Page 58 of Icing on Top

“O-okay.”

Zoe pressed a tender kiss to my cheek before meeting my eyes.

“I promise, Miah. As soon as I park the car and again when I’m inside my apartment.”

I didn’t say anything. I just nodded as I nibbled on my bottom lip. I refused to beg her to stay. My anxiety was being irrational—as usual. It was only a twenty-minute drive for her, and at this time of night, the streets would be mostly empty.

I walked her to the door and helped her get her coat back on. Anything to keep my hands busy.

She lifted up onto her toes to give me a soft kiss. Normally, it’d have me turning into a puddle, but I was strung too tight.

We said our goodbyes, and I waited until she was in her car to close the door. Compulsively, I checked my phone for the time so I knew roughly when she’d be home. Then I retreated to the couch to wait, pulling my sketchbook from the end table drawer. There would be no going to bed until I received those texts.

Tonight’s doodles were quick, rough sketches of Charlie and Zoe at the game. Except in these drawings, Zoe was all smiles, fully enjoying herself. While it may not have been her today, I was confident that it would be a reality soon enough. Healing took time. Something I understood far too well.

As time went on, I made more drawings of Zoe; some of her baking, others just of her smiling or laughing. Maybe I’d come back to them in the future and make them more detailed.

My phone buzzed on the couch next to me, and I quickly snatched it up, heart pounding.

I hearted the message and then kept the app open while I waited for the next one. This time, she sent a photo of herself curled up in bed.

Exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave as soon as I knew she was home safe, and I considered just crashing on the couch if it didn’t mean I would wake up with a horrible knot in my back. The threat of pain motivated me to make the trek to my room and crawl into my own bed where the memory foam mattress hugged me like a cloud. I still found myself aching for a body next to mine, though.

Chapter 24

Zoe

The lack of anxiety as I entered the bistro to meet Carter for lunch was a welcomed change. It was only fair, since I felt as though I’d used up a year’s worth of it yesterday—if anxiety was nice enough to work like that. After texting Miah, I’d knocked out and didn’t move until my alarm went off. Who knows how long I could have slept. However, I was actually looking for-ward to properly catching up with Carter today.

Last night’s breakdown was exactly what I needed; a release of all the pent-up anger and sadness I’d held onto for so long. While it didn’t mean I was fully over my accident and what it’d cost me, I was a hell of a lot further than I’d been before.

Carter was waiting by the door, the complete opposite of last night with her makeup done and long hair hanging loose in waves. Her smile was more timid now, confirming my suspicion that I hadn’t been as good at hiding my feelings last night as I’d tried to be. I was an athlete, not an actress.

So I took it upon myself to be the one to pull her into a firm hug this time.

“Congratulations on the win last night. That was a tight game.”

She blew out a breath. “You’re telling me.”

When we pulled back, her smile was genuine, and I knew mine was as well. Stepping inside, we claimed a table near the windows where we could soak up the warmth of the sun streaming in.

“I can’t thank you enough for last night. Charlie wouldn’t stop raving the entire drive home.”

“Oh, she was absolutely darling! I’m so happy we could do that for her.”

I instinctively reached across the table for her hand. “And thank you from me, too.”—I swallowed—“I needed that push.”

Her expression grew somber, and she gave my hand an encouraging squeeze in return.

“I’m so sorry I shut you out.” She shook her head, but I continued on. I needed to get this out. Hell, I’d needed to get it out years ago. “It was really shitty of me, no matter how much I was hurting. You were just trying to be there for me.”

“I get it, Danny. I always have, and I’ve never held it against you. God knows I would have done the same thing.”

My eyes stung and I blinked away the threat of tears. How I had any left after last night, I had no clue.

“Still. I hate that we lost all of those years.”

Carter shrugged. “We’ve got now.”