22. ZANE
ZANE
Convincing Ava to keep teaching Daisy’s music class came at a personal cost—becoming her personal chauffeur and bodyguard. As someone who has loathed going into town since the accident because of all the pity looks and questions, this is quite literally my worst nightmare.
But Daisy loves her classes, and watching her sulk over them being canceled doesn’t sit right with me. Ava is also too scared to go to town now because of her family, and I don’t trust anyone else with her safety, so the task falls onto me.
Oh, the things I’m doing for this woman.
Speaking of the two beauties, the front door opens and they walk out.
“Uncle Zane!!!” Daisy screams excitedly at the sight of me.
I bend over to her level and pick her up in my arms. “Hi, sweetheart,” I smile, kissing her cheek.
I open the back passenger seat, set her down in her car seat before turning to focus my attention on Ava, who is already looking at me.
“Good morning,” she grins.
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer, her intoxicating scent driving all my senses wild. “Morning, gorgeous. You look beautiful,” I compliment, rubbing my nose on her neck.
Fuck, she smells good.
If only we didn’t have to go to the rec center, I’d carry her back to my cabin and indulge myself in her all day long.
“Thank you. And you look... the same as usual,” she replies with a giggle.
“I ain’t looking to impress anyone. Besides, you and I already have you.”
“Cocky bastard.”
“You knew what I was when you slipped into my bed.”
“Zane!” she exclaims, hitting my arm.
I chuckle and lift my gaze to meet her eyes when an aggravating voice speaks up behind me, interrupting our moment.
“Hey, lovebirds, stop flirting and let’s go,” Ella calls out from the backseat of the double cabin where she’s seated next to Daisy.
I didn’t even notice her arrive and get in, too engrossed in her best friend.
“What are you doing here?” I inquire as I unlock the front passenger seat door for Ava.
“I’m coming with you,” she grins as if it’s the most obvious thing.
“Why?”
“Because this is my best friend and niece. This was our thing before you butted your nose in,” she retorts.
“Butted my nose in? You think I’m enjoying this?” I bite back.
Ella is about to respond when Ava interrupts us. “Enough bickering, you two. We need to go or we’ll be late.”
I narrow my eyes at Ella, who sticks her tongue out at me and fastens her seatbelt. It looks like she’s coming with us, against my wishes. I reluctantly give in and get behind the wheel.
The drive to the rec center is dominated by girl talk that Ella makes sure to keep me excluded from. I don’t mind it much, plus Ava makes up for it by holding my hand the whole time.
Her hold gets tighter the closer we get to our destination, her eyes darting around everywhere in fear. It breaks my heart to see her like this because of people who are supposed to love and protect her.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” I assure her as I park outside the rec center.
She turns to me with a smile. “I know. Thank you.”
I allow myself to indulge in a short, sweet kiss with her since Ella and Daisy are already out of the truck.
“You go ahead. I’ll join you in a few minutes,” I say to her when we pull apart.
She nods, undoes her seatbelt, and kisses my cheek before she alights the truck. My eyes are on her the whole time, and she looks back a few times, waving just before she disappears inside the building.
Once she’s safely inside, I step out, grabbing a steel pipe from the bed of the truck. As I approach a beat-up station wagon I noticed following us from the moment we got into town.
It’s parked a couple of cars away, and the closer I get, the better I’m able to make out Estevan’s ugly face behind the wheel. My fist tightens around the pipe as my steps quicken. Just as I’m about to get close enough to take a swing, he backs out of the parking lot and drives off.
With javelin skills I didn’t even know I possessed, I throw the steel rod and it goes straight through the back window. He’s too far by now for me to know if I’ve hit him or not. I hope I have. That fucker has gotten away today—next time, he won’t be so lucky.
I have beef with Ava’s whole family, but especially that bastard and her mother. Him for trying to force himself on her and her mother for all the abuse. Those three better start counting their days, for I will have the last laugh as I make them pay for what they did to my precious Ava.
When I make it into the class, it’s already ongoing, so I grab a seat at the corner and watch with wonder as Ava performs her magic. I’m not the only one enchanted—the kids are a hundred percent focused on the class. They’re having a blast being taught by a real pop star.
Her eyes meet mine every couple of minutes, and I see her lips twitch in a smile that’s only for me. I almost think I’m distracting her, but she doesn’t waver for even one second.
The three hours fly by fast, and I’m not as bored as I thought I would be, probably because I had something entertaining to watch the whole time.
We don’t leave immediately because it’s one of the students’ birthdays and they brought cake for the whole class, so we stick around for Daisy to enjoy as well.
“That looks like fun,” Ava comments with a sad smile as we enjoy cake slices while we watch the kids chasing each other around, trying to smear icing on each other.
I don’t reply as I wait for her to say more.
“I never really had fun birthdays growing up. I spent most of them in auditions or vocal lessons, and my mom definitely never bought cake for the whole class. She always used to say that she spent all the money on my lessons, so there was nothing left over for cake and a present. Even when we did have the money, my birthdays were never about me. She threw these lavish parties to try and fit in with the elites in the music industry and parade me around like a prized turkey—I hated it,” she shivers in disgust.
I wrap my arm around her shoulder and kiss her temple, hoping to offer some form of comfort since I’m not so good with words.
I keep getting more and more reasons to hate that woman. Just how much did her mother take away from her!
“You know, I always had the most fun at Ella’s birthdays. She knew how much my own sucked, so she always tried to incorporate me into hers, but I always felt so guilty for taking away her special day,” she comments with a sad laugh as we watch Ella take pictures of Daisy with the birthday girl.
I remember those times. Even though they’re born months apart, Ella always forced us to sing happy birthday to them both, saying they were twins. Looks like my sister has been an intuitive one from the beginning.
The more Ava talks about her failed birthdays, the more I realize just how broken she is. But since she’s here with me, I can do my best to try and mend those cracks in her heart, starting with a special day that’s supposed to be all about her.
When we get back to the ranch, I let Ava and Daisy walk into the house first as I grab Ella by the neck to stop her.
Assuring that we’re alone, I let her go and she turns to me with a glare. “What do you want?” she demands, fixing her hair.
I reach into my pocket for my wallet, retrieve my black card, and hold it out to her. Her eyes widen and she snatches it out of my hands.
“Aww, I didn’t know you loved me this much, big bro,” she gushes.
“It’s not for you,” I quickly correct, erasing the dollar signs from her eyes.
“What is it for then?” she grumbles.
“Ava’s birthday is coming up in a few days, and I want you to plan it.”
Her eyes light up once more. “Wow, this is very thoughtful of you, Zane.”
“I only have a couple of requests,” I say before she gets too excited.
“Let’s hear them.”
“Don’t let her know that I’ve funded it, keep it a surprise, and try to make it as fun as possible.”
“That’s simple enough. I don’t mind taking all the credit. That in-love, puppy look is very good on you,” she teases.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” I mumble as I ruffle her hair, walking away from her.
She hates it when I do that, but this time she doesn’t comment, too entranced by the card in her hand.
I want Ava to have an awesome birthday, and since I’m terrible at planning anything, I’ll leave that to Ella. Now I just have to think of what gift to give her. It has to be an awesome one for an amazing girl. Time to get thinking.