Page 8

Chapter 8

AMBER

I was a little shocked to see Zack arrive at dinner, but Mike gave me one of his trademark big-brother looks that told me to trust him, so I didn’t make a scene.

I did have to take a moment in the bathroom to compose myself privately, but I’m fine now. Even if Zack and I will never be friends again, I can pretend—for a few hours, at least.

As I am walking back to the table, I stop in my tracks. I overhear Zack talking to Mike, “You want to know the real reason Coach Green asked me to be the one to walk Amber home every night? Because I don’t date. Anyone. Haven’t in years. So trust me, Mike—Amber’s safer with me than with anyone else. We’re colleagues. That’s it.”

He doesn’t date? Anyone? Then why do I keep catching him looking at me like he does? I sense his attraction for me. I feel the electricity that shoots up my hand straight to my heart when our fingers barely touch. Does he feel it too?

Our food arrives soon after I get back from washing my hands, so Mike puts his phone away after showing me ring pictures.

Zack digs into his pizza, focusing on it entirely.

The uncomfortable awkwardness dissipates as the dinner continues. Mike is able to lead the conversation, since he has a lot to catch us up on. He tells us all about Leah, his soon to be fiance. She’s a nurse, and I’ve loved her since they got together three years ago – and now he’s planning to propose once they’re back to living on their own. My brother, married. How is that possible.?

“Leah’s out here helping you with Grandma?” I rest my chin in my hand, starting to get emotional. “She’s such an angel.”

Mike nods emphatically. “Yeah, I know.” He gives Zack an intense look that I don’t quite understand, and then changes the subject. “Hey, her brother is a pretty big sports fan. Think you could hook him up with some Blades swag?”

Zack straightens, like he’s surprised he’s being addressed. “Oh. Um, sure. Like posters, maybe comp tickets or something, sure?”

“That would be awesome!” Mike claps excitedly. “Oh, man. I’ve got to get to a game while I’m out here! When does your season start again?”

“Not until October.” Zack grows more animated, now that we’re talking about his favorite thing. “We’ve got a few preseason games in the first two weeks, and then the regular season starts.”

“Right, I couldn’t remember if it was the same as the major leagues or not. Well, either way, I’ll be there.” Mike gives me a wink and a nudge. “Gotta see if Amber’s performance coaching pays off.”

I duck my head, embarrassed by my brother’s teasing. “C’mon, give the players a little more credit. I’m just supporting their mental game, that’s all.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Zack surprises me by coming to my defense. I look over at him curiously. “Dr. Stone left you to run the program alone, and I’ve definitely seen a difference in some of the players already. Like Griff and Donatello. And Jason always says nice things about you.”

Now I’m blushing. “Really?” I ask in wonder. “I had no idea.” Sure, I was downplaying things a little bit for Mike before, but this is news to me.

Zack drops his gaze and shovels another bite of pizza into his mouth. “Yeah, well. You’re doing a good job,” he says with his mouth full. “Dr. Stone’s and your bit on self regulation skills the other day was good stuff.”

“I’m honestly just relieved to hear I’m being received positively.” I press a hand to my chest and turn back to Mike. “It’s so hard to tell with athletes. They’re hardly open books.”

Mike has been glancing back and forth between me and Zack, a strange look in his eyes. “So I’ve heard,” Mike replies significantly.

I roll my eyes at him and take a bite of my own food. I love Mike, but he has his dramatic moments. I’ve learned to wait him out, so I can find out what’s really going through his head.

The pizza disappears, the conversation mellows, and we settle into an uneasy rhythm. But just when I start to think we’ve all survived the evening without incident, Mike offers to drive me home.

Sure enough, when he’s driving me home after dinner, Mike finally drops the bomb. “So you and Zack. What’s the deal there?”

“Nothing?” I raise an eyebrow. “He happens to play for the team that I got assigned to.”

“And he walks you home after practice every day.” Mike doesn’t take his eyes off the road, but I know he’d be giving me a look if he could. “That’s not nothing.”

“We don’t even talk! He just escorts me home in silence like a bodyguard. It gets kind of awkward sometimes.” Which is not true, but I can’t say that I find Zack’s presence comforting. That would not help get Mike off my back.

“You see him every day. Your whole job is basically digging around the emotional corners of his brain. And then he walks you home like it’s nothing? I don’t know, that sounds kind of serious.”

Mike parks his car in front of my apartment building and turns to me. “You really don’t think anything will happen between you?”

“No, I don’t,” I say firmly, folding my arms across my chest. “Because I keep a professional distance between myself and my clients. I wouldn’t think of dating an athlete I am consulting with. He walks me home because he’s practically my neighbor and the coach told him to. There’s nothing else there.”

“Zack said pretty much the same thing when I asked him,” Mike muses with a sigh.

“You asked Zack if there was anything between us?” I’m shocked, and I give Mike a shove. “What is wrong with you? Now things are going to get so weird!” I groan as I let my head drop back onto the headrest.

Mike just chuckles. “I saw the two of you at dinner. I’d be surprised if things weren’t already weird.”

I try to shove him again, but he dodges me this time. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Because he can’t possibly know that every interaction with Zack has been so emotionally loaded that I honestly don't know when something may erupt. He can’t possibly know that I’ve been trying to figure out what our dynamic is every single day.

Is it just because Mike has known me my whole life that he can tell exactly how I feel? Or am I really that obvious?

Oh, no. Is it obvious to Zack, too?

Mike reaches for my shoulder. “Amber, chill.” He can tell I’m spiraling. Great. “I think it’s good that you guys are trying to keep it platonic. After seeing how much he hurt you…” Mike shakes his head sadly. “But I don’t believe either of you when you say things are fine. You need to talk to him.”

“I do talk to him.” I glare at Mike. “I’m ‘digging into the emotional corners of his brain’ every day, aren’t I?”

“You need to talk as Zack and Amber, not Zack Colt and Dr. Morrison.” Mike sighs again. “I care about you both. And Zack is lonely, even if he won’t admit it. I want you two to work this out.”

My mouth drops open. “Whatever happened to seeing how much he hurt me? You just said–”

“That the two of you shouldn’t get back together.” Mike finishes the sentence for me.

“I’m definitely not saying that I want you to date him again. That’s what made things so hard last time, having to choose between my best friend and my sister. I will obviously choose you every time, but Amber…”

Mike gives me a pleading look. “We’re all in the same area for the first time in ten years. And tonight made me remember how awesome and fun things used to be. Would it be so bad to get some of that back?”

“I don’t want to be sixteen again,” I protest, but Mike has a point. I did eventually have a nice time tonight. And it sounds like he misses his best friend. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of that.

Except… “I don’t know if I can forgive him,” I admit softly. “I know it was a long time ago. But I don’t know if he’s changed. I don’t know if we can ever be friends again.”

Mike frowns, hesitating for a moment. “There was a lot happening back then that you didn’t see. Zack wasn’t just at our house because he wanted to be—he needed to be. Things at home were rough, and our family was his safe place.”

“What?” It had never occurred to me that there were issues for Zack at home. I thought he and Mike just preferred hanging out at our house.

But rather than explain, Mike just shakes his head, leaving me frustrated. “It’s not my story to tell.”

His words settle heavily in my chest. I thought I knew everything about those years with Zack. Turns out, I don’t even know half.

And honestly, I was just a kid back then, too. Even what I do actually know may only be scratching the surface of what Zack’s life was really like back then.

He squeezes my shoulder gently. “I think you should try giving Zack a second chance. At least hear him out. And you know that I’ll kick his butt in a heartbeat if I need to.”

“You’re unbelievable.” I lean across the seat and pull my brother into a hug. “And you’re lucky I like you so much.”

“You’re lucky I’m so wise.” Mike pats me on the back and releases me. “Love you!” he calls as I’m walking up to my door.

“Love you more!” I wave as he drives off, then let myself into my apartment.

I take off my shoes and throw myself down onto the couch with a sigh.

Mike’s gotten into my head as only a brother can, and I can’t help but see his point of view. It makes sense that there would have to be a pretty huge missing piece of the puzzle to justify what Zack did to me back then. And now Mike’s got me convinced that I need to hear the rest of the story.

Well, courtesy of my meddling brother, Zack Colt just got a second chance. I really hope he knows what to do with it this time.