Page 87 of The Love Hoax

Dad gave me a concerned look. “Where’s that fightingspirit? Where’s the guy who bought and sold several companies, making a success out of each one?”

My shoulders slumped as I walked around the car and got behind the wheel.

My father leaned on the open driver’s door. “I’ve never seen you like this with anyone. Do what you have to do to fix it.”

I’ve tried. Every day for two weeks.

Zane coughs, pulling me from my thoughts. “How about we conquer Half Dome tomorrow?”

I eye my friend. It’s exactly what I need. A challenging hike until my toes bleed and every muscle in my body aches. Anything to forget the wedding. To forget what a first-class jerk I’ve been, standing by, not speaking up in Evie’s defense. To forget how devastated I was when I looked for her behind the Nordic Center ready to apologize and profess my love, only to discover she was already gone.

“Earth to Adam.”

I blink away the intrusive thoughts once more. “I’m not ready for Half Dome. I still need to train more for it.”

“Then we’ll train. I’ll pick you up at six thirty. Better get to bed. Looks like you need your beauty sleep. Badly.”

I grunt and watch Zane head to the door. “Thanks, you know for?—”

Zane gives me a thumbs up and with a smile in his eyes, lets himself out.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Adam

It’s still dark when Zane arrives to pick me up. Bleary-eyed and hungover, I grab my pack of water and protein bars and leave the house in a haze.

If Evie were here, she’d have an overstuffed deli sandwich for me.

Once in the car, I close my eyes, hoping for a good half hour of extra sleep. The first few minutes of the drive are blissfully silent and I begin to doze off. Until Zane speaks up.

“Can I talk to you now or does my voice sound like a blow horn?” Zane asks, keeping his voice low.

I have to admit, my friend is stepping up. As much as I hated last night’s freezing cold shower, I successfully rolled out of bed with little more than a dull headache.

Okay, very dull. I crack open an eyelid. “Go ahead.”

“Maybe I should wait until the grumpiness has passed.”

“Good idea.” I close my singular eye.

“I think you should go see her.”

Unease settles deep in my gut. “Who?”

“Seriously,who? There is no way you’re that hungover, bro.”

I say, “I don’t fly.”

“Make an exception. You need to deliver a grand gesture.”

“And risking my life is the way to do that?”

Zane shrugs. “Humans have been taking advantage of air travel for over a century. It’s far safer than driving.”

I’ve heard that unhelpful stat countless times. Truth is, I’ve been thinking of doing exactly what Zane’s suggesting but?—

“I need to respect Evie’s wishes. She is deliberately choosing not to speak with me. Showing up on her doorstep could go very wrong.”