Page 26 of Zac

“Yeah, and I don’t have the time to sit here and explain to you how it all works.”

“Believe me brother, I know how it works. In fact I had myself a lesson right before I showed up here.” I glance up to find him wiping the corner of his mouth and I glare. “Ror is a very good teacher.” With a waggle of his brows, he leans back and kicks his legs out before him.

“Nope.” I shake my head, not wanting to hear any details. It was different when he was hooking up with random chicks. Hell, I’d let him go on and on and even share a few stories myself. But it’s different now, because Aurora is like a sister. I don’t need nor want to hear that shit.

“Who you texting? A booty call?”

“No, you imbecile.” I shake my head. How the hell does Aurora get through a day without hitting this idiot over the head with a club? “I’m asking Presley if she wants to join us.”

“Oh, she won’t,” he says with a shrug and he seems so sure. “Aurora was out with her earlier today and she was picking up an extra shift at the cafe tonight. Something about trying to tuck away enough to carry her for a few months.”

My stomach grows tight.

“Aurora came home in a mood, which is why I tried my best to brighten her day.” He grins again and I look back to my phone typing out another message.

Me: Never mind, I’m coming to you.

I stand pushing back my chair.

“Where you going?” Jace asks but I ignore his question looking around for Aurora. Seeing her at the bar with Luna, I make my way toward them. As I close in they both turn around to face me, but the smiles fade fast.

“What’s wrong?” she asks with a look of concern.

“I’m gonna need your help.”

“With what?” Aurora seems confused, looking over my shoulder toward the table where everyone else is sitting.

“She’s busting her ass for no reason, but I think we both know she isn’t going to fucking listen to a word either of us say.” I see the moment it dawns on her that I’m talking about Presley.

“No, she’s stubborn like that, but for good reason.”

“I am not her ex.” Nowhere close.

“I know that, and she does too. But Zac it started long before that.” I hold her stare and she looks over at Luna, telling her to go ahead and take the drinks back to the table. When we are alone she continues. “Presley’s dad was exactly like Grant. A drunk, verbally abusive, and though I think Grant might have taken that abuse a step further, Presley has never confirmed that. What I do know is she’s spent her entire life hearing how she won’t amount to anything. And she’s spent every day trying to prove them wrong. She is independent because she has never had anyone to rely on. I’ve tried, believe me I have, but every time I am met with resistance. Allowing someone to help her is admitting she can’t do it on her own, and she never will.”

“Then we have to figure out a way I can help.”

“Just be there for her, in case it all becomes too much,” Aurora says with a shrug.

“That’s not good enough.” Fuck, I want to do everything.

“It has to be.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s all she’ll allow.” With that she walks away and I’m left standing there in the middle of the bar, fuming. My heart is racing, my stomach turning, and I’m no longer hungry.

Spinning around I walk toward the door, and push it open, hearing my name being called out. But I don’t stop, jogging across the road toward my truck.

Presley and I are going get some shit straight. It may explode, she may hate me in the end, but I am fucking here. I am right here, she needs to accept that.

Driving across town, I pull into the parking lot of the small restaurant she works at. There are several cars in the parking lot and I can see through the front windows the place is hopping.

I remain where I am, scanning over the area, trying to spot her. Several waitresses and hostesses move around the space, cleaning tables and seating people. Then I see her, coming out from the back, carrying a tray of food.

She sets it down on an empty table and starts to distribute the plates around to a large party. She smiles, pointing at everyone one by one. A few of them hand her empty cups and she takes them, setting them on the now empty tray.

Her hair is pulled back, twisted up into a wild messy bun. A few strands fall free around her face.

Without another wasted thought, I climb out and start toward the front door. As I step inside she rounds the corner and comes face to face with me. “I thought you were joking.” It takes me a second to realize she is referring to the text I sent her.

“Not joking.” A younger guy walks by and I holler out for him. He looks back at me and I point to the tray. “You wanna take this for the lady?”

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