Chapter 24 Zach
Zach
Zach hadn’t said much after the whirlwind Colton had created when he got back. He removed Zach from the family with just a quick I’m borrowing him and Uncle Ted will explain. Four days ago, that would’ve blown Zach’s mind. Now? It seemed part of his life.
They’d gone back to Momma’s house, and Colton explained everything. His bandmates—he refused to call them brothers, because they never—had somehow found her house. They needed to gather some things and stay at his mostly done home.
“If we don’t make it look like anyone’s living there, they won’t have a reason to check out the place,” Colton had said.
It wasn’t everything Colton knew, and Zach was getting annoyed at everyone treating him like a helpless kid. Yes, they were trying to protect him, but it would be safer if he knew the full truth.
Zach was also smart enough to fill in the gaps in what he’d been told.
Something was wrong. Individually, or as a group, they weren’t smart enough to find Sue Ellen’s house.
He highly doubted they could buy, much less operate a drone.
Not on their own. Was Creepy Suit Guy helping?
Unlikely after what Maddie said he did to Bradley. But if not him, then who?
The house was buzzing with activity. Colton was getting things from all over the house and piling them by the back door. It was a big pile already, and he kept adding to it. He’d mutter something and then without explaining, head off to another part of the house.
He and Colton were moving again. It annoyed him that no one asked if he wanted to move, or if he was okay with where they were going next. Then he remembered the part where he had nowhere better to go, and they were doing this to protect him.
And if he’d stopped being pissy about no one asking, he could focus on how it was going to be him and Colton. Alone. Like he’d ever object to that.
“We’re gonna need to use air mattresses. I didn’t get furniture yet.”
Colton was trying to think of him. Zach forgot Colton was only a few years older than him. He might seem calm, but this was scary as fuck even to him. “I slept on a cot most of my life. An air mattress is an upgrade.” Most of what he’d experienced the last few days was a luxury.
He tilted his head with that cute as fuck goofy grin. “Really? I thought they’d cost about the same.”
He wanted to kiss the smile so hard he suffocated the man. “Two words. Inflate and deflate. The time it takes to do either is often more than we had.”
“Damn, honey, you really were roughing it.”
The words strung together ignited something inside Zach. “Not that I mind, but why do you call me ‘honey’? I mean, it’s kind of cute, but it makes me feel like you think I’m girlie or something.”
Even with the preface it sounded like he was upset. When the color drained from Colton’s face, Zach knew he’d fucked up.
“Oh, hon… Zach. I’m sorry. It’s not like that, I swear. Trust me, when I look at you, I don’t see a girl. Not even a little.”
Zach wanted to take himself outside and kick his own ass. “It’s not bad, really. No one’s ever called me that.” Not that he’d ever let anyone pay attention to him like Colton. “A whole lot of new stuff to get used to, I suppose.”
“I sure hope you want to get used to me.”
Zach inched closer, unsure if it would feel too much like overcompensating if he crowded Colton. “I want to get used to you in every possible way. You make me want things I’ve never wanted before. And I don’t mean sexually. But I want that too.”
“I want to give you things you’ve never had.” Colton moved in and Zach licked his lips.
The sound of tires on gravel broke their moment. They both blinked and looked toward the window. The sheriff and Greg stepped out of the cruiser.
“Yo, Scrap!” Greg hollered. “Come help us transfer this shit to your truck.
Zach cursed silently. Every. Goddamn. Time. “Fuck me. Your family has the worst timing. It’s like they planted a microchip in you.”
Colton laughed. “I wouldn’t put it past Momma to do that, but I suspect it’s just shitty timing. One thing’s for sure, Momma won’t be showing up for a surprise visit. Greg will stop in, but he can see whatever for all I care.”
Nodding like he’d settled everything, Colton jogged out to the truck. They unloaded things from the sheriff’s vehicle and loaded them onto Colton’s. The three worked together like machines in Wranglers.
The easy way they fell into a task left Zach envious. Whenever something needed to get done at the show, someone, usually Grandpa, had had to ride shotgun over the crew. There were no smiles or good-natured jokes, only scowls and sarcastic barbs.
For most of his life, Zach had stayed away from the hate. He did his share of the work and kept quiet. He hadn’t lied when he said Colton made him want things. A real family that worked together, got along, and had his back just because was something he’d never seen up close.
Zach lingered a minute to soak in Colton working with his family. He left the daydream of being part of that world aside and went to collect his stuff.
A lifetime of moving on the quick had conditioned him to keep his stuff together. It took him a few minutes to pack up the things he’d left out for the morning. Once he checked he had all his stuff, he gave the room a last look.
He didn’t linger, because either he’d be back or he wouldn’t. That was his life. Hooking his violin in one hand, he hoisted his duffel bag over his shoulder.
From the hallway, he saw Colton’s back. He was talking to his uncle, and the sheriff had the all-business expression Zach had seen the first time they met.
He couldn’t see Colton’s face, but his body said this was more than a family goodbye.