Page 45 of Zane

He felt like they were getting closer. Like these moments together were promoting natural growth between them. It was probably the best way for things to unfold. It helped to make things feel less forced.

Still, he hadn’t read their personal text messages yet. It almost seemed wrong to read them when the people conversing were essentially strangers to him.

“I have a question,” Zane said as Kelsey bent to put their plates into the dishwasher.

She slowly straightened and seemed to take a deep breath before looking at him. “What’s that?”

“So, when I got my new phone, I loaded everything from the backup,” he said. “I’ve looked through the pictures and read some of the stuff on my social media.”

“Okay?” She was frowning, but didn’t seem upset.

“What I haven’t read is the text messages between you and… well… me.”

“Why not?” she asked, picking up a dish towel to wipe her hands.

“I guess I assumed they might be pretty personal.”

She didn’t answer right away, as if she was thinking back through all they’d written to each other. “Our messages were a mix of practical and intimate, I suppose.”

“That’s why I didn’t feel right reading them.”

Kelsey looked away from him, blinking rapidly. “Yeah. It might be best to wait.”

He was glad he’d decided not to read the messages, and also to ask Kelsey about them. It did make him more curious, though. He thought there might be a reason to read them in the future.

But it definitely wasn’t that time yet.

“I’m heading out in a bit,” she said once everything had been tidied up. “Do you need anything at the store?”

Zane had never really enjoyed shopping, unless it was at a specialty food store, but he felt like he’d been cooped up forever.

“Would you mind some company?”

Kelsey hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Nope. Not at all.”

“Let me just go up to my room and grab my wallet.”

“Okay. We’ll leave in fifteen minutes.”

Zane was glad she’d given him plenty of time because, once he got to his room, he decided his mother would be greatly disappointed in him if he didn’t brush his hair before going out. He also swapped his T-shirt for one that wasn’t quite so worn looking.

He spritzed a little cologne on, then found his wallet and phone and slipped them into the pocket of his shorts. Normally, he would have put jeans or nicer shorts on, but the long gym shorts were the easiest to put on over the cast and were the most comfortable.

When he made it back downstairs, Kelsey had her purse and was standing near the front door. She opened the door, then waited for him to make his way out onto the porch.

Her car was parked at the curb in front of the house, so it took him a few minutes to get to it and get settled in the front seat. As he buckled himself in, Zane glanced around the car.

It was an older model, with lots of wear and tear. He knew that the car he’d been driving when the accident happened had only been a couple of years old. Why didn’t Kelsey have a newer car, too?

“How old is this car?” he asked as she pulled away from the curb.

“Twelve years.”

“Why do you drive such an old vehicle?”

“It was what I could afford,” she said with a shrug. “And it’s still running fine, so there’s been no need for me to spend money on another one.”

“So you’re happy with it?”

---