14. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Zach
T hough the weekend started a little rocky, it was amazing to spend it with Mazie. Being with her in such a carefree way, not having to be afraid I might slip up and say or do something I shouldn’t, it was freeing.
Never had I realized how much I really held back with her. It was such a subconscious thing that I didn’t even realize I was doing it. Until today when I reflect on our time together.
Leaving her this morning was nearly impossible. It wasn’t just that I didn’t want to come to work—who does on a Monday morning? It was more so that I didn’t want to leave her . Her warmth, her embrace, her glances.
As I stare up at the sheriff's department, I tighten my grip on my duffel bag, take a deep breath, and walk through the front door. The precinct is small, so it doesn’t take me long to bump into Steve.
“Whoa. Take is easy there, killer. We’re not all built like you, Zach.” He puts a hand on my shoulder to stabilize himself.
“Sorry. Not watching where I’m going.”
“You seem…unhappy to be here. You’re never unhappy to be here.”
“Had a really great weekend. Wasn’t quite ready to leave that little nest yet.”
“Nest? You were with Mazie, weren’t you? About damn time.”
My brows pull together, and I stop short. “You too?”
“What do you mean?”
I run a hand through my hair. “It seems everybody except for me and Mazie saw that we had something.”
“Seriously? I always thought she was just…turning you down or something.” His shoulders lift like it’s no big deal.
My chin drops to my chest, and I shake my head. I can’t even muster a comeback.
“Well, at least now I can tell Bianca. She’ll be thrilled. What does Mazie’s brother think about the situation?”
“Uh, I haven’t officially told him yet.”
“Really? Is that safe? You didn’t think to, like, get his permission or whatever?”
I flip the combo on my locker and pull it open. “I don’t need his permission to date his sister. I don’t think. Whatever, he gave his blessing and was one of the many who apparently saw that we had feelings for each other before we did.”
“You know you have to tell him, right?”
The thought gives me pause. “Do I? Or should it come from Mazie?”
“Definitely you. You’re fucking his sister.” My jaw ticks at the crassness of his statement. “You should be the one to fess up.”
“It’ll have to wait until I’m off.”
“You don’t think she’ll tell him in the meantime?”
“I have no idea, but I don’t have any other choice. It’s not a phone conversation, it’s a face-to-face one.”
“So head over to his place on your rounds.” He says it like it’s just the easiest thing in the world.
“He’s out in Pineville City. Can’t do that. Plus, he’s at work.”
“Oh, right, right.” Sometimes I wonder if Steve isn’t so bright or just doesn’t pay attention to things that don’t interest him. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. He’s a good cop. When he’s focused.
But he has me thinking. Am I supposed to be the one to tell Eli that I’m dating Mazie? Will it matter if she tells him first? It’s not that I expect it to be a big deal, as he’s the one who told me to go for it.
I do suppose it’s a courtesy to tell him instead of him just finding out, though. Does he think it’s happened already, and I haven’t said anything? Shit, what a clusterfuck this is turning into. I run a hand down my face and my palm rubs against a weekend’s worth of stubble.
As I change into my uniform, all I can think about is the fact that Mazie’s surely telling her sisters. Whether at this very moment, or at some point today, it’s going to happen. The Baker clan is going to know about us and get to celebrate that they were all right. I wonder who will win the pool.
There’s no way I can get off work today and not head to Eli’s. It puts a slight damper on my plan of seeing Mazie as soon as possible, but this is important. At least, that’s what I’m being led to believe.
By the time lunch rolls around, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I need to make sure Eli’s free tonight.
Digging in my pocket for my phone, I swipe it open and click his contact, but then my fingers hesitate above the screen.
With a deep breath and shake of my head, I type out the message. I’m being ridiculous. It’s just Eli.
Hey man. You around tonight? Want to talk to you about something.
The phone immediately lights up and vibrates in my hand. With a groan, I swipe the green button.
“What’s up?”
“You finally started dating my sister. About damn time.”
“How did you know?”
“It’s been a couple weeks since our late-night chat.” He pauses, and I hear the distinct sound of a zipper closing in the background. “And you never text to see if I’m free. We just show up at each other’s place. It’s almost like a rule.”
I’d love to talk about the situation, but the zipper has me distracted. “Are you…are you in the bathroom?”
“Huh? Oh, no.” A soft voice sounds in the background, and I strain my ears to hear what’s being said.
“I definitely heard a zipper. What’s going on?”
“Just having some fun with the professor for intro to sociology.” There’s a freeness to his voice that’s very unlike him.
Enough so that I pull the phone from my ear to double check the contact on screen.
“Hang on a sec.” I hear crackle as his hand covers the mouthpiece. “Okay, sorry, just letting her out of my office.”
“Are you at work?” The shock is hard to contain. While Eli’s not quite as into relationships and monogamy as I am, I’ve never known him to mess around at work. It makes worry climb up my spine. “Do you need to grab a drink or something? What’s going on with you?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. My baby sisters are all getting hitched and starting families. I’m sure as shit not getting any younger. I may as well have a little fun. Especially since it’s all I have.” The last part comes out mumbled.
“I’m not getting married to your sister, Eli.”
“Not yet.” He has a point. What the fuck am I doing with Mazie if I don’t plan to take it all the way? We’re in our thirties, not spring chickens anymore. And there’s no point screwing around with her if I don’t plan to take it to the next level. It’s not fair to either of us.
But we’ve only been officially together for a weekend.
“Not any time soon. Is that what this is about? You want the family life?” He’s never expressed a want to be a family man. With the way he grew up, I kind of always expected it, but he’s never flat out said it. Not to mention, I never would have taken him for the type to be jealous of his sisters having it before him.
“I don’t know anymore, Zach. I’ve always wanted it, but it feels harder and harder to come by. And so much further away. There’s just been a lot of shit coming up in the past few years with Liv and Alina getting married, and Liv having Jordanna. I’m sure Alina’s not far behind. And now you and Mazie.”
Silence fills the line, and I don’t know what to say. We’ve been friends for decades, but we’ve never been overly emotional.
But he solves the problem for me. “Anyway, whatever. I was lonely, she was there, she offered, I took her up on it. One-time thing. We’re both consenting adults, so who gives a fuck.”
“I’m just surprised, is all.” I try to keep the judgment out of my voice. It’s clear that’s not what he’s seeking.
“Listen, I’d love to shoot the shit or whatever, but I have class in about twenty on the other side of campus. I already gave you my go ahead to be with Mazie, and shared my shock that it took so long, so thanks for the courtesy call? That’s what this is. Right?”
“Busted. I wanted to make sure you heard it from me and not the Juniper Grove gossip mill or the sisters.”
“Appreciate that, man. Later.”
Without another word, he hangs up. Well, that went…interestingly. It’s not like I was expecting much of a conversation, or any sort of beratement, but the girl in his office was far from my list.
I guess the best thing to take from this is that he knows and seems completely comfortable with it. Some of the rest is a bit concerning, but I’ll be sure to carve out some time for him in the next week to find out what exactly his gripe is.