Page 47 of Rescued Duty

“Girl, he’s a keeper. I wish Will reminded me more of the truth.”

“Zack seems to always have a desire to do what is right.” The ways Zack had matured from a boy into a man reeled her heart in faster than the tips that came in on a reporter’s hotline. “I just don’t know what to do.” Naya stood up and grabbed a ponytail from her dresser and attempted to secure her hair in an updo with one hand. It was messy but it would do.

“I think you know what to do, but your mind is telling you a different story.”

Naya propped her hands on the dresser and stared at her reflection in the mirror. “It’s just a far cry from what I’ve experienced with other guys. Including Tucker.”

“Ask Zack what happened when you were teens. When he left. It’ll give your heart closure. It might even help you both move on in the right direction. Together.”

Together.

“The thought of partnering on anything with anyone makes my stomach hurt. IknowZack is different, but it doesn’t fit with the reality I’ve known for years, of others looking out for themselves, leaving me in the dust.” Hurt and alone.

Before Naya could come up with another excuse, Ingram said, “I’ll be praying the Lord gives you courage to have that conversation. Sooner rather than later.”

Naya chuckled. She could picture her friend, head cocked, eyebrows raised. “Thanks, Grams.”

Her phone pinged with another message.

“Looks like someone else is seeking a heart change.” Naya scrolled through the words. “Tucker texted. An apology about how he handled things when we saw him at Ethos and when I saw him at Callahan’s.”

“Good. That boy needed to be put in his place.”

“Except he didn’t apologize for writing the note.”

“That’s some serious downplaying of what happened.”

“You don’t say.” Naya sighed. “Drew told me he followed through and spoke with Tucker about professional etiquette.”

“Well, Tucker still has some manning up to do then,” Ingram said.

“It’s a matter of getting through that big head of his, which might take a while.” So were Tucker’s words sincere? It seemed more plausible that he would continue with his sarcastic comments and prideful attitude. “Words on a screen only hold so much weight. I’ll have to talk to him myself. Get a better read on his demeanor.” Which reminded her to follow up with Zack about Tucker’s whereabouts the other day. “I have to get going.” Naya grabbed a pair of flats from her shoe rack and headed to the kitchen. “Zack and I are meeting with one of his dad’s former friends.”

“Give Zack the benefit of the doubt. The truth may surprise you.”

“Maybe.” Naya chewed her lip. “It often does surprise me, and usually not in a good way.”

Help me see Zack’s heart, Lord. Bring the truth into the light.

Naya wanted Zack to be a man she could trust. Dare she say love? But she couldn’t get ahead of herself. There was still investigating to do. And unearthing the truth of the past and letting her heart catch up would take time.

All the turmoil and stress made Naya want to curl up and veg out on somepain patate, a sweet potato bread pudding desserther family used to make. She could almost taste the warm, fluffy center. The vanilla and cinnamon wrapping her in a comforting embrace.

Instead, she opted for a protein granola bar. The recent events hadn’t allowed for much time in the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, Naya pulled up to Zack’s house. He jogged down the drive and slid into the passenger seat. “Thanks for not making me call a cab.”

Naya feigned a gasp. “That would be cruel of me.” After yesterday’s events, the lighthearted banter eased the tightness in her shoulders.

As if she had someone else to carry her burdens with her.

Like real friends.

Still, the cuts and bandages on Zack’s face reminded her why they were even taking this trip.

Zack provided navigation while they drove, and eventually the houses grew farther apart and traffic waned. They wouldn’t have to worry about parallel parking out here. Former fire chief Ricky Powells lived on the other side of town and had agreed to meet with them.

“Thanks for coming along.”

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