Page 50 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Zachary

“She wants to buy it with me.”

“Holy shit,” Sandra hissed.

The woman in front of them turned around, eyes narrowed, frown lines deep.

Sandra smiled sweetly, and the woman huffed her attention back to the stage.

The school gym was transformed into an auditorium with lined up folding chairs.

Families packed the seats, abuzz with conversation as they watched one class leave and another assume their positions.

“So what did you tell her?” Sandra asked softly.

Music started, the kids on stage shifting from side to side in anticipation. Jay nudged Sandra and leaned over.

“Did you see your son up there?” Jay asked.

“Oh!” Sandra’s eyes flew to the stage, her grin wide as she noticed Alex waving madly. She waved back. When Alex blew her a kiss, Sandra melted into her chair. Chuckles and aww s from the audience surrounded them as the children began the opening words to their song.

“Oh my God, that was the cutest thing. He’s never going to do that again in his life. Did you get that?” Sandra smacked Jay’s arm, which was holding his phone, trained on Alex.

“Yeah, knock it off, Sandra, I’m recording it,” Jay said .

“Oh, good.”

“Now he’ll be able to hear how obsessed his mother is with him,” Zachary said.

She smacked him on the arm, and he chuckled, watching Jay fight his own laugh.

They watched Alex and his class sing three songs, with one final wave from Alex as they were guided offstage.

“Hi, Uncle Zachy!” he cried out with all the might of his little lungs.

A laugh erupted from Zachary in surprise, drowned by more laughter from the crowd. He threw back a wave, swallowing hard.

Sandra gripped his arm, her other hand flat to her chest. “That kid. He’s the absolute sweetest.”

He heard the sentimental tone but didn’t dare look at his sister, knowing it would take away any grip he had on keeping it together.

They were a couple of emotional adults, loving acknowledgment from the cutest little guy up there, in a sea of people chuckling at how adorable it all was.

How was the whole room not in tears? This was precious!

Being part of this was more important to him than he’d expected.

He’d missed these events before, but with the strain between him and his dad, he hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on it much.

He’d viewed FaceTimes, videos, and pictures his sister and mom sent him as enough, never stopping to consider what else he was missing. In Illinois, it was just…him.

He couldn’t deny the overwhelming feeling that being back felt right.

Like he was meant to be in this seat, meant to attend more of these cute and chaotic events for the kids.

Watch them grow up and change each year—hell, day-to-day—to remind them of embarrassing moments from previous years.

Cheer them on if they played sports or got involved in theater or some other shit. Grab a drink with Sandra and Jay.

Sit with his parents at their kitchen table for a quiet meal.

Zachary zoned out on the performances while Sandra leaned across Jay toward their mom, no doubt rehashing what had just happened.

If he bought the practice, he wouldn’t necessarily have to stay in town.

He could still return to Chicago, hand over the reins to Charlie—if she’d even consider it at that point.

Or he could buy it, stay here, and start fresh.

In his hometown. Whether he and Charlie continued their…

fling or not, it didn’t have to factor into his decision.

They had an immense amount of respect for each other, professionally and personally, and that would only continue when they moved on.

Calling it a fling minimized it. Their connection, their trust, went well beyond that. He didn’t even want to picture them eventually moving on. The thought of Charlie finding someone else to share herself with so beautifully made him want to rush out of that gym and go to her.

He’d shied away from the idea of inviting her to the concert, afraid it would be too serious a step for a relationship that couldn’t go much further. But Chicago aside, why he’d ruled out a serious relationship was no longer clear.

“You’ll have to finish updating me later, Z.

I’m too hopped up on emotion at the moment.

I’ll just end up telling you to stay in town, buy the practice, and marry Charlie or something.

Better to wait.” Sandra patted his knee.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” she whispered.

She smiled, then pressed against Jay, content to watch the rest of the performances before her children returned to her.

He faced forward, staring through the jingles and shouted songs.

Marry Charlie ? He almost laughed, that idea—that possibility— so beyond any realm of consideration.

He wasn’t getting married again, he and Charlie weren’t getting married.

His parents didn’t even know about them, and if they did, they’d be more concerned about how he’d mess things up again.

While that panic brewed, the rest of Sandra’s words sank in—how glad she was to have him back.

He couldn’t deny how much he’d enjoyed spending time with her and the kids.

How calm he felt being home, the energy more his speed.

Or the instant sense of community that working at his dad’s practice brought, the familiarity comforting.

In Chicago, working for his ex-father-in-law, he’d felt like an impostor.

In the way. Here, he wasn’t on the periphery anymore. This was his family, his home.

Watching his niece and nephew perform with their classmates warmed him.

So, yeah. What if he stayed?

***

“This. Is. Amazing.” Cory surveyed the collection of items currently piled in the waiting area. “And did Maura tell you? We had two adoptions and two new foster families who learned about us from your clinic. Such a great group of people here.”

“I’m so glad!” Charlie clasped her hands, the sincerity written in every gesture of her body. A body Zachary hoped to explore more later that night, if she let him.

“It’s all Charlie,” Zachary said. “As I’m sure you know, anyone who meets her wants to help however they can.”

She beamed, exhibiting the closest real-life interpretation of the “hearts-for-eyes” emoji.

He craved more of it. Quite possibly he was starved for her affection, considering they’d hardly communicated since he’d left for the concert.

He’d texted her after, but she’d been with Magnolia, and then had only sent a brief message when she was home.

When they’d both arrived at EFVH, she’d immediately handed him stuff to prep and move before Cory showed.

Professional Charlie had been in full effect, but he knew it was for both of their benefit. Best to tackle personal shit later.

“You’re right about that. She’s been at the rescue, by chance, when people come by to meet the dogs, and they always leave with one. Every time.”

“Okay, now you’re going too far,” Charlie said.

“I’m just saying, we don’t have that kind of record normally. Maybe you should be stationed there all the time,” Cory added in a light tone.

Charlie laughed, nudging Cory’s arm. “Well, I’m happy to help. This community is very giving, and they really stepped up.”

She reasoned it out, but the truth was, she was as invested in the good of the community as the people who’d stepped up to help. He’d witnessed her interactions with too many people, seen her care and the welcome response from those she affected.

They did a tally of the supplies acquired. When Cory’s fiancé Brian arrived, everyone carried the items to their vehicles, and the front waiting area was empty once again.

Charlie closed the front doors behind them and turned to Zachary.

“I was thinking, maybe in the summer, we could do another one of these. It’s always great to have successful events around the holidays at the end of the year, but pets are always in need, right? Maybe we could do a Holidays in July drive, or—”

Zachary cut her off, sealing his lips over hers. She let out a muffled chirp of surprise but quickly softened, winding her arms around his neck and tugging him closer.

He kissed her for her kindness, for her passion for animals, and her job.

He kissed her because her mind never stopped working on new things they could implement, ways to help the community.

She embodied what his father wanted for his practice, in spirit and in action.

He kissed her because he couldn’t hold himself back anymore, because going almost twenty-four hours without her in his arms was too long.

And he desperately wanted her to feel the same way.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, her breath warm against his lips.

“What was that for?” she whispered.

“Couldn’t wait any longer. God, Charlie, I’m sorry about the concert. I wanted to ask you, and that freaked me out. I was trying to be careful with…us…with me living in Chicago and all. But I also want to be with you .”

She pressed closer. “I want to be with you too.”

“I feel bad for not telling you about everything with Dad and all the debt. Really. You have a right to know what’s going on around here.”

She nodded, took a moment before speaking. “What are we going to do about it?”

“I have no clue.”

She slid her hands down his chest, her fingers digging into his wool sweater. “Come with me to the Open House?”

His hands paused their journey over her back. Out in public, wandering through the Village Holiday Open House with their community felt openly intimate.

“I promised Cleo and Magnolia I’d stop by their shops.

It’s pretty cute. The stores go all out, and Dorothy’s has special cookies for this.

Of course, eating them usually means you’ll end up inside buying at least a dozen of something while you’re there.

Oh, and the coffee shop releases latte and hot chocolate specials. Do you like hot chocolate?”

“Charlie, you’re rambling.”

“Oh, am I? Hmm. Must be because I panicked, seeing your face.”

He chuckled. “Okay, I’ll admit, I was thinking about how it might look.”

Her eyes widened then narrowed in such rapid succession he couldn’t interpret what she was thinking. All she said was, “What, like the local veterinarians supporting their neighbors?”

He swallowed. He was all over the place with what he was saying to her. “I do like hot chocolate, actually,” he said.

She gave him a small smile, not as Charlie-esque as normal, but it was something. “Perfect.” She zipped her coat and tugged on a hat and gloves. “We’ll start there, end with Dorothy’s.” She winked and held open the door for him to follow.

He watched the strands of her hair blow against her shoulders, a soft, thin veil of snow on the ground behind her. Her cheeks were already rosy, her eyes bright behind her glasses. She did a little shimmy of excitement, waving him on, and locked the door behind them.

The biting cold knocked sense into him immediately—for a minute there, he’d started imagining future holidays, and Charlie was definitely in them.