Page 83 of Between the Boards
”It’s not okay,” he says, shaking his head and finally looking at me. “And no, you’re not naive or stupid—that would be me. I hope you can forgive me because losing your friendship would really really suck.”
I sigh, looking out the window for a moment while I collect my thoughts.
“I don’t want to lose your friendship either, Zale,” I mutter. “But you’ve changed so much from the person that I used to know…I’m worried I don’t actually know who you are anymore.”
He winces, then nods. “You’re right,” he replies solemnly. “To be honest, after watching my sister go through the worst years of her life and then almost dying last year in the accident and from childbirth…I’ve probably internalized a lot of my own fears and built up walls around myself.”
My heart hurts for him because I can imagine how hard that must have been for him, to feel so helpless while the person he adores the most, his sister, went through the hardest time of her life.
”Zale, you need to speak to someone about that,” I murmur, reaching over and taking his hand. “A real professional, someone that can help you work through your fears and break down those walls.”
He nods, but I don’t miss the slight tremble of his lip. “Yeah,” he whispers, squeezing my hand back. “I think you’re right.”
I squeeze his hand back and give him a small smile. “Let this be your healing era, bestie.”
He winces then laughs before gently shoving my shoulder. “Okay, I’m taking you home before your boyfriend drives back here and kills me.”
”He’s not my boyfriend,” I say quickly.
Zale looks at me with disbelief as he starts the engine. “Right,” he scoffs. “And I’m not the most attractive surfer in town.”
I give him a sideways look and he gasps, pretending to be offended. We both burst out into laughter and he begins the short drive back to The Shredder House. It feels like I’ve got my friend back, and it feels good to finally just call him afriendwithout wanting for more.
TWENTY-EIGHT
COLTON
I stareat the iron horse crest that hangs on the gates of my family ranch, right on the property line. About an acre past these gates is the house I grew up in, a place I should feel comfortable returning to, yet I can’t seem to work up the courage to open the gates and drive my truck through.
I parked my truck on the side of the road, and I’ve been pacing back and forth for the last forty minutes, going over all the possible scenarios of how showing up out of the blue like this could go.
My dad might chase me out with his shotgun, or he’ll run me out with a herd of horses, orworse—run me over with the tractor. A shiver runs down my spine as I think about running from all three possibilities, and neither of them seem survivable.
How would Kairi take the news of my murder? What if she never finds out what actually happened. He could bury me right here on the ranch and tell everyone I ran off. With my track record, they might actually believe it.
I wonder how Kairi is doing. I left her on her date with Zale last night, more abruptly than I’d planned. I was going to wait until this morning to leave Saltwater Springs, but after realizing she does, in fact, have feelings for me and is just too scared toadmit it, I decided to leave much sooner because without me there as a constant comfort, she’ll miss me so much that she’ll have no choice but to confront her feelings.
I was able to grab a room at a crappy motel when I arrived in Bluewater Bluffs in the middle of the night, and I’m hoping I don’t have to spend another night there after seeing a roach on the bathroom mirror this morning.
The sound of gravel crunching in the distance catches my attention as the sound grows louder. I stop pacing and look over my shoulder, the sight of my fathers mustard yellow truck kicking my heart into overdrive.
“He’s going to run me over,” I murmur, watching as the truck gets closer. “Run me over just outside the property and probably wash his truck right after without shedding a single tear.”
I decide not to give him a chance and I sprint for my truck, hopping into the driver's seat and buckling my seatbelt just in case he decides to rear-end me. But instead of hitting my car, the yellow truck slows to a stop next to mine.
I glance over, expecting to see my fathers pissed face, but instead my oldest brother, Cade, is staring at me completely unimpressed. He motions for me to lower my window, so I do.
“You planning on sitting out here all day in that pretty truck of yours, or are you finally going to make your way past those gates?”
“I—“
“I’ve passed your truck at least twice in the last three hours, and you’ve been pacing this whole damn time as if you forgot where your family lives.”
In true Cade fashion, he doesn’t wait for me to respond before he drives off, stopping right in front of the gates and jumping out. He walks over to the gates, opening them both wide, and jumps back into his truck before driving through.
He pulls over once he’s past the property line, and jumps back out. But instead of closing the gates behind him, he leans on his truck with his arms folded across his chest, staring at me.
“Well?” He shouts.
