Page 61 of Grave Misgivings
Zeb stares at my hand where it rests, then he glances up at me. “I didn’t think you wanted to know,” he says, his voice serious.
“Zeb...”
He slides his arm from underneath me.
“When?” I ask softly.
“Three years after you left.”
The temporary stitch unravels itself in my heart.
“You could have called me, you know,” I say.
Zeb takes a swig of his beer. “What was I gonna say, Geo?” His voice is thick with emotion and I watch the way he rubs his arm, his large hand settling where mine was only a minute ago.
The desire to reach out and touch him is overwhelming.
To make him feel better, to make him understand I’m not angry with him.
I just feel like I should have been there for him.
But I can be there for him now, right?
“You could have called me, too, you know,” he says gruffly.
It’s my turn to sigh deeply and I take another sip of my martini, swallowing hard.
“I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me,” I admit.
Zeb sighs. “I didn’t.”
I look down at my hands, gripping my drink.
“But I still wanted to hear my friend’s voice all the same,” he says, his voice barely a whisper.
The waitress drops off our food, and I let out a sigh of relief.
I look at Zeb as he squeezes a lime on his tacos, and I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” I say, and he stops.
His lips turn up in the slightest ghost of a smile. “I know. I’m sorry, too,” he replies.
There is a solid silence between us, and I take a bite of my burger, relishing in the tart sauce and pickles for the moment.
“What happened in the past, it’s... it’s in the past, right?” he says quietly, drawing my attention.
I lick my lips as I look at his deep, green eyes. The way his eyebrows furrow.
“You’re here now.”
He passes me the hot sauce for my fries without my asking, and my heart lifts a little. It feels like an olive branch, but it also feels like so much more.
“I’m here now,” I agree, my heart in my throat.
He gives me a soft smile, and the stitch starts to repair itself again.
“So, make it up to me now.”
