Page 93 of Here & Now

“I’ve never seen you like this,” Marco said, pulling Zane’s attention away from the other table.

“Like what?”

“In love.”

Zane stared at him.

Marco laughed. “Look at you. You can’t even talk.”

“I can’t be in love,” Zane said almost to himself. “She’s leaving.”

“What if you ask her to stay?”

He scowled. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Her life is in Michigan.”

“People move all the time.”

“I can’t believe you’re encouraging this.”

Marco shrugged. “Why not? I want my partner to be happy.”

At that exact moment, the waiter appeared with their entrees. He smiled knowingly as he set down their plates. “Let me know if I can get you anything else.”

After he left, Marco rolled his eyes. “Great! Now he has no doubt we’re a couple.”

This time, Zane didn’t tease him about it. He was too busy scowling at Scott, who had just placed his hand over Bree’s on the table. Zane wasn’t the only one who stiffened at the contact. Her shoulders tensed as she quickly slipped her hand out from underneath Scott’s.

“That does it!” Zane said.

Marco followed the direction of his gaze, but there was nothing to see. “Relax. They’re just eating dinner.”

Reluctantly, Zane shifted his gaze to his plate. The food looked and smelled delicious, but he didn’t have his usual appetite. Still, he cut off a piece of steak, dipped it into the mashed potatoes, and ate it.

He relaxed a little more when the waiter cleared Bree’s and Scott’s plates and replaced their wine glasses with water. Maybe they were getting ready to leave, and since he’d seen her rental car in the parking lot, he knew she’d be leaving alone.

He ate faster so he could leave too. A few minutes later, the waiter reappeared and placed a slice of chocolate cake in front of her and a slice of cheesecake in front of Scott. Zane deflated.

Bree was talking to the waiter and shaking her head, almost like she was rejecting the cake. Maybe she was asking for a to-go box, which seemed more likely. He knew she was a big fan of chocolate, and he couldn’t imagine her rejecting it outright.

As she was gesticulating to the waiter, he noticed she was leaning dangerously close to the cake. If she moved any closer…and she did. Even from here, he saw the big glob of chocolate frosting right in the middle of her chest.

His eyes bulged as Scott picked up his napkin, poured some water on it, and leaned forward.

“Over my dead body!” Zane shot up from the table and made a beeline for Bree. He didn’t have a clear path, though, and was waylaid by waiters and guests coming and going from the tables.

He veered around a waiter carrying a full tray of food and saw Scott reaching out with his napkin. Bree quickly pulled back and eyed him warily. Then she picked up her own napkin and started dabbing at the stain.

Zane arrived at the table as she was looking down at her dress. “Hello, Scott,” he said, barely masking his disdain.

She popped her head up as Scott replied, “Zane.”

She eyed Zane suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

“Having dinner with Marco,” he replied evenly. He couldn’t tell if she was more annoyed by his appearance or the chocolate stain. He figured it might be both.