Chapter Thirty-Four
MIA
I stared at my screen as it lit up, indicating another call was coming through. But I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t move. I was frozen in fear.
Charlie wheeled over quickly and hit the key on my keyboard that would forward the call to the next available computer. He turned mine to busy so no other calls could come through, then scooted back over to his machine, finishing the steps to dispatch the extra ambo to the fire.
For Zack.
My chest ached and my stomach revolted. Thankfully, I hadn’t eaten anything yet, or I was sure I’d be emptying the contents into the trashcan under my desk.
When Owen’s call came through Charlie’s station, requesting a second ambo for Zack—condition unknown—my heart had literally felt like it stopped beating.
I needed an update. I needed to know he was okay. Alive.
Oh my god. A choked sob ripped from my chest, pulling Charlie’s concerned gaze my way.
I listened in, hoping to hear any form of update.
But other than requesting the ambo and sending Zack to the hospital in it, that was it.
The rest was about putting the fire out and police arresting a suspect.
If I wasn't so sick to my stomach worried about Zack, I would've been doing a happy dance.
Because we finally got the son of a bitch who'd caused so much destruction and havoc for over a year.
Charlie finished up and turned his station to busy, coming to stand in front of me.
“Go,” he said in a firm tone.
“What?” I looked up at him, trying to discern what he was telling me to do.
He looked back at me like I was the densest person he’d ever met. “You need to go to the hospital.”
I shook my head. “I—I can’t.” As much as I wanted to, he wouldn’t want me there. Not after what happened.
“Yes, you can.” He narrowed his eyes. “You need to be there when he opens his eyes so you can tell him you’re a goddamn fool and you love him too. Then pray he forgives you.”
Love? That wasn’t possible. I started to shake my head…but stopped. Did I love Zack?
The thought of not being with him, of losing him, literally felt like it was tearing my heart in two.
Is that what love felt like? Not being able to imagine life without someone else? I was sure I’d never been in love before. But I also had no idea what it actually felt like.
I did know I was so freaking happy when we were together. The happiest I’d ever been.
But love was forever, and I wasn’t sure I could do that. If I could, though, I wanted it to be with him.
“Mia.” Charlie’s stern tone pulled my attention back up at him. “I know you’re going through it all in your head. Trying to talk yourself out of what you know to be the truth. Just embrace it. You guys will figure out the future together. Whatever that looks like.”
I glanced up at my friend. One who knew me well, who listened and understood. Gathering my stuff, I bolted from my seat. “Thanks, Charlie.”
I’d never run so fast, flying through the building, jumping in the car, and then speeding across town to the hospital. I checked in with the girls at the front desk, their faces also lined with concern, then hurried to the room they told me he was in.
As I turned the corner, Nicole stepped out of his room and headed toward me.
My steps quickened as jealousy boiled over, and I embraced it.
He wasn’t the only one who could be possessive.
I needed to tell Nicole he was mine and pray our friendship would survive it. If not, I’d deal with that later too.
Because I couldn’t hide it anymore. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
“Hey, Mia.” She raised a brow as I stopped in front of her. “Here to see Zack?”
I nodded, and taking a deep breath, I blurted the words I needed to say. “I love him.”
Her lips turned up in a knowing smile, and with a gentle voice, she said, “I know.”
“You do?”
She nodded, and for the first time I took in the scrubs she was wearing. She wasn’t visiting him, hoping for more than friendship, she was working. Fuck. I really was in love with him.
“I suspected something was going on with you two at the twins’ birthday party. But watching you together after the fire, at the hospital. It was obvious that you had serious feelings for each other.”
How the hell did everyone else see it so clearly and I’d been so blind? “You’re not mad?”
“No.” She tilted her head. “Why would I be mad?”
“Because you like him.”
She shrugged. “He’s hot. Who wouldn’t make that move? But honestly, he was never really into me. You two, however, are adorable together.”
My face must have made an involuntary weird expression. It was hard to turn my visual subtitles off, especially when I was upset.
She muffled an obvious chuckle. “Still getting used to the idea?”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“Well, he’s awake.” She tipped her head over her shoulder. “But heads up, Adam and Lyla are in there.”
Owen must have called in some volunteers since they would be a man down—well, two—and let Adam come check on Zack.
“Great,” I said with a sigh. I would get to do this all over again. Worth it.
Squaring my shoulders, I moved past her, but froze right outside the room as Zack’s voice filtered out.
“I knew one of you would find me once my PASS alarm sounded and I wasn’t answering the radio.”
Adam grunted. “You’re lucky you only have a concussion and he didn’t try to kill you.”
“What happened when you found us?” Zack asked, quickly adding, “I’m assuming you guys didn’t leave him in the basement?”
Adam huffed out a chuckle. “Seth suggested we do just that. But after everything he did, I really want to see him convicted. I kind of enjoyed tackling him and then throwing his ass up through the damn hole. Seth had the honor of dragging him out.”
Zack laughed. “A little payback for shooting you?”
“Can we not revisit that memory please?” Lyla pleaded.
I could hear the hurt and frustration in her voice.
It would take her a while to get past that whole thing.
And yeah, I got it. Her next words did make me smile, though.
“Now that the arsonist will be spending a lot of time behind bars, maybe you two can stop playing hero?”
I took a deep breath and pushed into the room. “I second that.”
The surprise on Zack’s face as he stared at me was comical. I tried to silently convey everything I was feeling and wanted to say as I stared at him. But he tamed the cocky smile I could tell was trying to break through, crossed his arms over his chest, and raised a brow.
Jerk. But I deserved it. And he deserved my words.
I turned to Adam and Lyla, directing my words to my best friend first.
“You have been so important to me for as long as I can remember. Always there. Always supportive. We’ve been more like sisters than just friends.” I took a steadying breath. “And I hate that I’ve been hiding something from you.”
She crossed her arms. “Does it have anything to do with the fact that Zack has been acting like a mopey puppy dog for the past two days?”
“Yes.” I glanced back at him as I answered her question. “I made a big mistake. I wasn’t ready to admit it, but I love him. And I hurt him because I was scared.”
His smile this time stretched to his eyes, showing me those adorable fucking dimples.
“You what?” Lyla squeaked, surprise evident in her tone.
I looked back at her. “I love him. So freaking much. And I’m just praying he forgives me for being such an unaware idiot.”
He opened his arms wide. “Come here, baby.”
Something like a whimper left my lips, and I hurried around to the other side, climbing into his bed and holding him tight. He wrapped his arms around me, and it felt so right. So perfect. I held back happy tears, knowing we had more to talk about.
“I love you too,” he whispered to the top of my head.
Happiness and relief spread through my body. I’d never experienced this kind of utter joy hearing those words before. And although it was a new feeling, it was also a welcome one.
I met Lyla’s gaze. “I need you to be okay with this.”
“Are you kidding me?” she shrieked, and I couldn’t tell if it was a good or bad type of shriek. “This is so amazing. Oh my God, we can have like a ton of double dates. Dual weddings. Have babies at the same time…”
I stiffened slightly as her voice got even higher-pitched on that last one. But, even though the thought still shocked me, the idea of forever with him didn’t scare me anymore.
Adam wrapped his arm around Lyla’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s give them some time together.” He turned, shooting Zack a wink over his shoulder, and led her out of the room.
“I’m not asking for any of that right now,” Zack jumped in quickly the minute they were out of the room. “We can take this as slow as you need.”
I glanced up at him and smirked. “What? Didn’t like the idea of dual weddings and babies?”
“If I say I love the idea, will you run away?”
I ran my fingers through his hair and shook my head. “No. You’re not getting rid of me that easily now.” I took a breath, needing to tell him something since we were on the topic. “But if I don’t ever want kids, will that be a deal breaker for you?”
“Not at all. Honestly, I’m not sure if I even want them.”
That shocked me. The way he was with everyone’s kids made me think he wanted some of his own. “I think you would be an amazing dad.”
“And you would be an amazing mom.” He cupped my face. “But we have plenty of time to figure those things out. Right now, the only thing I know for sure is that I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
I swallowed, remembering the pain I’d felt for the last two days. “That night when you left my apartment, I cried myself to sleep. And then when I heard you were hurt, it felt like someone was ripping my heart out of my chest. I’m sorry I didn’t figure all of this out sooner.”
“I’m just glad you did figure it out.” His lips twitched. “If not, I planned on showing up at your place and convincing you.”
I laughed. “And how were you going to do that?”
“I hadn’t gotten that far.” His gaze heated. “Maybe spanking your ass until you admitted you loved me?”
“That actually might have worked,” I mused.
His eyes twinkled with hilarity. “Ready to meet my parents now?”
I gasped and raised up on my elbow. “Now?”
He nodded, a slight grin playing on his lips. “Yup. They’ll be here in the next ten minutes.”
I relaxed back with a sigh. Why the hell not? Apparently I was knocking out all my firsts today. “Can we maybe leave out the part where I broke your heart?”
“They’re going to love you regardless.” He tucked me tighter into his side and reclined back with a slight groan, closing his eyes.
“Is the concussion bad?”
“Mild. I’ll be okay.” The way this group all seemed to get concussions was shocking. “Just gonna need someone to take care of me for a few days. Maybe I’ll ask Savannah.”
“Over my dead body,” I snapped, more playful than mad.
His lips lifted into a devilish smirk. “Now who’s jealous?”
“Damn right I am.” I pinched his side. “I’m the only one allowed to take care of you. You’re mine. I’m yours. End of story.”
“I think our story is just beginning.”
And with that, I fell in love with him even more.