I stood outside Zach’s bedroom door for 15 minutes before I could bring myself to walk in. My fingers tightened around the knob and I went in. He was sound asleep.

I shut the door behind me and crawled into bed with him. I snuggled next to him and put my head against my favorite spot on his chest near his heart. Tears silently fell as I thought about Coach and how broken this family would be. Millie would be devastated. Their parents, Sam, and now Elliot. All tragic losses that they didn’t deserve.

Zach muttered something in his sleep and shifted. I looked up and watched as his eyes opened a little. He looked at me in confusion then jerked away from me.

“Shit!” He yelled as his head it the wall. He rubbed his head. “You about gave me a heart attack.”

I wiped my eyes and sat up.

He took notice of my tears and paled. “Elliot!” He jumped out of bed.

I grabbed his hand. “Zach, he’s fine.”

Zach looked back at me. His whole body was shaking. I didn’t let go of his hand as I got out of the bed. I wrapped him in a tight hug.

“Dane told me, and I needed to be here for you.”

He tensed for a moment then hugged me back. The hug didn’t last long before he pulled back and sat on the bed.

“You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m more worried about Millie.”

“I’m worried about all of you.” I sat next to him.

Zach ran a hand down his face. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few days by the hair growing on his face. He had dark circles under his eyes.

“Elliot goes back to the doctor Monday.”

I grabbed his hand. I didn’t know what to say. He gave it a little squeeze and stood.

“You shouldn’t be in here. I don’t want Dane—”

“He knows I’m in here.”

He rubbed his arm slightly. “Oh.”

“Zach, I’m here for you, and you’re just going to have to accept that.”

His lips twitched a bit. “I’ll try to.”

“Now get your ass back in bed. You look like hell.”

“I need to go check on Elliot since I’m awake.”

“Dane is with him. Stop trying to find excuses to avoid me.”

His shoulders slumped some, and he sat back down on the bed.

“If you keep avoiding me, it will become too easy, and then that’s all you’ll do! I miss you, and it’s killing me that you can’t even make eye contact with me!”

“It hurts too much,” he admitted.

“What do you mean? You broke up with me, Zach! This is what you wanted.” I scoffed. “Wait, we didn’t ‘break up’ because according to you we were never dating! We stopped fooling around. Is that more your terminology?”

He winced a little at my words, but he tried to hide it with a shrug.

What was I doing?

He didn’t care, and he didn’t need this shit right now. Our drama was the least of his worries, and it should be. But I couldn’t shut up. He infuriated me too much to keep quiet.

“Maybe if you would’ve acted like you gave a shit that you broke my heart, I would have felt more confident about this whole thing with you! But you left me in your office to break into pieces alone! Dane was there, though! He’s always there even when shit gets hard! You ran away from us without a single fight. I told you I wanted to be friends because I thought that’s what you wanted! I’m being such a fucking crybaby right now, and I can’t stand it!”

“Dane is always there. He’s a good guy. I’m not. I’m an asshole and man-whore with no future. I think of no one but myself. Just leave me alone.” He had turned his back to me, looking at a picture.

“Fine. Just know I tried to be there for you because I care and never thought any of those things about you. Be alone for the rest of your lonely life. Fuck you, Zach.”

I shoved past him and slammed his door shut. I was shaking I was so pissed. I went down the opposite hall to Dane’s room. When I came in, Dane was lying back on his bed.

“I’m guessing the talk didn’t go well.”

“How loud was I?” I laid back beside him.

“Pretty loud.”

“Oops.”

I stared at the ceiling. “I just needed him to know I’m here for him, but he doesn’t want me to be there.” I sighed. “I’m just a huge distraction for this family.” I covered my eyes with my arm.

“No, you’re not.” I felt the bed shift, and Dane pulled my arm from my face. “I need to tell you some things, and I need you to listen without interrupting me.” He kept his eyes on mine.

“Okay.”

“Zach was an alcoholic after he had to leave the pros. He came here and did nothing but party. When his parents were killed, he brought Elliot here to live with him. He still partied but not near as much. When Sam came into the picture, and she got pregnant, he started getting better. She made him feel like he was worth something. He had always been a handful. It was Elliot that was the good kid. Anyway, when she died he quit college and helped keep Elliot from completely going over the edge. He changed for Elliot and Millie, but small towns still talk. Women walk up to him and tell him what they want him to do to them. Almost every day his past is thrown back in his face. He became more and more of an asshole to protect himself. That’s his defense. Be an asshole, and people leave you alone. But as you know, he can be sweet and caring. He could handle the town thinking badly of him, but when Elliot went off on him and pretty much told him that he wasn’t going anywhere fast and taking you with him, he withdrew. He did the only thing he could think of to keep you from ruining your life: he broke up with you. It was one of the least selfish things I’ve ever seen him do. He gave up the most important thing in the world to him because he thought you deserved better. Elliot has apologized and tried to take back what he said, but it stuck. He wants to be friends with you, but I think he’s scared.”

“Did he tell you this?”

“I might have eavesdropped on a conversation with him and Elliot.”

“Oh.”

“Be patient with him. He’ll come around and be the friend you want, with time.”

I nodded and looked back up at the ceiling. “I should head home.”

He moved his head so I had to look at him. “Not until you smile.”

“Make me.”

He smiled mischievously then tickled me. I hated being tickled. I laughed and brought out my best ninja moves, moving until I had him pinned to the bed. I tried to tickle him, but he grabbed my hands. I tried to bite his nose, but he turned his head. I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Did you just try to bite my nose?” he asked through laughter.

I nodded and laughed harder.

Dane smiled. “I like making you laugh.”

I kissed him. “Can I go home now?”

“If you must.”

I moved off him. “My dad would murder us both if I didn’t go back home, and I can’t use Sadie as an excuse anymore.” I grabbed my purse off his dresser.

“I’ll walk you out.”

We got to my car, and I smiled at him. “You’re the best. You know that, right?”

He grinned. “I try to be.”

“And I’m sorry about tonight.”

He tilted his head to the side in confusion. “You didn’t do anything to be sorry for, Hales.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I did. Earlier at the lake, I stopped in the middle of a pretty great moment, and I feel terrible. I know we agreed to take things slow, but I still feel awful for that. And then you heard me fighting with Zach. I promise we’ll go on a date where I don’t fuck shit up.”

He gently grabbed my chin and kissed my lips softly. “It’s okay, Hales.”

“It’s not, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“Sounds good. Now get your hot butt home before you can’t go on another date because you’re late.”

I laughed. “Yes, sir.” I kissed him and got in the car and left.