Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Zach
Man, did I fuck up. Her heart was still broken, and it was my fault. Fuck, it was more than broken. It was goddamn pulverized.
I thought my decision was the right one all those years before. If only I knew then what I know now. I would’ve done everything differently.
I had to step up my grovel game. But first, I had to give her some space.
As much as it killed me inside to do so, I knew it was the right thing to do. Or maybe Lena knew it was the right thing to do, and I just listened. She cornered me the other night at my homecoming party and told me I was making things worse. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it was the truth.
Over the past few days, I kept myself busy with my new start-up. I avoided the diner like the plague and learned my cooking skills pretty much sucked.
Thankfully, Crew and Arlo, my two closest friends from my squad, did regular diner runs, and Rowan, another squad member, enjoyed cooking, so he covered a few meals.
All the guys pitched in ideas of how the company would work, where we would offer our services, and more. I was excited to get started since my time in the military was behind me. While I enjoyed serving my country, I was ready to settle down and start a life.
And no matter what life I pictured myself having, Camille was always there, by my side, as my wife, partner, best friend, and mother to my children.
“What’s up with you lately?” Crew asked over lunch one afternoon.
“What do you mean?” I responded. Where was this coming from?
Crew shrugged. “You seem…different. Arlo agreed with me and?—”
I cut him off. “You’re talking to Arlo behind my back now?” I joshed, elbowing him in the side. I honestly didn’t care, but I was curious as to how I acted differently.
Crew held up his hands in surrender. “Only good things, my man. Just want to make sure you’re okay. Being back here and all. I’m sure there’s a lot of memories hitting you every which way.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” I clapped him on the back. Crew had been by my side on our squad for two straight years, so I trusted the guy with my life.
“Is it about that chick from the diner?” Arlo asked as he took a seat next to Crew.
My fork froze midair, only halfway to my mouth. Dammit. My mother did say I always wore my heart on my sleeve. “Her name is Camille. Not that chick.” I grunted.
“Whoa, sorry, man,” Arlo said. Crew shot him a dirty look.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Let’s change the subject.”
* * *
The following day, the squad and I worked side by side, and by five o’clock that evening, all of my brain power was depleted. I called it a night, and on my way home, I placed my usual order with the diner. I’ve avoided the place long enough.
Camille’s mother sounded overjoyed to hear my voice. A small part of me hoped Camille answered the phone, and an even bigger part of me hoped I’d see her when I picked up my order.
As I drove through Appleridge, the radio warned of an incoming rainstorm with heavy winds and possible power outages. Shit, I wasn’t sure if I had any flashlights or batteries back at the house, so I made a mental note to grab some after I picked up dinner.
When I pulled into the diner parking lot, the sky opened, and the rain poured. I ran into the diner as fast as I could but still ended up soaked.
“Phew, that storm came on fast, huh?” Marty, a local townsman who ran the Appleridge Inn, stood in the doorway on his way out, his eyes locked on the now raging storm outside.
“Yeah, the radio said to expect a lot of wind and possible power outages. They should probably close up early tonight.”
“I think you might be right, Zach. It’s good having you back.” Marty clapped me on the shoulder. “Get home safe.”
“Thanks,” I said before walking over to the pick-up counter. Usually, my order was ready and waiting, but it was not tonight. I looked around and noticed the diner was pretty empty. Were Camille and her parents still here?
I strode toward the kitchen, and that was when I heard Camille’s panic-stricken voice.
“Oh my God! Okay, don’t get out of the car. I’m coming to you. Tell me exactly where you are.”
What the hell was happening?
My heart lurched. I couldn’t stand here and do nothing. I had to help. I rounded the corner and walked over to her. “Camille, what’s wrong?”
If she was surprised to see me, she didn’t act like it. Instead, her shoulders visibly relaxed, and she rushed toward me. “Zach! My parents…I sent them home early because of the storm, and now they’re stuck on the road!”
“Shit. Where? I’ll go get them, don’t worry.”
“You will?”
“Of course, Camille. There’s no question. Let’s go. You can tell me what happened on the way.”
Camille quickly locked the diner, and we ran out to my truck. The rain came down in sheets, pelting us sideways as the wind nearly knocked us over.
“My mom sent me a pin drop. I’ll put it in the GPS app,” she said as her fingers flew across the screen of her phone.
“Perfect,” I said as I steered out of the parking lot. The visibility sucked, and the rain and wind whipped at my truck. I kept my speed below twenty as I tried to navigate the fallen debris from the trees.
“A tree came down right in front of them and blocked the road. Two seconds earlier, and it would’ve come down on them,” Camille said, her voice shaking with fear.
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “They’re okay; that’s what’s important. We’ll find them, sweetheart.”
It didn’t take long to locate their car. I loaded them up safely inside my truck and hooked their car to my tow hitch.
After taking the long way back to their house due to the storm, I got them all safely inside and unhooked their car.
“Thank you so much for everything, Zach. I appreciate the help,” Camille said to me, and I think it was the nicest tone she’d used with me since returning to town.
“You know I would do anything for you, sweetheart.”
“You wouldn’t mind doing me one more favor, then?”
“Name it.”
“Would you mind giving me a ride back to the diner? I’ll drive myself home, I just need?—”
“No way. The storm is only going to get worse.”
“I don’t have a choice. I need to clean up and prepare for the morning.”
“So open later. I doubt anyone will be out in the morning. Not until the roads are cleaned up at least.”
“Zach, you don’t understand. I need to close up.”
“Fine, I’ll drive you there. And back. There’s no way you’re driving on these roads tonight.”
Camille crossed her arms and let out a puff of air, her signature annoyed look, but I secretly loved it. It never failed to make my dick hard. “Ugh! You’re impossible.” She kissed her parents goodbye and stomped outside. It was fucking adorable.
When I pulled into the diner almost thirty minutes later, her hand was on the door handle, and she was ready to jump out with a goodbye.
“What’s the rush?” I teased, and she shot me a dirty look.
As she went to open the door and hop out, I pulled her back inside. I couldn’t hold back, couldn’t resist anymore, and this goddamn sassy attitude of hers only made it more difficult.
I was taking what I wanted. And I wanted her.
With my hand on the back of her neck and my fingers in her hair, I guided our mouths toward each other and kissed her with all the love I felt for her, all the passion and longing I’d fought for so long.
She kissed me back. She actually kissed me back.
For a split second.
Then it was over.
“What the hell, Zach?” Camille pushed me off her and hopped out of the truck. Without a look back, she stormed into the diner.