Been There Done That

by Smartypants Romance

  “I’m sorry, Zora.”

  “What? Why?”

  He opened the door, revealing my mother on the other side of the door. She held her third-best cake stand and wore her snarkiest smile.

  “I just wanted to check on you, Nick.” My mother sent him a very pointed look. I looked between them, wondering what I was missing.

  We sat around the kitchen table, plated slices of cake in front of each of us.

  None of us had taken a bite yet.

  I wasn’t fooled by my mother or this cake. Everyone in Green Valley knew a freshly baked cake was the best tool, the most effective weapon, for prying the choicest bits of gossip from even the most close-mouthed neighbor. She came to ply him with cake and blackmail him for details about my reaction to their shared secret.

  “I wondered if you and Zora had The Talk. Walker told me he saw the two of you having an . . . intense conversation at the coffee shop. I thought I’d just check in.” Her swift perusal of me lingered at my bare shoulder, which peeped from the neck of Nick’s oversized shirt. “I see I didn’t need to worry.”

  Oh, God. Kill me now.

  Nothing ruined the afterglow more than your mother showing up for post-coital conversation, and no one was better skilled at low-key shade than Ellie Leffersbee.

  Nick swallowed a smile. “Yes, ma’am, we’ve talked. I think we’ve worked things out between each other.”

  My mother gave me her shadiest side-eye. “Uh-huh. I see.”

  Nick’s mouth twitched.

  “I’m glad you came by,” I said, meeting her gaze and raising the stakes. “I’ve been wanting to learn more about this secret you’ve been keeping all these years. From your own daughter.”

  She glared at Nick and he averted his face before she looked back at me.

  “I understand you’re upset.” My mother laced her fingers together on the table, always a signal she was about to employ her famous diplomacy. “You have every right to be upset, I would be too. But I hope—”

  “I am angry. It hurts more than a little, yes, knowing you and Dad kept this from me all these years, knowing how upset and worried I was.”

  I blinked against the prickle of tears, swallowed back the lump in my throat. There was no point in crying now, I knew that. But this was the first time in my life that I’d felt real disappointment, devastation, as the result of something my mother had done. I wouldn’t have been completely surprised if it had only been my father who had more nebulous views about right and wrong. My mother, however, had always been highly principled. Unflinching in her insistence that all of her children act with integrity, even if it cost them.

  My mother and Nick exchanged another glance and he winced.

  “Zora,” Nick began, “I should have waited for your mother to tell you, to explain. I never meant—”

  “No.” My mother reached across the table to place her hand atop his, suddenly looking tired. “It had to be done, you had to tell her. It wasn’t fair to ask you to wait. The truth of it is, even with all the years I’ve had to prepare for this conversation, I’m still not ready.”

  I cleared my throat. “He told me what happened. I know, you thought my life was in danger.”

  “We didn’t think. We knew. Nick had been in a vulnerable position for years, long before his dust-up with the Iron Wraiths. There was no solution,” she said, her earnest voice breaking.

  “Don’t cry, Mama.”

  She shook her head insistently. “I know what we did seems unconscionable now. And it was. It was an excruciatingly painful dilemma, but it was what Nick wanted, and we chose to support his decision. It gave you both an opportunity to live, to experience life and choose your own paths. Ezra and I believed, if it was meant to be, your paths would cross again.”

  She turned to Nick and squeezed his hand. “Sure enough, here we all are again. This time you’re both in a position to decide your own fate.”

  He met her gaze and nodded silently.

  “But, Zora. Baby girl. Look at me,” she demanded quietly.

  I raised my eyes to meet hers.

  “I pray you can come to understand that I did what I did because of how much I love you,” she said, her eyes suspiciously bright. “Maybe not today, but one day in the future. It’s killed me, keeping this from you. It killed Lila, too, I know. But I hope with time, you can forgive us.”

  I let out a breath. “I understand, I do. I can’t say that I’ve fully accepted it as of today, but I’m grateful you and Dad were able to help him. I wouldn’t have wanted him alone in the world, without help, whether I’d known or not. So, thank you for taking care of him, and loving him the way I couldn’t at the time.”

  Nick reached for my hand across the table.

  My mother looked at our joined hands at the table and a faint smile curved her lips. “How I wish Lila had been here to see this. It would have done her heart glad to see one of life’s injustices righted. Privately, the two of us always rooted for you two.”

  Nick let out a sigh. “I wish she were here, too.”

  My mother eyed our untouched plates. “What, y’all aren’t hungry?”

  My stomach picked that unfortunate moment to loudly growl. “Yes, but we haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”

  Her mouth twisted, eyes going small with sarcasm. “Looks like you’re more than used to having your dessert first, from where I’m sitting.”

  My jaw dropped.

  Nick ducked his head.

  “Mama, you’re gonna call me out like that? Imply that I’m—”

  “What, carrying on, unmarried, in broad daylight?” She made her face innocent. “Never.”

  She rose from the table and Nick stood. “Please, you don’t have to go, Mrs. Leffersbee.”

  “Nick, I can see the filthy thoughts in my daughter’s eyes. I best head out before she has a chance to act on them.” Inwardly, I laughed at the twinkle in her eye. Right. As if I could entertain any prurient interest in Nick with my mother sitting right there. “God knows what these walls have seen.”

  “I wouldn’t know, ma’am.”

  If I’d had something to throw at him, I would have.

  She snorted. “Of course, you wouldn’t, dear.”

  She gathered her purse. “You two be good to each other, take care of each other. The love you have for each other has always been so pure, so rare. Protect it. Decide you’ll hang on to each other, no matter what happens.”

  I stood and hugged her. “Thank you, Mama.”

  “Zora, hear me in this moment. I worry about all my children in equal measure. It’s my job as a mother and one day you’ll see. I worry Audre will fall in with the wrong crowd at UCLA and that Tavia won’t ever slow down long enough to learn herself, let alone allow someone to love her. That Walker won’t ever find the courage to face his own secrets and live in his truth. And that his peter will finally get sick and fall off from him sticking it into everything that moves.”

  Nick failed to mask a snort of laughter.

  “But do you know what I worry about for you?”

  I was afraid of her answer. “No, I don’t.”

  She squeezed my shoulder. “I worry you’ll never take the leap, the plunge, that will make you happy. That you’ll spend your life living the life you think you should, for everyone else. If there were one thing I could tell you, now that you’re on this new path, it would be this: it’s easier to save the world than to save yourself. I hope you work up the courage to do it, though, because you’re worth it.” She gave me another hug. “Love you, baby.”

  She turned to Nick, arms open. “And you, my giant baby.” He bent to embrace her, and their hug lasted much longer, with her murmuring something in his ear as he nodded along.

  I thought I detected a bit of moisture in his eyes when they straightened.

  “All right, I’ll see you children soon,” she declared, marching to the door like the little dictator she was. “Nick, I want that cake plate back when you’re done. And I hope one of yo
u thinks to let Jackson know the little ruse he had going with Zora is up. Preferably before she’s expecting your first child.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Nick

  “You rat bastard.”

  I blinked in surprise.

  Although, I wasn’t completely surprised. During our drive to her house, Zora warned me that Leigh would be back in town. I remembered that it was Leigh who’d driven Zora out to Michigan all those years ago and witnessed Rebecca’s kiss in the coffee shop.

  I knew I had inroads to make with her best friend.

  What I hadn’t expected was Leigh crossing the porch to greet me as soon as Zora and I ascended the steps to her house. She was clearly battle-ready.

  I didn’t want to risk shaking hands. She looked mad enough to hack my arm off.

  “And you.” She fixed Zora with a look that raised my hackles a bit. I pulled Zora behind me; better to face her small friend’s impressive fury myself.

  “I realize a lot has changed since you left town—”

  “Don’t you hide behind him,” Leigh barked, looking around me as if I wasn’t a full foot taller than her. “Face me like a woman.” Leigh ran a quick glance over me, sucked her teeth with a disdainful sound.

  Zora peeked from around me. “We went to the gala, and—”

  Leigh shook her head, lips pursed. “And let me guess. You ended up on top.”

  I whirled around just in time to see Zora’s tiny nod. She looked proud of herself.

  That’s right, baby.

  She’d done magnificent work on top.

  Wait a minute, how did Leigh know—

  “We talked,” Zora told Leigh. “About what happened in Michigan. When we saw him that day in the coffee shop.”

  “I didn’t cheat on her,” I informed Leigh.

  Her face twisted up at me. “Let me guess. You heard the Shaggy song, too. It wasn’t you.”

  I extracted my wallet and pulled out a thrice-folded envelope. “I thought it might come to this. This is for you.”

  She didn’t take it. “What’s that?”

  “It’s a notarized letter from that coworker, the one you saw kiss me. Who I did not kiss back, for the record. My security team located her and obtained this signed statement.”

  “You paid her for her statement?” Her voice dripped with scorn.

  Damn, she was tough. She’d fit right in with the legal team at Rocket.

  “I most certainly did not. She also offered her phone number, it’s all in there. She’s agreed to answer any questions you may have for her.”

  She snatched the envelope out of my hand. “I’ll take a look.”

  Zora grimaced. “We’re going to get breakfast. You want to come with?”

  The screen door on Leigh’s side banged closed in response.

  Zora and I exchanged glances.

  “It’ll be all right. I’m not surprised. If I thought someone cheated on my best friend, well, I’d do everything in my power to make them pay.”

  “Rightfully so,” she agreed.

  “All right. My stomach is eating my back at this point. Please, can we take you inside and get some clothes on you so we can go?”

  “Sure.” But she stood there smiling, her gaze stuck to mine. “Thanks, by the way.”

  “For what?”

  “For contacting The Redhead. Putting her in contact with Leigh, who is definitely going to call her, by the way. I believed you, but this helps.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, happy that I could now. “What do I keep telling you? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  Responding to the dark intent in her eyes, I boosted her up until her legs wrapped around me. She’d just kissed me when another voice sounded behind me.

  “Now I see what was so important in Green Acres.”

  “Valley,” I corrected automatically, then turned, unable to believe my own ears.

  “Eddie?”

  “One and the same,” he confirmed, his gaze bouncing between me and Zora. “So. Are you going to introduce me?”

  “The trick to throwing an ax is knowing when to let go.”

  At that, our Ax Master hefted the ax behind his head until his elbow was skyward, then released it in a smooth downward arc.

  The ax bit into the innermost circle of the bull’s-eye. Perfect.

  Zora stood at his elbow, tracking every nuance of his movement. “Okay. Can you do it again?”

  Leigh snickered. I shot her a look.

  Zora glared back at her friend. “Quiet from the peanut gallery, please.”

  Eddie shifted closer to me and said, just loud enough for me to hear, “He could do it fifty more times and—”

  “Shut it.”

  He snorted with laughter. “You’re really gone over this girl.”

  Leigh wandered over to us from her corner, her expression pained. “Listen. I know you probably like having sex with her, but it’s not healthy to support delusional behavior. She sucks at this. We can’t keep slowing down the game for these long tutorials every time it’s her turn.”

  “We’ve got the lane until this place closes.” I ignored them both, watching the Ax Master sneak a quick glance at Zora’s ass.

  This fucker.

  Eddie murmured something to Leigh. They both cracked up.

  Our plans for the day had changed once Eddie showed up. Leigh was determined to spend time with him after learning he was my closest friend. She’d cornered Eddie for most of our time in the throwing lane, pumping him for information.

  And kicking our asses in competition.

  I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was her idea to come here. Or that she mimed chopping off my nuts when she made the suggestion.

  I didn’t care. I would do whatever it took to get along with Leigh’s crazy ass. It was clear she and Zora were extremely close and protective of each other. Now that I had Zora back, I’d deal with whatever happened, no matter the obstacle.

  Even if it was this bitingly sarcastic woman with scarily accurate aim.

  Knoxville Ax was a relatively new establishment and a favorite after-work hangout of the hospital staff, apparently.

  “I should buy one of these,” Eddie had said, taking in the high-ceilinged renovated warehouse. In addition to its throwing lanes, Knoxville Ax offered a full bar and restaurant with cutesy amenities like a cereal bar and board games for diners. I’d expected the place to be swarming with students this time of day, but it was relatively slow. We easily snagged our own throwing lane as well as a supervising Ax Master named Chase, who sported a beard even Gimli the dwarf would have envied. Chase reviewed safety protocols, demonstrated the basics of ax throwing, and led us in what was supposed to be friendly competition.

  But Zora was anything but friendly after watching the hash marks pile up under everyone else’s names. I would defend her to the end against anyone that talked trash about her, but privately, I wondered if she was throwing with both eyes closed. Every ax she threw was destined to ricochet off the bottom of the wooden board.

  Leigh planted a hand on her hip. I hadn’t known her long, but I knew more shit talk was coming. “You know,” she called to Zora, who was flinging the ax in dangerous practice arcs, “It’s okay. Not everyone can be good at everything. You’re unfairly talented at a number of things. Who cares if ax throwing isn’t—”

  “Shut up and stay in your corner,” Zora said, and I saw the blood in her eyes. I eased back, mindful of the ax in her hand.

  “Don’t pay her any attention,” Chase said soothingly. “I think you’re doing better. Give it a shot, now that your arm placement’s better.”

  Eddie sent me a sly look, his eyes bright with mischief. I’d known him long enough to discern its meaning.

  I planned to get rid of Gimli in short order. I just couldn’t do it in a way that would lead to Zora delivering another Beyoncé/Independent Women speech.

  “Let’s make one last change to your stance for a sec,” Gimli said. He lifted
a hand as if he meant to place it at her waist. “Do you mind if I make a few adjustments?”

  I pushed off the wall. “That’s it. You’re done here. Get the fuck out.”

  He turned to find me less than a foot away, ready to dismember him.

  “No disrespect intended. I was just trying to help.” But I saw the cunning in his smirk.

  “Get the fuck outta here.”

  He scampered out.

  Zora glowered at me.

  I shook my head. “Nope. Just . . . nope.”

  “So you like Neanderthals,” I overheard Leigh say to Zora.

  Zora ignored her and came to me, draping her arms around my waist.

  I calculated how long it would take us to get back to Green Valley and back in one of our beds. Where had all these damn people come from? Shouldn’t Zora and I be busy, reuniting?

  “Hey,” she said, looking up at me with wicked eyes. I pushed away a mental flashback of the previous night.

  There were other people around.

  “I need to catch up with Leigh and find out what happened while she was back home. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind gossiping about us with Eddie when we’re out of earshot.”

  Eddie snickered.

  “We’re gonna get drinks, then grab a table for dinner. You stay here, catch up with Eddie. Talk about whatever it is CEOs talk about. Meet us on the other side in an hour.”

  She puckered up and I met her, relieved to taste her again.

  It had been too damn long.

  Eddie watched the two of them leave the lane, then turned to me with a grin.

  “Man, Nick. I never thought I’d live to see this day.”

  “What day?”

  “The day you got whipped. You’re in love, man. She just worked the hell out of you.”

  I frowned. “She didn’t—”

  “She just sashayed over there, calmed you down, and then told you what was going to happen.” He bent over, laughing. “Man, I wish some of the people in the office could see this. Mr. Demanding has been taken down.”