in horror.
“I’m so sorry. I should not be offering up your house to people.”
It’s our house, she just doesn’t know it yet.
“Zack knows he can always stay here, he just never takes me up on it.”
“Actually, I might this time,” he says. “Because frankly, this shook me, and I don’t like the idea of staying at the hotel.”
I eye my best friend and see the fatigue, the worry. His mom is worse than he’s letting on, and I’m irritated as fuck that he didn’t call me as soon as it happened. I should have been there with him last night.
“The cabin is empty and clean,” Darby says.
“And it’s yours, if you want it,” I tell my friend. “Are you going back to see her tonight?”
“No. I think I’ll crash and go back in the morning. They have my number and will call if anything happens.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow,” I inform him, and he doesn’t fight me on it, which tells me he’s more shaken up that he wants to admit.
Darby’s phone rings again.
“Damn. This is Dr. Fisher.” She answers, and her shoulders slump. “Hi, Dr. Fisher. Yep, I can be there in less than thirty. Send me the location. Okay, see you soon.”
“What do you do, Darby?” Zack asks.
“I’m a large-animal vet. Well, an intern,” she says as she finishes the last of the food on her plate and stands. “It was nice to meet you. Sorry about the hall-pass comment.”
“I’m not,” Zack replies, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“And I’m very sorry about your mom. Let me know if you need anything.” She turns to me and kisses my lips, then my cheek, and whispers, “I’ll see you later.”
“Be safe, sweetheart.”
When she’s left the room, Zack’s smile is all-knowing.
“You owe me a thousand dollars.”
“Why?”
“Remember about ten years ago when I said that you’d get married before me, and you said, ‘I’ll bet you a thousand dollars you’re wrong.’”
Shaking my head, I let out a laugh. “Dude, that was ten years ago.”
“We shook on it.”
“I haven’t proposed to her.”
He shrugs. “You will. You’ve never looked at anyone like that, and she’s great. I don’t even know her, and I can see that she’s great. And beautiful. And she’s gone over you. Wife her up, man.”
“Maybe.” He lifts an eyebrow. “Probably. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“No, being my best friend is the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“You seriously have a huge ego. You know that, right?”
“I’m being paid twenty-five million dollars to play a superhero. Of course I have a big ego. It’s part of the job, you know that.”
I shake my head. “Come on. You’re doing the fucking dishes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DARBY
It’s close to midnight when I get back to the ranch, but at least I didn’t have to work through the night. I’ll get a good amount of sleep tonight.
Which is not something I would have said before. I have never been a good sleeper, thanks to my nightmare of a father, but since I’ve been sleeping with Tucker, I snooze through until morning. And I know it’s because I feel safe with him. I feel content, and I know he’d never let anything happen to me.