Zach the Captain

by Anna Joung

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 Anna Joung – All rights Reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Zach The Captain

  Mister Right Book 2

  Anna Joung

  Table Of Contents

  Description

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About The Author

  Also By Anna Joung

  Description

  Emily

  Well, now I’ve done it.

  All of my recklessness has finally caught up with me and my parents have got it in their heads that the only way to get me to settle down is to arrange it themselves.

  They’ve set me up on a date, a fricking date, and my God, I want to just pour kerosene over my clothes and light myself on fire. Of course, my parents are expecting this date to go spectacularly, that I am going to have to lie my ass off just so they’d get off my back.

  I wish I was having this date with that guy my brother brought over to his barbeque. He was a pretty nice guy. Hell, I’d even take that really handsome one with those piercing grey eyes but with a bad attitude. He was an asshole, but I bet he’d be a better company than this.

  Ugh, I can’t believe this! I am an event coordinator, and I can’t even plan my own love life. I just want to be able to have fun and go at my own pace without anybody telling me what to do!

  Zach

  Being a captain in the Army has been drilled into me so deep, it makes it kind of hard for me to take a backseat about everything else in life.

  Coming back home to hear my little brother was getting set up for a date—with the girl I got so fixated on at the party, no less- was a downright kick to the gut. Like Jesus Christ, did it have to be her?

  Now, I was fucking torn between letting her be or snatching her away for myself. I mean, she didn’t seem particularly impressed with me at that time, but I’m willing to bet anything that I was able to change her mind.

  I’ve flipped the bird at destiny so many times during missions, defied expectations and came out of even more complicated shit than this alive that I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the universe’s way of screwing me right back.

  Well, maybe this time would be different.

  Maybe it’s about time I let the universe does whatever it wants and we can both win.

  Prologue

  “Good morning, everybody! You’re listening to KTYX and I’m your host, DJ Maki, playing you the top 10 hits of the week! I’ll also be taking in requests, so keep all those texts and tweets pouring in…,”

  I grinned widely as I stepped my foot on the gas harder, speeding along with three other cars on the highway. I couldn’t help but release a loud whoop at how smooth it felt. I had spent a whole year saving up for my dream car, and now I’m finally driving my baby home. Oh, God. Driving a fucking Audi R8 has been my dream since I read the Twilight series, and I don’t know what the hell Bella Swan was smoking for hating on this car, but personally? If it was a Transformer and it turned into a human? I would fucking marry it. I’m not even kidding.

  I sighed happily and rolled the roof back, tilting my head as the sun’s rays hit my face. I sighed again. This was life. The weather was great, my events coordinating company was doing well, I’ve got my dream car, I’ve also gotten my dream apartment…nothing can ruin this day for me.

  As if on cue, my phone started ringing and I looked at the screen, cursing mentally as I realized who it was.

  Damn it, I thought, grumbling to myself as I turned on the signal so I can stop the car over to the side for a bit before I took the phone off its clip on the dashboard. I spoke too soon. Of course, my mother would be calling me today.

  I couldn’t help but wince before sliding the “Accept” button to the left and putting it in my ear.

  “Hello?” I answered hesitantly. My mom replied and my stomach plummeted.

  Well, consider this day officially fucked.

  Chapter 1

  Emily

  I drove to my parents’ place with growing trepidation, still smarting from that unwanted phone call from earlier. It wasn’t that I disliked my parents, but I absolutely loathed how controlling they got about everything in my life. My older brother, Dwayne, had it easy since he left the house when he turned 18 and signed up for the Army, free from our parents’ clutches. He could feed me his bullshit about wanting to serve his country all he wants, but I know for fucking fact his main reason at the time was to escape our parent’s clutches.

  I parked my new car right outside the front door and turned the engine off, glaring at the marble white mansion I grew up in. The place looked colder than I remembered, and I didn’t think it was possible. The hedges were perfectly trimmed and sculpted into small rectangular blocks, the grass lush and green and the sides decorated with violets and forget-me-nots. It was all just so neat and put-together that it came across as fake and emotionless. It was too immaculate to ever really foster that sense of being at home. It was too late to back out now, though. It was highly likely that my mother had already seen me through the security cameras and was just waiting to open the door and act surprised. It was just the kind of thing she would do.

  I heaved another heavy sigh before finally getting out of the car, locking it behind me as I crossed the front porch. I ignored the metal knocker attached to the door and using my knuckles instead. It only took me three raps before the door swung open, my mother greeting me with a big smile and a white chef’s apron tied around her waist. I looked down at it with amusement, and she tilted her head at me.

  “Why are you looking at me like that, dear?” she asked.

  “Who you trying to impress, Mom?” I asked her.

  “What, this? I didn’t want anything spilling over my Chanel while I’m cooking,” she answered, and I snorted, shaking my head.

  “Oh, please, Mom. You don’t cook. You let the maids handle it,” I pointed out. She closed the door and gave me a little glare.

  “I’ve learned to cook a few dishes over the years! Why do you ridicule your mother like that?”

  “Ooh. Where was that talent when Dwayne and I were growing up, huh?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I looked around the house and nothing much has really changed. The colors of the curtains are still monochromatic and draped, the upholstery matching and everything looking stiff and kind of silent. There was no vibrancy anywhere, any hint of color in the room was only on my mother’s fuchsia dress, and even that was pushing it. “So, you didn’t invite me back for brunch just so I could be your test dummy for your dishes, did you?”

  “Of course not, silly. Your father is just taking a business call in his office. He’ll be down shortly,” Mom replied. “What about you? Have you spoken to your brother recently?
”

  “Yeah. I just gave him and his girlfriend the month off, actually,” I replied, making my way to the dining room. The sooner we got this brunch over and done with, the better. I feel like I was going to lose my ability to express my emotions the longer I stayed here.

  “Oh, you didn’t tell him to come over with you?” she asked, scooping up some pasta from the pot and onto a plate. I narrowed my eyes at her question.

  “Mom, you literally just invited me an hour ago,” I replied. She shrugged and finished placing the rest of the pasta onto my plate then scraping the rest on the bowl. She then poured some carbonara sauce over both of our plates before settling in on her seat, waving her hand towards my plate, indicating that I can start eating already. She didn’t need to tell me twice; this carbonara smelled fantastic.

  I was about to get my 2nd helping of carbonara when my Dad finally showed up and I had to keep myself from snorting. He was dressed up like my mother, wearing one of his crisp business suits at home even when there’s no need to. It was crazy how pretentious they get when they’re not even hosting any other guests here besides their daughter.

  He sat down at the head of the table and nodded at us, unfurling the napkin and placing it on his lap before asking Mom to pass the pasta. I cleared my throat. Since he was finally here, we might as well get on with the reason for this family brunch.

  I opened my mouth to start it, but my Dad beat me to it, “So, Emily, how is your business coming along?” he asked.

  “Like I told Mom earlier, it’s going great. You have nothing to worry about, Dad,” I assured him.

  “Well, that’s good. That’s one thing we can take out of our list,” he said. I paused from taking a mouthful of pasta and stared at him.

  “What do you mean by that?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. My parents looked at each other before my Dad wiped his mouth with his napkin and Mom leaned back on her chair and folded her hands together.

  “Well, you see, honey, the reason we asked you here today is to tell you something very important,” she started to say.

  I dropped my fork. Oh, boy. That does not mean anything good. I braced myself.

  “We’ve set you up for a date!” she continued brightly, giving me a toothy smile. I looked at my Dad and he nodded, even supplying a little grin of his own. I blinked my eyes a couple of times, trying to see if they were playing a joke on me, but their expressions remained unchanged.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I asked, and my mom shook her head.

  “Why would we joke about that?” she asked, tilting her head.

  “Well, for starters, I’m old enough to get my own dates,” I answered.

  “Yes, you are, but you haven’t been doing much of that, of late, and you’re not getting any younger,” Dad pointed out.

  “I’ve been busy with other stuff, alright? What’s it to you guys?!” I cried.

  “We’re old and we want our grandchildren, that’s what it is,” Mom answered, her eyes wide with indignation.

  “Dwayne’s girlfriend is literally about to pop with his kid! What the hell are you two talking about?” I exclaimed, my voice going more pitchy.

  “Language,” Dad reprimanded, glaring at me harshly. I rolled my eyes at him.

  “I’m old enough to curse, Dad,” I said.

  “Not while you’re in my house,” he retaliated, and I was about to fire back a retort when Mom stood up and outstretched her hands.

  “Alright, the both of you just stop!” she cried before bringing her hands down. “Now, Emily. I know you are very independent and you’re more than capable of meeting a man, by yourself, but it has been a while since your last relationship, and you haven’t introduced us to anyone new ever since,” Mom explained. She reached over and patted my arm, giving me a pitiable smile.

  “That doesn’t mean you can just set me up with some random guy!”

  “Come now, of course, we wouldn’t be that obtuse,” Dad supplied, shaking his head. “We and his parents have been in the same social gatherings as well and we did business together a few times, so I’m quite confident you and their son would get along swimmingly.”

  “Swimmingly,” I parroted before scoffing. “Are you trying on a new dialect, Dad?”

  “Enough, Emily. This is for your own good. Either you go on this blind date or I cut you off,” he said strongly. My mouth fell open in surprise.

  “You can’t do that,” I said.

  “Oh, yes, I can,” he assured me, and I slumped back on my seat, losing my appetite. “And don’t even try ditching him because if you do, we’ll know.”

  God damn it.

  Chapter 2

  Zach

  I kept my eyes low as the taxi driver took me home, still feeling a little bit out of it. It had been a while since I’d been in a place like this, and my body hasn’t acclimated to the lack of danger. I was still on my guard even when I knew nothing was going to go wrong in the city. Spending 10 years in the Army hadn’t helped with my paranoia, if anything, it made it worse. I had a hard time sleeping at night because I would just keep dreaming about being in the middle of a warzone. A part of me I worried about my platoon is doing even when I left them in great hands. That was another thing wrong with me. I was so used to taking command and being in control of something and that was what I used to keep the edge off.

  The higher-ups decided to send me off on furlough. I think they got tired of me bossing the people around. The general never really liked me, mostly because I just did whatever I thought was necessary, even if it meant not following his orders most of the time, and the other is because the guys are more used to following my commands than anyone else. The other guys were a little disconcerted that I was leaving them without a captain, but I had one promoted one of them to be in charge in my absence so I’m sure they were going to be fine.

  I gave the driver the money plus tips for helping me with my bags—I didn’t need any assistance, but the old man was a nice gentleman—and then carried my stuff towards our house. Looks like the place hasn’t changed. I mean, they’ve repainted the walls and the plants are different, but it’s still pretty much the same as when I left it 12 years ago. I wondered if my keys still worked…

  I entered the house and immediately took my cap off, peering around the place. I could hear the TV coming from the living room and some clanging from upstairs. I peeked into the living room, but no one was there so I went up and followed the noise all the way to my younger brother’s bedroom. I paused for a few seconds, listening in before opening the door. I smirked as I recognized Xavier right away, despite it being a long time since I saw him. He was preoccupied with something on his desk so he didn’t notice me, and I walked over to him quietly and braced myself for hilarity.

  “Boo,” I whispered, and he yelped, standing up abruptly and accidentally hitting his knee underneath his desk. I couldn’t help but guffaw at the sight. Xavier swiftly turned around and gasped in shock at the sight of me, making me laugh even harder. He scowled and hit me on the arm hard, muttering obscenities before wrapping his thin arms around me, slapping my back with his hand.

  “You fucking bastard. What took you so long to come home?” he muttered.

  “Well, it doesn’t look like much has changed. You’re still a tinkerer,” I told him, returning his embrace hard before moving away. “So, what are you doing with that thing? Where is everybody?”

  “Oh, Mom just bought some condiments she needed to cook some briskets,” he replied, and I couldn’t help but moan in anticipation. Mom’s briskets were fucking amazing. I heard the sound of a door slamming downstairs and Xavier and I hastily climbed down the stairs to greet my parents. My mom let a loud squeal and hugged me while my father waited for his turn, smiling widely.

  Once we finally settled down on the couch to wait for the mother to cook the briskets, us men talked about my time in the Army, and how Trump was fucking up a lot as Commander-in-Chief. As I continued to tell them about my stories, I noticed that
my dad kept sneaking furtive glances at Xavier then checking the time on his watch. I furrowed my eyebrows at this. I wondered what was going on.

  When Mom finally entered carrying a tray of food, I stood up and took them from her hands and placed them on the table. As I sat down and joined in on getting some food, Dad cleared his throat.

  “So, Xavier, did you give our proposal much thought?” he asked. I looked over at my younger brother rolling his eyes before taking another bite of his brisket.

  “I’m not going to do it, Dad,” he replied.

  “Why not? She seems like a wonderful girl!” Mom interjected. I chewed on my food, just listening to their conversation.

  “Mom, I’m not going out with some random girl that you two set me up with!” he exclaimed, throwing his fork on his plate. I scowled at him.

  “Stop playing with your silverware,” I hissed, and he shrugged, spearing another bite of the brisket.

  “Come on, Xavier. You haven’t gone out with anyone at all since you graduated from college. We’re just trying to look out for you,” Mom said.

  “Then why aren’t you asking Zach to go out with her instead? I mean, he’s older! He should be going first, right?” Xavier said.

  “First of all, we didn’t know he was coming back today,” Mom answered, pointing a finger. “And second of all, your brother doesn’t need any more encouraging because…well, forgive me for the crassness, dear, but you’re a slut.”

  I smirked at her description and shrugged, not even offended. She was right; I am a player. I didn’t even find any difficulty getting a woman to warm my bed sometimes back when I was in the Army.

  “Well, he’s back now. Can’t he take the bullet for me instead?” he asked.

  “Your brother has taken enough bullets for the country, thank you very much,” she replied. “Enough excuses, Xavier. You will be going to this date whether you like it or not. Based on her descriptions, she’s a wonderful girl!”