“Open it,” I urged softly.
She did. When she got to what I wanted her to see, she looked up at me, her eyes filling with tears.
“There’s more,” I told her.
She pulled out the rest of the books in the satchel. Seven more. She flipped through each one, seeing that they were all signed by one of her favorite authors—Trinity Atkins. The author I forced her to miss because I was a jackass. I knew she never got to meet her because the author stopped publishing shortly after. I’d gotten my publicist to reach out to Trinity Atkins and see if she’d be willing to sign Mallory’s copies of her books. Stacey had to help me since the books were in her room. It was Stacey’s idea to replace them with other books so that Mallory wouldn’t notice.
Mallory looked up at me. “These are mine,” she said. I nodded. “You did this? For me?”
“I’m sorry I was such a little shit, Rory,” I said. “I’m sorry I let you down so many times.”
“Thank you for this,” she said. “Thank you for saying you’re sorry.”
We fell into silence with only the music filling the store.
“I know it happened a long time ago,” Mallory stated, “but I want to know why. Why did things change between us when we started junior high?”
Mallory
I’d wondered this for years. Now that I had a chance to ask Zeke, I did. Tonight had already been filled with some revelations that’d rocked me and changed how I’d perceived things. While I now knew he had nothing to do with the bet and had stood up for me, it didn’t erase the fact that he stopped caring about me and our friendship. I didn’t know where things were going with me and Zeke. I’d been so adamant that I wouldn’t fall for his charm or let my guard down, but everything he’s done tonight has been so thoughtful. The fact that he’d rented the record store for me and gotten Trinity Atkins—one of my all-time favorite authors from my childhood—to sign all eight copies of her books, had been above and beyond anything a man had ever done for me.
And he’d done it while not knowing if I even had romantic feelings for him or would want to start anything with him. I was trying to hold the past close to protect myself, but Zeke was doing a damn good job of trying to make me let it go and go for it.
“My friends thought you were geeky and a dork,” Zeke finally answered, bringing my attention back to him. “When I started hanging out with more of my teammates in junior high, they would ask me all the time why I hung out with you. Being an idiotic twelve-year-old, I didn’t know how to put them in their place. I didn’t know how to keep my friendship with you and with them. My dad told me it was important to get along with my teammates. No matter how good you are, basketball is a team sport. I couldn’t do everything on my own.”
“So, you chose them over me?”
“I guess I did,” he said honestly. “But I shouldn’t have, Rory. I was so stupid, and instead of talking to you, I pushed you away. Every chance I got I chose them over you. The day I made you miss meeting Trinity Atkins, my mom talked to me about it. She told me how you refused to leave without me. You were always a better friend to me than I was to you.”
“And then you missed my birthday party. That was a few weeks after the Trinity Atkins fiasco. It hurt me, and I realized that I couldn’t make you keep your word. I was the only one being hurt.”
“I’m so sorry, Ror. I understand why you told me you didn’t want to be friends anymore. I don’t have a good reason for why I did what I did. I can tell you that I’ve regretted it since I was old enough to realize what I lost when we stopped being friends.”
On the one hand, I could understand that he was a thirteen-year-old boy who wasn’t mature enough to handle basketball, new friends, and his old friends. But on the other hand, it was hard losing my friend. It sucked that the years we’d spent together while growing up didn’t mean anything over some guys who he’d just met.
The smart thing would be to put an end to this right now. To accept Zeke’s apology and the gestures he’d gone through to show me he meant it and walk away. I looked into Zeke’s light eyes. Yeah, the smart thing wasn’t what we usually did. I was scared and confused. I wanted to protect myself, but I also wanted to be around him. I couldn’t ignore how my heart sped up whenever he was near or how often I found myself thinking about him.
“Rory,” Zeke said, “I’m not asking you to make a decision right now, but I am asking for another chance. I know I have no right to ask you for one. But I let you go once before without asking, and I don’t want to do that again.”
“Why?”
His dark brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
I sighed. “Are you asking to be my friend again?”
“I guess.”
“Or are you asking for a chance to date me?”
“Yes,” he said. “To both, Ace. I never stopped liking you. Even when we graduated high school, I still had feelings for you. I decided to go to MSU because I knew you were going to school here. I couldn’t handle the thought of having to see you and be close to you but be so damn far away too. I needed to let you live your life and move on with mine as best as I could. I knew my chance with you had vanished after I screwed everything up.”
My heart was slamming in my chest like crazy. All this was a lot to take in, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about all the confessions tonight. I brought my gaze back to his, opening my mouth to say something, anything.
Zeke
I could tell she was overwhelmed and unsure what to say. I’d dropped a lot of bombshells on her this evening. I didn’t know what, if anything, would come from all of this. But I went for it and that was all I could do. Mallory was the only woman I wanted. I’d decided to do what my dad had done when it came to dating. It was easier to follow his lead because I knew no other woman could measure up. It made sense to just stay single. I don’t think I ever thought consciously about making things right with Mallory, but it’d been in the back of my head ever since we graduated.
She was it for me, but I didn’t know if I’d get a chance to show her that. With this “Coby” lie hanging over us, how could we really move forward? Maybe I should tell her tonight. I was confessing all these truths. That one could kill any chance I may have with her, but I could explain why I kept it a secret and she may understand.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Eden said, breaking the heavy silence. “It’s almost ten and that’s as late as I can stay”
“Plus, I’m sure you want to get home,” Mallory stated.
Eden gave her a warm smile. “Just a little bit.”
“We’ll get this cleaned up and let you get home to your family,” I added.
“Only a cat waiting at home for me, but I’m sure he misses me,” Eden replied.
Mallory chuckled, and we worked together to clean up everything, stuffing it all into the picnic basket. She put her books in the satchel and slung it over her shoulder. Eden came back with large bags filled with records. I took them from her, thanking her for being willing to stay and for ringing up the records. Mallory’s eyes narrowed as she eyed the bags, but she didn’t question me until we’d walked out of the store.
“Who are those for? I didn’t know you liked vinyl records so much,” she said with a teasing lilt to her tone.
The moment had passed to bring up the lie I was holding on to. I’d have to find another time to tell her. Or I could stop talking to her as Coby. That relationship could fizzle out and our real-life one could possibly blossom.
“Not as much as you,” I told her. “I don’t think anyone likes them that much. So, these are yours.”
“Zeke!” she exclaimed. “I told you that you didn’t have to buy me stuff.”
“But I failed to tell you that it’s my choice what I spend my money on. I want you to have these.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed but threaded her arm through mine, huddling close as we headed to the parking garage. The temperature had dropped a few degrees while we were in Burlington Records. It was
probably instinctual on her part to cuddle closer to me, but I still liked it, and it kept that ember of hope burning.
We climbed into her car—with me in the driver’s seat again—and started it. The heater was still on full blast and warmed quickly. I was grateful it wasn’t snowing. With how cold it was, it’d stick and make driving back to Colebury miserable. I gave the car a few more minutes before putting it in reverse and pulling out of the parking spot. We were on the freeway heading home in no time. Mallory put on some music, and we didn’t talk much on the drive to Colebury. I wanted to give her time to process everything that we’d talked about tonight. Plus, I didn’t want her to think I was pressuring her into deciding right now.
I pulled up to the curb in front of my house, putting the car into park. I looked at Mallory. She gave me the sweetest smile I’d gotten from her since we were kids. It made my lips lift too. I left the car running and stepped out of it. Mallory waited for me to come around to her side this time. I opened her door and held out a hand to help her out. Her touch sent a shiver down my spine. I was playing with fire when it came to Mallory. Was that going to stop me from pursuing her? Not even a little bit.
“Thank you for tonight, Zeke,” Mallory said. “I have to say this has been the best non-date I’ve ever been on.”
I choked out a laugh. “I guess I’m glad I could be the winner of that title. I wanted you to enjoy yourself.”
“You succeeded.”
She tilted her head to the side a little as she stared up at me. The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip and that was all the invitation I needed. I stepped closer to her, cupping her face in my big hands. She watched me the whole time as I leaned down. Our lips touched, and I wondered how I’d ever be able to kiss another woman. She parted her lips to give me access. Our tongues danced around each other as I deepened the kiss, sliding my hands to her neck. Kissing Mallory was better than I could have ever imagined. The sounds she made and how eager her lips and tongue were to feel mine had my dick rock hard behind my zipper.
Mallory pulled away first, breathing heavily. She smiled. “I should get home before Stace gets the whole town up to come looking for me.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Thank you for tonight.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Thank you for not walking out when you realized it was just going to be me and you. Thank you for giving me a chance.”
She didn’t respond. I leaned in to kiss her again, keeping it short this time and stepping back. I watched her walk around to the driver’s side of her car. She looked at me over the roof of the car, biting into her plump bottom lip. We stared at each other for a long moment until she told me goodnight and climbed into her car. I stayed on the curb until her taillights were out of sight.
I had to figure out how to come clean to Mallory about everything without losing her. Because at this point, as close as I was to finally making her mine, keeping her was as important to me as getting back into the league.
18
Mallory
I pressed my fingers to my lips as I turned onto my street. Kissing Zeke was better than I ever could have imagined—if I’d imagined it, that is. Tonight had been perfect. We talked through some things that have been bugging me for years, while also starting to get to know each other as we were now. And the kiss to top it off was… something else. I still didn’t know what I wanted when it came to Zeke. I didn’t know if I should be starting something new with someone whose time here had an end date.
I pulled into the driveway and under the covered carport. I grabbed my bags that held my gifts from Zeke and climbed out of the car. When I got inside, I found my best friend dozing on the couch. No doubt she was waiting up for me to get home. After I slipped off my shoes, kicking them by the wall, and my jacket, which I hung on the hook, I walked over to her. I gently shook her awake.
“Hey,” she said sleepily. “How was it?”
“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. Why don’t you go get into bed?”
“I’m not sleepy,” Stacey said as she closed her eyes.
I chuckled. “I can see that. But I’m tired, so…”
“I guess I can go get into bed for you,” she said as if she was doing me a favor.
I stepped back so that she could get up. I took care of turning off the lights while she headed down the hall to her bedroom. I followed, going into my room. A few minutes later I was climbing into bed. The TV was the only light to illuminate the space. My thoughts went back to Zeke. Dating had never been high on my lists of priorities. In college I dated a few guys, and since I graduated, I’d only had one relationship that lasted longer than one night and that was years ago. Now Zeke was back in my life, not only asking for another chance but also wanting to date me.
Then there was Coby. We were just friends. I made that clear, but we clicked on so many levels too. I liked talking to him, and I could tell him anything. Things I hadn’t even told Stacey, about how I felt when it came to my publishing career. Right now, I didn’t know what would happen with Zeke or even what I would decide to do.
I grabbed my phone and opened the dating app. I went to Coby’s message, responding to his last messages and inquiring about how he was feeling. I didn’t need to push Coby away because things seemed to be heating up with me and Zeke. I started an audiobook and opened a game to play. I needed to clear my head if I was going to get any sleep.
Zeke: Are you going to the Busy Bean to work today?
I smiled when I read Zeke’s text message, which was the first thing I saw when I picked up my phone.
Me: Why? Gathering intel so you can stalk me some more?
Zeke: I don’t think I’d be a good stalker if I asked you where you were going to be. Kind of defeats the purpose of stalking.
Me: You have a valid point there. And, yes, I’m working at the Busy Bean today.
Zeke: Mind if I join you for lunch?
Me: You just can’t get enough of me, can you?
Zeke: I thought I made that clear last night.
Me: Sure. I’m down for lunch.
Zeke: Cool, I’ll see then.
I set my phone on the nightstand and kicked the covers off. My stomach was making all kinds of angry noises, and my bladder was begging me to make a trip to the bathroom. I padded down the carpeted hall to the bathroom across from Stacey’s room.
“Hey,” Zeke said, and I looked up at him.
He was holding two coffee cups. “One of those for me?”
“Yeah,” he said, and I reached for it, making grabby hands like a toddler.
I sipped the hot beverage, utterly disappointed to find that it was hot chocolate. I glared at the counter to find the barista already watching me. She waggled her fingers at me and gave me a big smile.
“Why couldn’t you have come when she was on break? She’s always paying too close attention to everything here.”
“I tried to order your favorite coffee, but she refused and gave me that,” Zeke said, motioning to the cup in my hand. “I think she’d just come back on shift when I walked in.”
“Just my luck,” I grumbled. “It’s fine. I’ve already had four cups and that’s my limit. Stace can be so persuasive and got her to agree to not let me drink too much coffee.”
Zeke chuckled. “The joys of small-town living.”
“Right?” I spoke. “How are you today?”
“Good now that I’m seeing you.”
“Are you always this smooth?” I teased.
“Probably,” he said with a half-smile that lit up my nether region. “Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
That smile had also drawn my focus to his full lips. Lips I kissed last night and woke up thinking about. That kiss had been passionate but in a slow, sweet way. He was one hell of a kisser, which I heard way too many times when we were in high school. Girls had no problem bragging about how good Zeke was with his lips and in the sack. Now my mind was taking another detour, and I wondered what it’d be
like to see that body of his in real life. I’d totally seen shirtless pictures of him on the internet. They were there for anyone to see if you looked up his name.
Zeke snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Ror. Rory. Mallory!”
“What?” I asked, my attention going back to him.
“Where the hell was your mind?”
My cheeks warmed, and I was grateful he couldn’t see my thoughts. “None of your business.”
His deep laugh had me shifting in my seat discreetly. It’d been a while for me. I had been my own source of pleasure for quite some time. And Zeke was pure sex in grey sweats, a long-sleeved shirt, and a beanie. It seemed now that I was allowing myself to think of him like that, my body was taking that as permission to full-on react to everything about him.
“Well, did you hear what I asked?”
“Refresh my memory.”
“Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
“I was wondering if you’d like to hang out. At my place.”
“Another double-date type thing for Malik and Stacey?”
“No. It’d just be me and you. I’ll cook and we can watch a movie or a game if there’s one on.”
“I’m fine with that,” I said before I even committed to the idea.
He rewarded me with a full smile for that response. I took a big sip of my drink, burning my damn tongue in an effort to hide my reaction to that simple gesture. I swore, and Zeke’s smile dropped immediately. His dark brows creased in concern.
“You okay, Ace?”
I liked that he was calling me that again. It’d grated on my nerves when he did when he first came back into my life. It was a sweet nickname from our childhood, and there was nothing sweet about our interactions then.
Doubletalk (The Busy Bean) Page 13
