Page 26 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

He chuckled nervously, then steeled himself with a deep breath. “I’ve been acting a bit off toward you since I’ve been back.”

Charlie paused her chewing, surprised.

“Okay, here’s the thing. After vet school, I left. It was my decision. When I told my dad I was going to work with my father-in-law, he didn’t waste any time saying he was going to transfer the practice to you. As though it had always been his plan.”

Charlie furrowed her brow, but he held up a hand.

“Let me explain myself, please,” he said softly.

He slipped off his shoes and started to pace.

“You and I were friends, and I really enjoyed hanging out with you. Because of that, I felt good leaving, like my dad was in good hands. Like I wasn’t leaving him high and dry.

When I stopped by that last day, and he told me his plan though—giving it to you—I immediately questioned everything.

Whether he thought I could run my own business.

How much he actually believed in my ability as a vet.

If he minded that I’d be gone.” He paused, stared at the floor.

“I even wondered if you’d just been acting friendly with everyone to weasel your way into the family business yourself. ”

“Ouch,” Charlie whispered. While that stung, begrudgingly, his other admissions tugged at her heart. Brought back the memory of him storming out of the clinic all those years ago, without saying a word. “That’s why you left so upset.”

“Yeah.” Zachary looked up at her, expression serious.

“I’m sorry, Charlie. I blamed you this whole time, and I didn’t realize it until I was back.

Seeing you again. It hasn’t been good between me and Dad, obviously.

But I’d cut myself off from you, and somehow, that’d been my way of sticking it to you, I guess.

Instead, I was only punishing myself. Our friendship keeps forcing its way back.

It’s a fight to hate you when really, you’re you .

” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Okay, I’m done. ”

“Wow.” Charlie leaned back against the couch. “That’s…wow.”

“Yeah.”

“I mean, it explains a lot.”

“Good.”

“Not quite how you could hate me so hard because, let’s face it, I’m a delight,” she said matter-of-factly.

He shook his head, that grin breaking free. “I know.”

Charlie squirmed at her teasing bravado, unnerved by the tingling that burst through her with his agreement.

At those creases by his mouth that let her know his smile was heartfelt.

She braced herself to be real. “You know I love your family, right? Like, I would do anything for them, Zachary. I mean it.” She nudged her glasses farther up her nose as though that exposed the truth in her eyes .

Zachary kneeled in front of her, placing one hand on the arm of the couch and one on the cushion beside her. “Charlie, I wish I could deny ever having that shitty thought. Believe me, I know there’s no ounce of truth in it.”

She tilted her head, earnest. “ All those thoughts were shitty. Even the ones where you doubted yourself,” she whispered.

His eyes softened. He swallowed, looking down at his hand beside her, his long fingers smoothing the cushion, the motion causing a slight vibration that tingled her thigh.

“You know, you’ve been a part of my family for years.

It didn’t take long for that to happen.” He hesitated, his eyes skating back to her face.

“I found myself looking forward to summers home once I knew what it was like to work with you.”

“Really?” Her voice was raspy, soft. She hated it. Wanted him. Could barely process what he was saying.

Her heart raced, her breathing tripped, and she realized she was dipping closer toward him.

He wasn’t touching her, but his heat pulsed around her. The anticipation of his hands sliding over an inch to brush her thighs made her forget all concerns from earlier that night. The thought of his hand on hers, of their bare skin against one another, sent swirls of excitement through her body.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly.

“Hmm?” Yes , if okay means a sugared - up, turned - on ball of energy. She tipped closer, their faces inches apart, his breath mingling with hers. Her pulse raced through her ears.

“Do you want to talk about that woman who stopped by our table?” He asked the question quietly, but he may as well have shouted it .

The thought of her ex and his mother was enough to douse her arousal. “Ha!” She gently pushed his shoulders back, giving herself room to stand. “Nope. I do not.”

“I thought we—”

“Don’t ruin what you just said by turning this into some tit-for-tat situation, Zachary. You were ready to explain. I’m not.” She guided him to his shoes and then the door, opened it, and scooted him into the alcove.

“Harris, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up—”

“I appreciate everything you said. Goodnight, Zachary.”

“Wait!”

She paused, moments away from slamming the door in his face. She’d replace as many frames for Levi as she needed to. The thought actually made her giddy.

“What?”

“I’m off tomorrow.”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Do you want to go over stuff for the cookout?”

“No.”

“No?”

She huffed. “Why do I have to keep repeating myself?”

“Your answers keep surprising me.”

“Well, enjoy being surprised then. Go home, Zachary. Or wherever it is you’re staying.

” She pushed the door closed, more gently than she’d have liked, considering she would’ve smashed his face.

She used extra emphasis to lock it instead and watched through the peephole.

Zachary stared a minute at her door, glanced over to Levi’s, and left .

Toothless wound through her legs, so Charlie picked her up. “Where’d you run off to? Not much of a guard cat tonight, are you?”

Not that it would’ve been any help in warding off her emotions. Because despite what he’d revealed, Charlie had caught feelings, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to let them go.