AllFreeNovel
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“I do too. You and I both knew, though, that it was only a matter of time before Avery came back and we’d be forced out of this make-believe world that we’ve been living in since she’s been gone.”
Zac’s eyebrows pulled together. “Make-believe world? Are you kidding me?”
“No, I’m not kidding you.”
“Everything about us is real. There is no make-believe.”
I sighed. “It’s times like what’s happening right now that make me feel like we’ve just been playing house with each other. Playing husband and wife. Whatever.”
“I cannot believe you’re saying this.”
“Well, believe it.”
“Stevie, listen… I know you’re upset about Avery being back and so am I. I don’t wanna go home. I don’t wanna see her face or hear her voice—but I have to.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“I feel like you and I are back to where we were last Thursday night when our conversation began falling apart because our emotions got out of hand. They talked for us instead of our logic, and we cannot let that happen again. You said that yourself.”
“My emotions aren’t out of hand this time, Zac. I’ve just stated facts.”
“But Stevie, we haven’t beenplayinganything. This between us is the most real thing that I’ve ever experienced in my life and you’ve also said that yourself.”
I shrugged my shoulders and got up from the couch.
“Where are you going?” Zac asked but I didn’t answer him. “Stevie, where are you going?” he asked again, but I still didn’t answer. I just kept walking toward the back patio. Before I madeit outside, though, Zac grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.
“Don’t ever grab me like that again,” I said, jerking my arm away from him and then pointing in his face.
“I’m sorry. Just please—please stop. Don’t do this, Stevie.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t shut down. Don’t run away from you and me just because Avery is back. I know it’s gonna be challenging trying to navigate around everything again but we can do it. We’ve done it.”
“I’m gonna walk outside now, Zac, and I do not want you to follow me. I need to be alone for a little while.”
I could see frustration and hurt in his eyes, but I was frustrated and hurting too and just needed some damn space. As soon as Zac nodded at me, I turned around and walked outside, but I didn’t stay on the patio. I didn’t go near the swimming pool or hot tub either. I walked down to the ocean.
I had no idea how long I’d been sitting on the beach when I felt a gentle nudge on my back and looked up to see Zac. He had two glasses of Hendricks gin and tonic in his hands. He’d bought the mix and limes for us after we got to Destin and we’d enjoyed sharing a drink together every night.
“Here,” Zac said, handing me a glass. Then he sat down beside me in the sand. He didn’t say anything else and I remained quiet. We just sipped on our drinks while looking out at the ocean. Because the moon was still mostly full and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the waves rolling in to the shoreline sparkled like they had diamonds sprinkled across them.
“It’s mesmerizing, isn’t it?” I asked, pointing at the water.
“Yes, it is.”
The words between Zac and me stopped again, but after about a minute, I turned and looked straight at him so I could tell him what was on my mindandmy heart.
“I-I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I didn’t mean what I said about us playing make-believe. It’s just…”
“I know, Stevie—and I’m sorry that things are the way they are with my home life. Please don’t give up on us.”
“Just because I get upset, say things I shouldn’t, and need time alone doesn’t mean I’m giving up on us.”
“I really do fear you will one day, though. Your growing tired of waiting for our forever and then moving on scares me to death.”
“I love you too much to ever do that.”
