Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Zac
The lights were still on at the Miller residence, so Zac didn’t feel guilty about knocking on the door at such a late hour.
Not that nine was late for most people, but Lucy was pregnant, so he wanted to respect her sleep needs.
There would have been a time when he wouldn’t have thought twice about stopping by at any hour—middle of the day, dinner time, midnight.
But for the better part of a year, he’d been putting in the effort to consider how other people felt instead of putting his own impulses first.
He was determined to grow.
He especially didn’t feel bad tonight because of the random vehicles parked on the side of the long driveway: three trucks and a peppy little Mazda. Not to mention the various voices chattering away inside the log home. They couldn’t be having a party without him.
Could they?
Did he stumble on a dirty little secret?
A poker night he wasn’t privy to?
Another knock—this one more forceful—and a couple doorbell rings and finally the door burst open, but the man on the other side wasn’t who he’d expected.
“Well, Zacharia, as I live and breathe.” Lucy’s best friend, Todd, leaned against the entryway wearing distressed jeans and a henley with sleeves pushed up to his elbows.
Speckles of light-colored paint clung to the hair on his forearms, while a pair of goggles hung haphazardly around his neck.
Typically, so put together, this casual version of Todd surprised Zac.
“I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I’m here helping with a little project,” Todd provided.
“What kind of project?”
“See for yourself.” The tall, lean man stepped aside so Zac could enter. Inside, the main living area was a bustling whirlwind. A saw buzzed on the back porch, a hammer sounded from upstairs, and riotous laughter bounced down the hallway.
Zac had walked into what looked like a complete home makeover.
The house Jonathan had built many years ago when he’d moved home to help his ailing father with the family’s guiding business was decent sized but sparse.
And when Lucy had moved in a couple years ago, she’d added her touch, but whatever was going on currently was massive.
Excitement for the reno was quickly overshadowed by hurt for not being asked to help.
He’d always been good with his hands. Jon and Frankie’s dad, Robert Miller, had taught Zac a lot in the family’s little wood shop.
As young boys, Zac and Jon would spend hours building their own birdhouses or planters.
Eventually, their skills graduated to building forts on the family property.
And even though the first attempt was rickety and resulted in Zac breaking his wrist, they continued to try over and over.
Zac had even helped Jonathan build the very house they were standing in.
Swallowing his disappointment, Zac jammed his hands in his pockets and leaned back on his heels. “Looks like a big operation. Jon home?”
Todd eyed him with unmistakable scrutiny. “No. He and Lucy are in Wenatchee for the baby boot camp thing.”
“Wait, it’s a sleepaway camp?”
Todd chuckled. “No, I rented a suite for them nearby so they could have a babymoon while I work my magic.”
“Babymoon?”
“It’s a getaway for the parents-to-be to have a little pampering of their own before their lives are overrun with diapers and dark circles.”
Zac nodded in understanding. His friends could use a little relaxation.
Of the two of them, Lucy was the one holding it together despite the two lumberjack babies growing inside of her.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was a walking, talking panic attack waiting to happen.
On more than one occasion he’d had to sit with his head between his legs and take deep breaths.
Zac knew his friend was naturally prone to anxiety—Jon had been through it numerous times—but the closer Lucy got to delivery the more stressed her husband managed to get.
Which was why Zac was happy to be able to take this climbing magazine thing off their plates.
And also why he felt hurt not being looped in with the house overhaul.
He threw a thumb over his shoulder and said, “Well, I’ll head out so you can get back to it.”
“Wait.” Todd stepped between Zac and the front door. “Want a beer first?”
Todd didn’t wait for a response, but instead draped an arm around Zac’s shoulder and led him into the kitchen. He pulled out a bottle and handed it off.
“Thanks,” Zac mumbled and took a swig. After a few moments of silence, he asked, “Was it Jon or Lucy who asked you to do this?”
Todd shook his head. “Neither. It’s a surprise.”
“Wow. That’s cool of you. But what if they hate it?”
His lips pursed in skepticism while his eyes did a full rotation. “Please.”
The reaction was fair. Todd knew the couple well, and honestly as long as the reno included the babies’ room, the Millers would probably be happy. On numerous occasions he’d heard Jon moan about not having the time to get it ready.
“Can I help?” Zac suddenly felt desperate to take another thing off of his best friend’s plate. As though helping Todd with whatever he needed would put more points in the reliability column. “I’m a decent woodworker and any asshole can paint—”
“Hey.”
“You know what I mean.” He hadn’t meant to offend, only to convince Todd that he could be useful.
Plus, whatever task he was given would be another way to distract him from his current fixation.
And while he wouldn’t be able to wipe the leggy red head from his mind completely, the sweat equity would at least help him work off the lingering tension he’d felt since running into her.
“Put those puppy dog eyes away. You can help,” Todd assured with a chuckle. “But we’re about to wrap up for the night.”
Damn. He could really use something to do to quiet his riotous mind tonight. “You sure? I could find something to do.”
Todd’s eyes searched and analyzed Zac’s face, and Zac refused to squirm as he was certain the man could read his thoughts from across the kitchen countertops. “Are you all right, Zac?”
“Sure, of course.” He flinched at his own too-quick response.
“Nothing’s bothering you?”
“Not a damned thing.”
“Ok,” Todd conceded, following Zac to the front door. “See you tomorrow after you’re off work?”
“Sure thing. I’ll bring tacos.”
“You’re a peach.” Todd ushered him out the door. “See you tomorrow.”