Chapter 8
ZENNIKA
" W e need to talk."
Those four words hang in the air between Jason and Jude, and my stomach twists into a knot.
The welcome dinner bustles around us, laughter, clinking glasses, music from the small band in the corner, but it all fades to background noise as my brother stares down the man I've spent the last three nights with.
"Jason," I step between them, my voice low but firm. "Whatever you need to say can wait until after dinner."
"No, it really can't." His eyes flick to me, then back to Jude. "Outside. Now."
I watch as Jude downs the rest of his whiskey in one swift motion, sets the glass on a nearby table, and nods. "Lead the way."
This is exactly what I was afraid would happen. I glance at Abby, who's watching the exchange with wide eyes from across the garden. She gives me a questioning look, and I shake my head slightly. Not now.
"I'm coming too," I tell them, already following as Jason turns toward the garden exit.
"Zen—" Jude starts, but I cut him off with a look.
"Don't even try it. This involves me."
The three of us walk in tense silence through the garden and around to the front of the inn, where the parking lot offers some privacy from the party.
The evening air is heavy with the scent of magnolias and approaching rain, the humidity making my dress cling uncomfortably to my skin.
Or maybe that's just the anxiety coursing through my body.
"What the hell is going on between you two?" Jason demands the moment we're alone, his voice controlled but edged with anger.
Before I can answer, Jude speaks. "Jason, man, I can explain?—"
"I asked you to do one thing," my brother cuts him off. "One simple thing. Get my sister to Georgia safely. Not seduce her along the way."
I bristle at his tone. "I'm standing right here, and I'm not some helpless child who got 'seduced.' Whatever is happening between Jude and me is mutual and absolutely none of your business."
Jason's gaze snaps to me. "None of my business? He's my best friend. You're my little sister. And he promised me, years ago, that he would never go there with you."
The revelation stings more than it should, even though Jude had mentioned this promise. Hearing it from Jason makes it real in a way it wasn't before.
"I'm thirty years old," I remind him. "I get to decide who I spend my time with."
"And I get to be pissed when my best friend breaks a promise." He turns back to Jude. "So what is this? A road trip fling? Getting her out of your system before you head back to your ranch?"
Jude's jaw tightens. "It's not like that."
"Then what is it like? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like history repeating itself. You, unable to commit. Another woman I care about, bound to get hurt."
"That's enough." I step forward, placing myself physically between them. "You don't get to use my past relationships against me, and you don't get to assume you know what's happening here."
"Do you know what's happening here?" Jason challenges me.
"Yes, actually." I meet his gaze steadily. "Jude and I are trying to figure out if what we've found on this trip is something worth pursuing. We're both adults, Jason. We've talked about the logistics, the distance, all of it."
Jason looks between us, clearly surprised by my answer. "And this started when, exactly? When he picked you up in Kansas?"
"The feelings have been there longer than that," Jude says quietly, moving to stand beside me. "At least on my part."
This is news to me. I turn to look at him, question in my eyes, but his are certain as his gaze looks on mine.
"I’ve known I loved you for over a decade. Why do you think I was so quick to drive across half the country when Jason called?" Jude asks, his gaze fixed on mine. "I've had a thing for you for years, Zennika. Since high school."
"What?" Jason and I say in unison.
Jude nods, looking sheepish now. "That's why I made that promise to Jason in the first place. I knew he'd never approve, and after what happened with Abby..."
"You had feelings for me in high school?" I'm still stuck on this revelation. "But you were dating Abby."
"Briefly," he acknowledges. "And I handled it terribly. I broke up with her partly because I couldn't stop thinking about you. Which made me feel like the world's biggest jerk."
Jason runs a hand through his hair, looking stunned. "So all these years..."
"All these years, I've kept my distance from Zennika because I promised you I would.
Because I respected your right to protect your sister from a guy like me.
" Jude releases a bitter laugh. “It’s partly why I moved so quickly to Washington.” His voice is steady, honest, though he avoids my eyes.
"But these past few days have shown me something important.
I'm not that guy anymore. And Zennika isn't someone who needs protecting. "
I reach for Jude's hand, lacing our fingers together in a silent show of support. He squeezes gently, his touch grounding me.
"Jason," I say, softer now. "I understand why you're upset. With the promise, and the history, it's complicated. But what's happening between Jude and me is real. And it's good. Really good."
My brother studies us for a long moment, the anger gradually fading from his expression, replaced by something that looks like resignation mixed with reluctant understanding.
"You're serious about this?" he asks, looking between us. "Both of you?"
"Yes," we reply together.
"And you've talked about the practical stuff? The distance, your careers, all that?"
"We're working through it," I tell him. "Jude's even been looking at real estate here in Georgia."
Jason's eyebrows shoot up. "Seriously?"
Jude nods. "It's early days, but I'm not ruling anything out."
Silence falls between us, the sounds of the party drifting around the building, a reminder of the celebration we're all supposed to be part of.
"I'm still not happy about this," Jason says finally. "But it's clearly not just a road trip fling." He points a finger at Jude. "You hurt her, and best friend or not, I'll make you regret it."
"Fair enough," Jude agrees. "Though for the record, if I ever hurt her, I'll save you the trouble and beat myself up first."
Jason snorts, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "You two are really doing this, huh?"
"We're trying," I say, leaning slightly against Jude's solid presence beside me. "One day at a time."
My brother shakes his head, but I catch the hint of a smile he tries to hide. "Fine. But keep the PDA to a minimum around me, okay? There are some things a brother doesn't need to see."
Relief washes through me. It's not exactly a blessing, but it's acceptance. For now, that's enough.
"Deal," I agree, then gesture toward the garden. "Should we head back? People will start wondering where we disappeared to."
We walk back toward the party, Jason falling back into step beside Jude, their voices low. I catch phrases like "serious about this" and "make it work," and though I can't hear Jude's responses, the earnestness in his tone tells me everything I need to know.
Abby spots us re-entering the garden and hurries over, her expression curious. "Everything okay? You all disappeared at the same time, and I was worried there might be drama."
"No drama," I assure her, though that's not entirely true. "Just some family stuff we needed to sort out."
Her gaze flicks between Jude and me, then to Jason, clearly putting the pieces together. "So...you and Jude, huh? I knew it! I knew something happened on that road trip!"
"Keep your voice down," I hiss, though I can't help smiling at her excitement. "Yes, Jude and I are...exploring things."
"Exploring things," she repeats, eyes twinkling. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
"Abby..." I warn, but she just laughs.
"I'm happy for you," she says, hugging me quickly. "Shocked, but happy. And Jude," she turns to him, "you better be good to her."
"I plan to be," he says, and the simple certainty in his voice makes my heart flutter.
"Good." She claps her hands together. "Now, can we please get back to my wedding festivities? The caterers are about to serve the main course, and I've been waiting all day for that prime rib."
As we follow her back to the table, Jude's hand finds mine, his fingers threading through mine as naturally as if we've been doing this for years instead of days.
I look up at him, catching the smile in his eyes, and feel a certainty I've never experienced before.
Before I can overthink it, I pull him to the side of a large peach tree.
"So, you really had a thing for me in high school?" I whisper.
"From the first day Jason brought me home," he confirms. "You were sitting on the porch steps, reading some massive book, completely ignoring us. I thought you were the most fascinating person I'd ever seen."
"And you never said anything?"
"You made it pretty clear you thought I was lower than pond scum after what happened with Abby." He shrugs, but there's no bitterness in his tone. "Besides, Jason would have killed me."
I lean closer. "For what it's worth, I might have had a tiny crush on you too. Before the Abby incident."
His smile broadens. "Is that right?"
"Don't let it go to your head."
"Too late." He drops a kiss to my temple, quick and casual but enough to send warmth spreading through me. "Far too late for that."
"Then this will probably make your head explode because what I've realized over these past few days is that my small crush has grown into much deeper feelings." I meet his eyes. "I love you, Jude."
His eyes widen, surprise giving way to something profound and vulnerable. For a moment, he seems unable to speak, his strong hands gently cupping my face as though I'm something precious.
"Zennika," he says finally, his voice rough with emotion, "I've been falling in love with you since that first day on your porch. I just never thought I'd get the chance to tell you." His thumbs trace my cheekbones. "I love you. So much it terrifies me."
I rise on tiptoes as his head lowers to mine, our lips meeting in a kiss that feels like complete harmony. His arms encircle me, as mine wrap around his neck. The world narrows to just us, the taste of him, the solid warmth of his body against mine, the certainty of what we've found together.
When we finally break apart, breathless and smiling, he rests his forehead against mine. "We should probably get back before Jason sends a search party."
"Or before Abby comes looking for us herself," I agree, reluctantly stepping back but keeping hold of his hand.
As we rejoin the dinner, taking our places beside Jason at a table near the front, I realize something important.
The uncertainty I felt earlier, the worry about what happens next, is still there, but it's no longer overwhelming.
Because whatever challenges lie ahead, Jude and I will face them together.
And for the first time in my carefully controlled life, that feels like more than enough. It feels like everything.