CHAPTER forty-nine #7
I glance at him, watching how relaxed he looks for the first time in days, his laughter easy and his eyes bright again.
Mission accomplished.
By the time the dishes are washed and the counters wiped down, the Pond has finally quieted. Most of the guys had already disappeared into their rooms. It's just me, Zach, Kentaro, the twins, and Cody left downstairs—everyone sprawled in different states of digestion.
Cody's on his phone, thumbs flying. Kentaro's still at the dining table, fork in hand, somehow on his third plate.
Across from us, the Archer twins lean back on the couch, identical groans escaping them as they clutch their stomachs.
"Holy hell," Liam groans. "I don't think I've ever eaten that much in my life."
Luke nods, eyes half closed. "That was unreal, Care. I swear, if I die tonight, just know I died happy."
I laugh, cheeks heating. "You're welcome, I guess. Glad you liked it."
Zach leans back on the couch, arm resting behind me. "Liked it? They inhaled it. But just for the record, she didn't make dinner for you guys—she made it for me. You just got lucky."
Liam snorts. "Wow, listen to this guy. Doesn't even want to share."
Luke shakes his head. "Man's got the perfect girlfriend and refuses to share the perks. Unreal."
Zach lifts a brow. "Maybe you should try getting one, then."
That earns a few laughs.
"Or," Liam adds, grinning, "if he ever gets on your nerves, Care, I'm available."
Zach just scoffs, amused. "Keep dreaming, Archer."
Liam shifts forward on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. "Hey, it's been almost a week since Sam was here. She doing okay? Where is she anyway?"
I feel Zach's smile falter beside me.
The lightness that's been there all night dims in an instant, worry flickering back into his expression.
"Yeah," Luke adds, stretching his arms behind his head. "Feels weird not having her around. The place's been way too quiet without her." He chuckles. "She practically lives here."
I like Liam. Both of the twins, actually. But right now?
I kind of want to kick and strangle them both. I spent all day trying to put that smile back on Zach's face, and in two sentences, it's gone.
I reach over and squeeze his hand.
"She got sick," Zach says quietly. "Mom picked her up and took her back to Naples so she could rest."
"Oh, shit. Really?" Liam frowns. "She okay now?"
"Yeah. Mom said she's better today."
Luke shakes his head, smiling faintly. "Man, I miss that little devil already."
"Same," Cody mutters, finally looking up from his phone. "Hope she's back soon."
The sliding door opens then, and Elijah steps inside, the faint smell of smoke following him. He slings his hoodie over a chair, barely glancing our way.
"Hey, Cap," Liam says, looking over. "We were just talking about Sam—she's been sick, that's why she hasn't been around."
Elijah doesn't slow down. "Didn't ask," he says flatly. "Don't care."
The air goes tight for a second.
Zach's jaw clenches beside me, his hand curling into a fist. No one else catches it—but I do.
Luke smirks, trying to cut the tension. "Come on, who are you kidding, Cap? You miss her. We all do. It's too quiet without her pestering everyone—especially you."
Elijah stops halfway across the room, glancing over his shoulder with that usual calm, unreadable expression.
"Actually," he says, voice low and detached, "it's been kind of nice without her around. Wouldn't mind if she stayed sick a little longer—means I get to enjoy some peace for once."
The room goes dead quiet.
Zach's whole body stiffens beside me, shoulders pulled taut, his jaw clenching so hard I can see the muscle twitch.
I can feel the change before I even look at him—the sharp, electric tension rolling off him in waves. His fingers twitch in mine, and for a second, I think he's going to let it go.
Then Elijah keeps talking.
"She's exhausting, man," he adds with a humorless chuckle. "Maybe being sick will finally slow her down a little. That girl never knows when to quit. Honestly, if this is what it takes to keep her off my back, I'm not complaining."
"Zach," I whisper, my hand tightening around his, a plea.
Too late.
Zach moves before I can even process it—a blur of motion and fury.
He's on his feet, crossing the space between them in two strides. The sound of his fist connecting with Elijah's jaw cracks through the room like thunder.
"Zach!" I scream, covering my mouth as Elijah stumbles back, crashing into the coffee table before hitting the floor.
There's a split second of stunned silence. Elijah's lip is split, a smear of red spreading fast. He stares up at Zach, dazed, shocked.
But Zach doesn't stop. He grabs Elijah by the collar, yanking him up halfway, his fist cocked again, trembling with rage. His voice is low, guttural, shaking.
"Say that again," he growls, each word venom. "Say that shit about my sister one more time, I fucking dare you."
Elijah freezes, eyes wide. He doesn't move, doesn't even breathe.
Liam's already on his feet, grabbing Zach's arm. "Zach, stop, man—enough!"
Luke joins in, wrapping his arms around Zach's shoulders, trying to pull him back.
"Bro, don't—come on!"
Cody rushes over, helping Elijah up, while Kentaro steps between them, hand on Zach's chest, voice firm but calm.
"Zach. Look at me. Breathe. It's not worth it, man."
Zach's chest heaves, his breathing ragged. His fist is still suspended midair, his glare locked on Elijah, who's wiping blood from his mouth, silent but defiant.
The tension is thick enough to choke on. My pulse hammers in my ears as I inch closer, hand trembling when I reach for Zach's arm.
"Zach, please. Stop."
He exhales hard, his hand finally dropping to his side, shoulders still shaking with fury.
Zach's breathing is still uneven, his chest rising and falling in harsh, ragged pulls. His eyes don't leave Elijah, jaw tight and a smear of blood on his lip.
"Stop pretending you don't feel anything for her," Zach snaps, voice sharp and shaking with anger. "You can lie to everyone else, but not to me. It's already obvious."
Elijah winces, running his thumb over his split lip before meeting Zach's glare. "I don't know what you're talking about," he says flatly.
Zach lets out a low, humorless laugh.
"Really? You're gonna deny it?" He takes a step forward, jaw twitching. "You expect me to believe that you didn't lose your shit when Sam danced with another guy a few weeks ago? Or when that same idiot almost kissed her during the kiss cam last game?" His tone turns mocking.
"Isn't that why you've been so pissed at her? Don't even try to tell me all that flirting you've been doing wasn't on purpose. You've been parading every girl you can find in front of her just to prove some point only you understand."
Elijah's brows pull together, lips pressed into a hard line. "That's not true," he says stiffly.
"You're reading too much into things. You're in love, Zach—it's making you see something that isn't there.
I don't have feelings for your sister." His tone sharpens, irritated.
"For fuck's sake, that girl's been chasing me for nearly a decade.
You think I wouldn't have given in by now if I wanted her? "
Zach scoffs, a bitter laugh escaping him.
"Right. Let's also pretend that for the last few days, you haven't been glancing at the front door every morning after workouts—just in case she walks in with your usual breakfast order from your favorite diner," Zach bites out, eyes narrowing.
"You know, wearing that big, blinding smile—like a damn ray of sunshine she only ever saves for you."
Elijah's expression flickers—barely, but enough. A shadow passes through his eyes before his mask snaps back into place.
"Or how about the way you always sit facing the door during team dinners?
Or how you check your phone every time it buzzes, like you're hoping it's her?
You can fool yourself all you want, man.
But you don't get to talk shit about her, not when it's that damn clear she's the one stuck under your skin. "
Zach goes on, "You know what, man? From now on, I'm done watching my sister get hurt because of you."
He steps closer again, and Luke and Liam both instinctively move in—ready this time, just in case.
But Zach doesn't swing.
He just looks at Elijah, eyes dark, jaw set. "I'm going to do what I should've done a long time ago—protect her. Keep her as far away from you as possible. Because she doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve you."
Elijah's jaw flexes, but he doesn't say anything.
The room feels heavy, like everyone's holding their breath.
Zach exhales hard through his nose. "She's too good for you, man. Way too good. And until you figure your shit out—until you pull your head out of your ass and stop pretending you don't care—don't even think about talking to me."
He steps back and turns away before anyone can say a word.
Elijah just stands there, one hand pressed against his split lip, the smallest flicker of something—regret maybe—flashing in his eyes.
I exhale quietly, my pulse still thundering in my ears.
For a second, I just stand there, staring at his back, wanting to say something—to stop him—but knowing nothing I say will calm him right now.
So I follow.
I mumble a quick, awkward "Goodnight" to no one in particular and hurry after him, my chest tight. The door's still swinging shut when I reach it.
Outside, the cool air hits me like a slap. Zach's already halfway across the lot, hands shoved in his pockets, head down. I jog a few steps to catch up, my heart breaking a little at the sight of him like that—furious, but also hurting.
When I finally reach him, I don't say anything. I just slip my hand into his, lacing our fingers together.
He doesn't look at me right away, but I feel the smallest squeeze back—just enough to tell me he's still here. Still Zach.
CHAPTER forty-six
ZACH