22. Zack
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
zack
“Please don’t tell me you’re sexting.” Bax flops down next to me in the open aisle seat and adjusts his seatbelt.
“You have that look on your face that you get when you’re talking about Evvy.
Except you're looking at your phone and I don’t want to deal with that the whole flight.
And she’s my friend now too, and I just don’t want to think about that. ”
“You better never be thinking about that.” I glare at him before looking back at the screen. “I’m not sexting. And what happened to sitting next to Marsh?” I look up from my phone to see the rookie gazing in the direction of our star defenseman.
Bax lets out a long groan. “Kicked me out, man. Said one flight with me was enough and he’d rather ride with the luggage than do it again.” He scoffs. “Who knew he’d still be pissed because I joked about being his new stepfather?” He leans back with a loud sigh.
“Yeah, who would have known?” I shake my head, grinning. Bax is determined to befriend Marsh, and he’s coming on way too strong. Marsh is only six years older than him, but Bax acts like he’s a kid meeting his favorite celebrity for the first time.
“Your phone’s blowing up.” He angles to get a better look at my screen, so I tilt it just out of his view. “Hey! I was trying to read that.”
I’ve been waiting all afternoon for an update from Josie. I scan through her messages. She’s definitely an enthusiastic texter.
Josie: Just left the bookstore!!!!
Josie: It’s such a cute place. Thanks for sending us there!
Josie: She loved the card! Maybe some tears?
Josie: Ooops!!!! Shhhh!!!! I didn’t tell you that. Girl code!
Josie: She tried to leave with just one book, but I made her pick five. Then she tried to bargain down to three, and we met in the middle at four.
Not quite the shopping spree I was hoping for, but I knew Evvy wouldn’t want to buy anything for herself. I’m sure Josie had her work cut out for her getting Evvy to accept four books.
Josie: Now to my place for movie night!!!! Have I thanked you for introducing me to her?
Me: Technically I didn’t. You all invited yourselves over for a party at my house.
Josie: Is that how you remember it?
Me: Margaritas, music, and meddling friends. Yup, that’s how I remember it.
Josie: Never mind. I should be thanking West since HE invited me over to your house.
Me: Key words: MY HOUSE.
Josie: Sureeee.
Me: Ugh. But thanks for bringing her out today. And…I’m glad she has you as a friend.
Josie: She’s my new favorite person.
And mine. But she’s always been my favorite person.
“There’s that face again.” Bax pinches my cheek. “So cute!” He continues to squeeze.
“Put your hand down, dude.” I peel his hand off my face, pushing it back safely within the confines of his seat. “It’s just Josie.”
Bax bangs the headrest of the seat in front of him. “Hey, Captain, why’s Zack texting your wife?” He keeps hitting the headrest, and Brent’s eyes appear in the space between the seats.
“You really need to know everything?” Brent reaches up and swats Bax’s hand away. “Stop banging, you already got my attention.”
The rookie is undeterred. “If this is part of Operation Get Evvy To Fall For Me, I think we all deserve an update.” He pauses to grin, clearly scheming. “Or I could just text Evvy…” He pulls out his phone and pretends to type.
“If you like that phone I’d put it down right now.” I reach for it, and Bax lets out a deep laugh as he pulls it away. “For that, I don’t think you deserve an update.”
“Please!” He holds his hands together in a fist under his chin, tilting his head with a big smile plastered to his face. “I need more excitement in my life and I’m living vicariously through you.”
Nate’s head pops up over the top of the seat in front of me. “Big word, rookie.” Bax sticks his tongue out at him.
“Zack, I want to get through this flight in peace so please just tell him,” Nate begs. A small smirk creeps across his face. “And maybe other people want to know too?” He shrugs. Really subtle.
I drag my hands down my face with a laugh.
“Fine! You can all have an update.” All eyes are on me when I pause, and I can’t help but laugh again.
I’m glad I’m providing them their in-flight entertainment.
“Josie did me a favor today and surprised Evvy with a trip to that little bookstore in town. She loves books, and I’m pretty sure hers got destroyed when the tree fell on her cabin so… ”
“You’re leaving something out.” Brent’s brows narrow as he stares at me from the gap between the seats. “You really didn’t think Josie would text me too?”
“You guys are impossible!” Taking in a deep breath, I watch as my friends stare at me impatiently.
“Okay, okay! In college, my buddies tried to dump a cooler of water over me and it landed on Evvy instead. That’s technically how we first met.
” They’re still staring at me, hanging onto every word as if this is the best story they’ve ever heard.
You’d think a group of professional hockey players would have more excitement in their lives.
“The book she was carrying was destroyed and I never replaced it.”
“So, you did today!” Bax shouts, clapping his hand to his chest. “Dude, who knew you could be so romantic? But Evvy deserves it. I think you did good.”
She does deserve it. Evvy deserves everything, and I hope to remind her of that every single day for the rest of my life. I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet just knowing I have a chance to make things right with her.
“So, are you like, together now?” Marsh teases in a sing-song voice, calling out to me from a few rows up. A bunch of guys break out in laughter. Fantastic. The whole plane has been listening.
“Are you?” Bax asks excitedly. “I really like Evvy, so I need you to not fuck this up, okay?”
Keeping my voice down I say, “This conversation is over. I haven’t even talked about this with Evvy, never mind you fools.
” The cabin door shuts and I’m relieved when the flight attendants tell everyone to prepare for departure.
“Maybe everyone should just focus on the game so we beat Vancouver…my old team.”
We had to switch planes in Boston due to some sort of mechanical issue. We should have already been in Canada by now, but we’re just getting ready to leave. Again.
My phone dings just as the flight attendants are doing final safety checks. It’s a picture of Evvy holding up her book haul. Her bright smile reaches her eyes, and it makes my heart squeeze.
Me: Beautiful, sweetheart
Evvy: They are some good-looking books.
Me: There are books in that picture?
Evvy: Very funny. This was really nice of you, Zack. I’m not sure what to say. Just thank you.
Me: I told you I owed you a book…after getting you wet…
Evvy: You had to say it.
Me: Obviously. What would you do without my humor?
Evvy: YOU think it’s humor. I told you before, it’s only funny when I can see you laugh at yourself.
Me: Soon. The books can keep you entertained until then.
Evvy: I think Josie has that covered.
Me: I can only imagine what she’s up to.
Evvy: Living room karaoke is her choice. Then we’re watching a horror movie. I have a feeling she’ll scare easily, so this should be good. I hope you have a safe flight. Glad you switched planes!
Me: Sounds like fun. Wish I was there. They’re making us turn our phones off. Want me to text you when I land in Vancouver?
Evvy: Sounds like a plan!
Me:
Evvy:
Like a complete fool, I sent a heart emoji, and then she gave it a thumbs up.
A thumbs up! Then I had to shut off my phone before I could say anything else.
Who sends a heart before you’ve even confessed feelings for someone?
How is she even supposed to respond to that?
Of course she knows how I feel…I think? I told her that what we have is real.
And after the other night in the living room, and the kiss goodbye, she has to know, right?
Great, I’m just going to spiral about this until I see her again.
I’m so out of practice with all this that I have no idea how to flirt through text messages.
Evvy didn’t even have a cell phone the first time we dated.
She didn’t have much money, and it was an expense she couldn’t justify.
She said she was always with her favorite people anyway.
Until she wasn’t, and I had no way to get a hold of her.
I don’t even know what she did with the phone I left for her before I moved to Canada.
There’s no option to delay this conversation any longer.
Evvy said we could talk when I get back, so that’s what we’re going to do.
On Saturday, I’m going to lay all my cards on the table and hope like hell she’s on the same page.
I’ve gone slow. I’ve tried being subtle.
I’ve tried being a little obnoxious. Now I’m going to be one hundred percent brutally honest about what I want.
And what I want is Evvy. It’s always been Evvy.