Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Z ach leaned next to the large picture windows in his condo a week later, staring out at the glistening buildings that surrounded him. The sun was sinking just behind the buildings, setting the sky aglow.
It really was breathtaking, if Zach were in that kind of mood. But he wasn’t. His heart felt as if it were hemorrhaging in his chest. It’d only been seven days since Danielle kicked him out of her life for the second time. Only seven days of feeling as if he couldn’t breathe. Seven days of pure ache for losing the one girl that caused his mind to swirl and his stomach to lighten.
His phone vibrated, making him jump away from the window and grab it. One look at who was calling and his stomach sank. Why was he such an idiot that he thought Danielle would call him and confess that she’d made a huge mistake? But, that was not the case at the moment. Instead, it was Joy.
Taking a deep breath, Zach pressed the talk button and brought his phone up to his cheek. “Hello?”
“Mr. Stedman.”
“Zach.”
“Zach,” she replied, slowly. “I just got all the papers signed, the listing on 2ND street is yours.”
“Awesome,” he said, his voice as flat as his actual enthusiasm. He turned and stared out at the city once more. If Danielle was actually living there, maybe he’d be happier, but she’d flat out refused him. Now the joy of finding a rental property wasn’t as exciting as it had started out to be.
“Well, then,” Joy said after clearing her throat. “I’ll fax the documents over and once you sign them, send them back.”
“Sure.”
Silence.
Then, a thought began to tug at the back of Zach’s mind. An annoying and incessant thought.
“Hey, Joy?”
“Yes?”
“Do you mind doing me a favor? I know Danielle declined, but do you mind bringing her over a key? I’m not looking for tenants right this moment. I want to give her some time to think about it.”
“You want me to bring over a key to Ms. Danaher?”
Was he being ridiculous? Probably. But he knew what he was supposed to do. Even if Danielle tried to shut him out her life, he wasn’t going to let her. He’d fight until he had nothing left. It’s what Isaac would want him to do. It’s what a good guy would do.
“Yes, please.”
She sighed. It was full of everything she probably wanted say but wouldn’t. For some reason, the word idiot kept flashing in his mind. And he probably was an idiot. But he couldn’t walk away. He cared too much.
“Alright. And if she says no?”
Zach let out his breath. That was more than likely the reaction she was going to have. But he was going to fight her. Er—he was going to have Joy fight her.
“Just let her know that I want her to think about it. If she still feels the same in a week, I’ll take it back and leave her alone for good.”
Joy clicked her tongue and then sighed. “Okay.”
Zach thanked her and then hung up. Just as he set the phone down on his counter, a knock sounded on the door.
Confused, he walked over and pressed the intercom camera next to it. Jonathan was standing on the other side with a suitcase parked next to him. Needing some guy time, Zach opened the door.
“Hey, man,” he said, extending his hand and pulling Jonathan into a bro-hug.
“Hey,” Jonathan said as he pounded Zach’s back.
They parted and Zach led Jonathan into his kitchen where he grabbed out two beers and handed one over. They opened them and each took a long drink.
“How was Pittsburgh?” Zach asked. It’d been a while since he’d seen his best friend. Jonathan had needed to go back home to meet with his coach.
Jonathan shrugged. “Same old, same old. You know how it is. There’s always talk of trading.”
Zach almost choked on his beer. He coughed a few times as he glanced over at Jonathan who was missing his cheery disposition.
“You?”
Jonathan took another long pull of his beer and shrugged. “Who knows? In this career, things can change in the drop of a hat.” Jonathan pushed his hands through his hair as he gave Zach a fake smile.
Great. Things were going amazing for both of them.
Jonathan straightened as he drummed the countertop in front of him. “Let’s go do something. I can’t sit around and do nothing.”
Zach nodded as he set his beer down and glanced around. “What do you want to do?”
“I’m thinking we should make an appearance at the Blue Devil tonight. What do you think?”
“Now? It’s six.”
Jonathan shrugged. “We can do dinner first and then head over. I just need a break from it all, you know?”
Zach knew exactly what Jonathan was talking about. He was ready for a distraction. Anything to take his mind off of Danielle. “I’m game,” he said, waving his hand as he headed toward his bedroom to change.
“Hey, before I forget, can I stay the next few weeks? I’m headed to Honey Grove from here and I don’t really want to get a hotel room for the time being.”
Zach turned around and nodded. “Of course. Take the guest room. It’s all yours.”
Jonathan nodded and the sound of the wheels of his suitcase filled the empty air as he dragged it across the floor and over to the guest room. Once the door was closed, Zach walked into his bedroom and closed his door too.
Twenty minutes later, both men emerged showered and dressed in tailored suits. Zach nodded to Jonathan who did the same.
“We clean up pretty good,” Zach said.
Jonathan chuckled. “The women of Atlanta won’t know what hit them.”
Zach smiled despite the fact that it felt as if there were a vice around his heart, squeezing. He didn’t want the women of Atlanta. He wanted one woman, and she seemed very determined that she didn’t want him. Or that they were somehow bad for each other.
Whichever it was, she’d already doomed whatever relationship they could possibly attempt to grow. Why couldn’t his stupid head just grasp that and move on? Why was he so stuck on Danielle?
“Whoa, man. I think you might need this break more than me,” Jonathan said as he clapped Zach on the shoulder and pushed him toward the door.
Zach didn’t fight as he was ushered out of his apartment and down to the foyer where Paul was standing, waiting for them. After they climbed into the back of Zach’s car, Paul pulled out onto the road.
Zach settled back in his seat and let out his breath.
This was good. Getting out and moving on was good. It’s what he needed to do if he was going to survive. He’d already tried, twice, to reach Danielle and she pushed him away both times.
He needed to get her rejection through his thick skull. If not, he’d be this emotional wreck forever and that was not how he wanted to live. Forgetting Danielle needed to happen, and it needed to happen now.