Page 85 of Keeping Mr. Right Now
“It’s not that easy.”
“No?” Bryce grabbed his phone. “Watch.”
Zane snatched it back. “She deserves someone better than me.”
“Better than Zane Hollander? Or more accessible? Because, bro, there is no one better than you. Every guy on this tour admires you. And not just because of your skill in the water. They want to be you outside the waves, too. No one interacts better with his fans than you do. No one else is more likable.
“If it’s your schedule that’s keeping you from getting what you really want, then that’s just ridiculous.”
Zane flinched. He’d thought the smart thing to do was leave Sophie to meet someone else. “I don’t want to take her away from the things she loves to be with me.”
“How about letting her decide? This isn’t all about you. It’s about her, too, you know.”
“It’s always been about her.”
“Okay, so make it about you for a minute. If given the chance to make things right, would you want a second chance?”
Zane wondered if he’d let his fear of hearing Sophie say she couldn’t be with him rule his actions. He’d always gone after what he wanted. Always. Whether he deserved it or not. But then he’d always been fairly sure of the outcome. He had a strong feeling Sophie cared a lot about him. He’d seen that flash of love in her eyes, hadn’t he? But did she love him enough to forgive him?
If he didn’t tell her he loved her, he’d regret it the rest of his life. Sophie was a smart woman. She could make up her own mind. He didn’t need to make it for her.
“Thanks, man,” Zane said.
“I’ll send you my bill.”
“You do that.” And in the meantime, Zane had a trip to Montana to plan. What he wanted to say to Sophie had to be said in person.
…
Zane got out of the taxi, surfboard in hand. His feet hit the sidewalk and stuck there as he stared at the fine two-story house. Shrubbery and flowers decorated the front. A forest in every shade of green imaginable filled the space to the sides and behind. He breathed in the woodsy, fresh air, so different from the scent of the ocean.
Cars filled the long driveway. The muffled sound of voices, loud, happy, numerous, reached his ears. He’d crashed parties before, but not quite like this.
The knot in his stomach tightened. Fourteen-foot waves didn’t make him this nervous.
He’d given Sophie no warning of his arrival, deciding the next time he heard her voice he’d be standing in front of her.
His flight had felt like forever. He’d arrived in Montana this morning and, thanks to a little help from Honor, had gone straight to Sophie’s apartment only to find she wasn’t there.
Lucky for him, her neighbor heard his knocking and came out into the hall. The older woman told him Sophie had left to go to a party at her parents’ house. When Zane asked if she might have the address, she’d eyed the surfboard like it had fangs and no way in hell would she give him any info.
So he’d laid on the charm. A minute later, she was getting her address book to find the Birches’ address. She’d taught Sophie’s mom algebra back in high school and her daughter was close friends with Mrs. Birch, so that’s why she knew where they lived, she’d explained.
And now here he stood, ready to declare his love for Sophie in front of her entire family if necessary.
He walked up to the front door and rang the bell. A young girl, maybe ten or eleven, greeted him. “Hello?”
“Hi. Is Sophie here?” He felt like a kid himself all of a sudden, ringing the next-door neighbor’s bell to play with the girl he had a crush on.
“Who wants to know?” She put her hand on her hip.
Zane smiled. “Zane Hollander. I’m a friend of hers.”
“Why do you have a surfboard?”
“It’s for Sophie.”
“She doesn’t surf.”
