Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
I t had been a mistake. Danielle knew it had been a mistake to tell Zach, but for some reason, she felt lighter. Like this giant secret that she’d been holding onto was gone. She could breathe. Her steps felt lighter.
Even though her confession had pretty much obliterated her relationship with Zach, the truth was out there. Isaac’s truth was told. She could finally heal from the pain and anguish that holding onto that secret had brought her.
She was free.
Once she got into Bucky’s house, she made a beeline for Thomas and literally dragged him away from the food table. He was startled, but when he saw her face, whatever her facial expression told him was enough to get him moving.
He held onto his plate and headed toward the front door.
Once they were in his van, Danielle let out the breath she’d been holding. It wasn’t until they were down the winding roads, back to Atlanta, that Thomas turned to her.
“Everything okay?”
She chewed her lip as she turned to smile at him. “No. But it will be.”
Thomas cleared his throat as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Is it that Zach guy? You guys have something going on?”
Danielle sighed as she entwined her fingers in her lap. “Yes,” she whispered. “But it’s over. I’ve done something that I’m pretty sure he’ll never forgive.”
Thomas snorted as he shifted in his seat. “I doubt that.”
“It’s bad, Thomas.”
Thomas glanced over at her and she could see the pain in his gaze. “You’re an amazing catch, Danielle. He’d be a fool to let you go.”
Her stomach lightened at his words, making her feel bad that he may have gotten the wrong impression about her availability. “So are you, Thomas. You’ll find the right girl.”
Thomas snorted. “I don’t think the right girl exists for me.”
Danielle reached out and rested her hand on his forearm. “She does. Trust me. Don’t give up.” She let out her breath as she leaned back in her seat. Unfortunately for her, the right guy
existed, he just hated her right now. Which she didn’t blame him for. She had just dropped a huge bomb in his lap. She doubted he’d ever forgive her.
It didn’t take long before Thomas had pulled up in front of her building and let his van idle. After a quick hug, Danielle told him she’d see him on Monday and slipped from her seat. After closing the door, she waved at him as he drove away, and then turned to head back inside.
The darkness of the sky surrounded her and she glanced at her phone. Ten o’clock. Hopefully Jesse was asleep. She didn’t have the energy or perseverance to be a mom right now.
Just as she pulled open the front door to the building, a hand reached out to stop her.
Screaming, she turned, readying her stance to stop her assailant.
But all she saw was Zach’s wide eyes and a ridiculous half-smile spreading across his lips.
“Zach?” she said, her heart pounding from the surprise and the fact that he was here. Touching her.
“You didn’t let me finish,” he said. His hair was wind blown and he had a desperate look in his eyes.
Not sure where he was going with this, Danielle held up her hand. She didn’t want to hear his excuse. She’d let him off the hook.
“It’s okay. It’s not the olden days. You don’t have to marry me just because I’m the mother of your brother’s child.”
That seemed to confuse Zach because his lips parted but nothing came out. He cocked his head to the side as he studied her. “What?” he finally managed.
“You know, how in the olden days men had to marry their brother’s wives? Well, you don’t have to do that.” She nodded at him. “I pardon you.” Just as she yanked on the door to go into her apartment complex, Zach’s arm came out again, stopping her.
“You never let me finish,” he said, his voice deep with frustration. “Years ago and again tonight. You think you know what I’m going to say, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
Fear rose up inside of her at the realization that she couldn’t run even though every part of her body was telling her to. She needed to protect herself from whatever Zach was about to tell her.
“I—um…”
Zach stepped closer to her, cradling her cheek in his hand. “I don’t care if you’ve kept Jesse a secret. The way things ended was horrible for you. I understand why you did it. I’m just sorry that I wasn’t there for you. That none us were there for you.” He leaned closer and brushed his lips against her cheek.
All emotions rushed through her body and settled in her throat as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Zach was just what she wanted and didn’t know she needed.
“Zach,” she whispered as she glanced up to see him smiling down at her.
“Yes?”
“Do you forgive me?”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He was soft at first, as if he wanted her to know that was his answer. Then, just as she rose up onto her tiptoes to deepen the kiss, he pulled back.
Out of instinct, she moaned, needing the feeling of his lips pressed to her like the oxygen in the air.
“I forgive you,” he said and then gathered her up into his arms and pressed his lips to her again.
She ran her fingers up his arm and tangled them into the hair at the nape of his neck. He pulled her up, pressing her against the building. Every part of her pressed against him. They were like two puzzle pieces that finally found each other again.
She wasn’t sure how long they kissed out there on the sidewalk, but after the millionth cat call, Zach lowered her to the ground, but raised his hands and rested them on either side of her head. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“I love you, Danielle Danaher,” he said, dipping down so he could meet her gaze.
Danielle couldn’t help the smile that emerged on her lips. She raised her gaze to meet his. “I love you, too.” Then she rose up and pressed her lips to his again.
Just as he deepened the kiss, he groaned and pulled back.
Danielle glanced up at him, confused why he would pull away.
“I just realized that we have to tell my parents,” he said, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. He let his fingers graze her cheek as he stared at her.
His intensity caused her insides to turn to putty.
She smiled at him and shrugged. “It’s not so scary with you by my side.”
Zach raised his eyebrows and chuckled. “We’ll do this together?”
Danielle nodded. “Together.”
And she meant it.