Page 68 of Unraveled

“Chuck wants us to pick up charcoal and lighter fluid. I guess he has less than he thought. I know I saw some on the back patio the other day when Tucker and I wentover. We still need to get the drinks and the stuff Jenna asked for, too.”

“Why don’t I go grab another basket for all of that and you go grab the charcoal? Meet up by the bakery?” She tossed some black and red streamers in the basket, and I shifted them to the corner to make room.

“Sounds good.”

We took off, and I rushed down the aisles to the garden center where the charcoal was stacked by the grills. Placing a couple of jugs of lighter fluid in my basket first, just to be safe and have enough, I started looking over the bags of charcoal, trying to find the label that matched the bag I usually saw Chuck use.

Finally spotting it on the second shelf, I grabbed the extra large size and pulled, stumbling back under its weight. My high heel twisted, and I was tumbling down, cringing as I prepared to land on my ass, when someone caught me from behind and lifted me back up.

“Oh, my God, thanks. I’m so sorry about that.” I flushed with my shock, humiliation eating at me through my relief as I looked over my shoulder, their hand still steadying me by my elbow.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve blushed like that because of me.”

The color instantly drained from my face, and I took a step back. Zane frowned, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he looked genuinely sad about my reaction.

“Are youlookingto give me more info to stick on your case for the hearing?” I snapped, struggling to adjust my hold on the bag.

Zane rolled his eyes. “Of course not.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

He held up a sprinkler head. “Errands for my mom.” I narrowed my gaze, not sure if I believed him, and he sighed. “Do I even want to know what you’re thinking?”

“If you were following me.” I shifted the bag some more, nearly stumbling, and Zane rolled his eyes again before taking it from me and setting it in my basket.

I glared, my heart pounding at him being near.

“No need for a thank you.” He said it like a dig. “And I’ve been down that next aisle for ten minutes trying to find something that matches the picture my mom sent me. So, no, I wasn’t following you. I was just heading to the register when I saw you pulling down the charcoal. Would you rather I had just let you fall?”

“Of course not,” I snapped and grabbed the basket. “I’m gonna go before this turns into something we’re both going to regret.”

I’d barely started to push when he grabbed the side of the basket. “Izzy, wait.”

A spark of fear flashed through me, hating when he cornered me and when it felt like I couldn’t leave, but I shoved it down. I was tired of feeling weak around him, and with the hearing just days away, I finally held some of the power. “Zane…” I warned, everything in me on alert.

He stopped, dropping his hand from the edge of the basket, and his brow creased. An expression I recognized for when he was debating what to say.

Why in the hell I was waiting to hear it, I didn’t know. I had no desire to push him with what happened last time, but it was like my feet were frozen. I could leave here the winner right now if I could justmove. But maybe that was why I didn’t move. I always did stupid things around him.

“Can I please say something before you go?”

I groaned. “Go ahead. It’s your last chance before the hearing. Might as well get it out.”

I wondered how much I’d regret it. The deep bruises on my arms seemed to ache at the thought.

“Thanks.” He looked surprised before he smiled, but it wasn’t that sly, sickening smile this time. “I’ll swear it on my grandpa if it helps you believe I wasn’t following you today, but I won’t lie that I’ve been hoping for another chance to talk to you.”

“Don’t make it a story, Zane. You can swear on things all you like, but I don’t trust you.”Not after all I know now.

His face fell some, and he nodded. “I get that. But I wanted to apologize, inperson, for hurting you. I didn’t mean to. You just…pushedme, and my anger took over.”

Annnd, it was almost a sincere apology.It was too little too late even if it was.

“Yeah, well, I’ve heard steroids doesn’t really leave people much control over that.”

“And that’s why I’m working hard to get them out of my system, Izzy. I’m going to a rehab facility in June out in California, after I finish with that alternative program. My mom has an old college friend out there that helped my parents find a really good place. I’ll even be in counseling sessions that will help me work onallof my anger issues. Not just the…drug-induced ones. In a few months, I’ll be good. Or at least improved.” His eyes poured over me, like he was searching for my response.

“Why are you telling me this?” I almost whined. I just wanted to bedonewith him. Although, it really was good to know he’d be completely out of state for several months. There’d be no risk of bumping into him. Maybe ever, depending on where he was going for college.

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