Jada swallowed hard when his hand touched her shoulder and then slid down her arm until he grabbed hold of her hand, tenderness sparkling in his crystal blue eyes. She willed herself not to cry, but couldn’t help it when a few tears slipped through and crept down her cheek. Deep in her heart, she knew she was good enough for any man, but she couldn’t seem to shake Shane’s words. Zack had accomplished so much in his life, while she had nothing to show for her life but a boat-load of debt.
Zack pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I’m sorry.” Jada’s head rested against his chest, his heart pounding loudly against her ear. The love she felt being in his arms should have been enough to soothe the ache in her heart, but it wasn’t.
“I think I should go.” She pulled away slightly, but he prevented her from moving much with the gentle hold he had on her upper arms.
“I can’t let you leave. Not like this. Not without us talking about what just happened.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do this right now.” She eased out of his hold and headed to the door.
“Jada.”
She stopped and glanced at him over her shoulder. If she stayed, she would never leave and right now she had to go someplace and clear her head.
Chapter Seventeen
“You know you played like shit out there today, don’t you?” Coach James said from behind his desk, leaning forward in his office chair. “In all of the years I’ve coached you, you have always brought your “A” game. I don’t know what’s going on, but it has to stop. The team needs you.” Zack lowered his gaze to the top of the oak desk, tension twisting in his gut like a spring waiting to pop loose. “There are two more games left, Chicago and Denver. We need you out there giving your best. If all of you guys show up to play, then I think we can pull out some wins.”
At that moment, Zack didn’t give a damn about football or anything else. He could only think of Jada. He hadn’t seen her in almost two weeks. Every effort he made to talk to her, or see her came up empty. Stopping by Jenkins & Sons twice didn’t help. Peyton wanted to help him, but couldn’t give him Jada’s location for fear of drama breaking out. When Zack sought Christina’s help, she let him wait for Jada one evening at their house, but Jada never showed. Instead, she spent that night at her parent’s place.
“Zack?”
He looked up to find his coach observing him with concern. “Sorry coach.” Zack ran his hands through his damp hair. “I’ll be ready next week.”
Coach James’s forehead wrinkled. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I hope you know that if you need me for anything, all you have to do is ask.”
Zack nodded. “I know. Thanks.” Zack slunk out of the building, his body engulfed in tides of weariness. Something had to give. He either needed to find a way to connect with Jada to find out what was on her mind or move on with his life.
An hour later, Zack pulled up to his mother’s house. He had purchased the three-bedroom, two-bath bungalow with his first signing check. Buying things to make her life easier and more enjoyable gave him a sense of accomplishment. His mother’s love and support never wavered. When he was growing up, she refused to let him give up on his dreams, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. He even accepted that she wanted to marry an immigrant she didn’t love in order to help him stay in the country.
Zack climbed out of his truck and strolled up the walkway. The door had swung open before he had a chance to ring the doorbell.
“Hi, son. Come on in.”
“Hey, Mom, something smells good in here.” He shrugged out of his jacket, trying to ignore the throbbing in his shoulders and back. Feeling like he had been run over by a Mack truck wasn’t uncommon after a game, but today was worse. He had taken a beating on the field and skipped the Jacuzzi soak and massage he usually received after a game. Zack knew his pain was from a combination of getting pounded by three-hundred pound men, and the fact that he couldn’t get Jada off his mind.
“I made your favorite, honey.”
The savory scent of basil and garlic drew him to the all-white kitchen with top of the line appliances and plenty of granite counter space. The kitchen was his mother’s favorite room in the house, and she could always be found in there whipping up something delicious.
He inhaled deeply, and his mouth watered. Ms. Mal’s lasagna was amazing, but no one could top his mother’s.
“Shane stopped by yesterday,” his mother said.
Zack didn’t respond and kept eating. Shane could fall off the face of the earth for all he cared.
“He mentioned that you had lost your mind and that I should see about getting you some help.”
Zack’s fork stopped mid-air. His gaze darted to his mother. He didn’t miss her raised eyebrow, and her lips twitching as if trying to keep from laughing.
Zack shoved the fork full of food into his mouth and shook his head. If anyone needed mental help, it was Shane. As kids, their relationship had its moments of drama, but in the last ten or fifteen years, they barely tolerated each other.
“So what? No comment? Your brother calls you crazy and you have nothing to say.”
“Nope, except this lasagna is good as usual. I bet with a good marketing campaign, you could make a killing selling this by the pan.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Maybe I’ll give Jada the recipe so she can make it for you sometime.” Zack knew his mother was baiting him, but he didn’t stop by to talk about Jada. Yet, he knew he needed to talk to someone.
“So, what do you know … about Jada and me?”
“I know the TV sports broadcasters have been criticizing you more than usual. They say you haven’t played too good the last couple of games. I also know you’re not looking well. Clearly, you haven’t been sleeping. And I know you haven’t mentioned Jada not once in the past thirty minutes, which is a first since you met her.”
She turned from him and went back to washing dishes. His mother had a sixth sense when it came to knowing something was wrong with any of her children. That’s probably why she called and invited me to dinner.
“Jada is avoiding me.” Zack laid his fork down and wiped his mouth. He propped his elbows on the breakfast bar and rested his head in his hands. He was beyond tired but didn’t look forward to going home to an empty house.
His mother dried her hands and stood on the other side of the breakfast bar facing Zack. “Why do I have a feeling your oldest brother has something to do with this new development?”
Zack replayed the events of the night Shane was at his house and the words that were spoken. The more he thought about the hurt on Jada’s face, the angrier Zack became. He couldn’t help but wonder if he could’ve done or said something more. If he had known that when she walked out of his door that she was walking out of his life, he would have begged her to stay.
“I had to cut Shane out of my life. I can’t have him disrespecting the woman I love. The woman I want to marry one day.”
“Growing up as an only child, I had always wanted my children to be each other’s best friend.” His mother’s voice held a hint of sadness. “I’m not sure where I went wrong with Shane. Even as a child there were times he was angry at the world, and then there were other times he made me proud to be his mother. I don’t know what happened. I often wondered if your father had stayed around if Shane would’ve turned out differently.”
Raised by her grandmother, his mother was deprived of love, friends, and any freedom until she was nineteen. It wasn’t until her grandmother died that she had a chance to live a little. Zack toyed with the handle of his fork. He remembered her telling him that she married their father within two months of meeting him and became pregnant soon after. The marriage ended when she was three months pregnant with Zack’s youngest brother and left to raise four children by herself.
“I understand why you’re distancing yourself from Shane. I hate you two couldn’t work out your differences, but let me give you something to think about. Shane drives you
nuts, and I get that. But, honey, you have to understand. Your brother has had a tough few years and hasn’t always made the best choices.”
“And that’s my fault?”
“I’m not saying it’s your fault. What I’m saying is that everything doesn’t come as easy to others as it might come for you.”
“Mom, I have worked hard for everything I’ve accomplished. If Shane applied himself maybe he could stop getting himself into jams and hold onto a job.”
His mother reached across the counter and squeezed his arm. “Honey, I’m proud of all of your accomplishments, but just because Shane hasn’t had some of the same successes as you, doesn’t mean he hasn’t been trying. Some people have made poor choices that have taken their lives in the wrong direction. That doesn’t mean they’re not trying, and it doesn’t mean that they’re not hard workers or that they’re all bad people.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“Zack, you are a helper by nature. Yet when someone disappoints you, you’re quick to cut them loose. You don’t give people a chance to redeem themselves.”
“So you’re saying I should forgive Shane for using me and forget everything he said about Jada even though he hasn’t apologized for anything?”
“I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying don’t give up on your brother. He’s family and sometimes we have to give people a second chance.” Zack looked at her sideways, his eyebrow raised. His mother smiled. “Okay, or maybe we have to give them three, four or maybe even five chances.”
Forgiving and giving second chances had never come easy for Zack, but maybe his mother was right.
“Think about it, honey. And as for Jada, she loves you.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he snorted, “but right now I need her to talk to me.”
His mother walked around the breakfast bar to where he sat. Hugging him, she said, “I think Jada is perfect for you. She’s cute, sassy, and I can tell she has a good heart. I could also tell by the way she looked at you during your party that she adores you. Don’t give up. She’ll come around.” His mother went back to washing dishes. “And if she doesn’t, there’s only one thing to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Find her and convince her that you can’t live without her.”
Zack finished his meal while thinking about all that his mother had said. If opportunity presented itself, maybe he would reach out to Shane, but right now Jada was at the forefront of his mind.
He stood, wiped his mouth, and carried his dishes to the sink. Kissing his mother’s cheek, he said, “Thanks for dinner … and the talk.”
“Anytime, dear.”
His mother walked him to the door and the moment he slipped into his jacket, his cell phone vibrated. Please let it be Jada. He dug through his pocket and peeped at the screen.
Craig.
Zack had five missed calls and a text.
GET TO COUNTY HOSPITAL A.S.A.P.
Twenty minutes later Zack rushed through the hospital’s door, his heart pounding in his ears as fear rattled around in his gut. He still didn’t know why he had been summoned to the hospital since each time he tried calling Craig back, he got his voicemail. All types of thoughts ran through his mind, with Jada at the center of each scenario. If anything had happened to her…
When Zack didn’t find Craig or any of the Jenkins family in the halls or waiting room, he headed to the receptionist desk.
“Zack.”
He whipped around to find Craig heading in his direction.
“What the hell is going on?” Zack spat out before Craig could speak, his stomach churning with anxiety. “Please tell me nothing has happened to Jada. If…” His voice hitched.
“It’s not Jada.” Craig stood two feet away rubbing the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at Zack.
“Craig,” Zack growled and moved closer, “so help me if you don’t tell me what the fu—”
“It’s Leslie.”
“Leslie?” Zack leaned back and put his hands on his waist, his chest heaving as he stared at his friend wondering if Craig had lost his mind.
“Yeah. Another detective and I received a domestic violence call. Leslie happened to be the victim and was brought in a couple of hours ago. Man, she’s in bad shape. Her fiancé beat her.”
“And you called me because of what?”
“Let’s step over here.” Zack followed him to a secluded spot away from the waiting area. “Man, she has no one.”
“And?”
Craig’s greenish-hazel eyes darkened. “And I thought your ass would have some damn compassion and help her out. Her fiancé is in custody, and her brother is nowhere to be found. You know better than anyone that she has no one, and we both know that you can help her.”
“Craig, what exactly are you asking me to do here?” Zack heard the leeriness in his own voice. He was sorry about whatever happened to Leslie, but her well-being was not his concern.
“Go in and see her. Talk to her. Listen to her. She can really use a friend.”
“And you called me? Apparently you have forgotten the hell that that woman put me through. I almost lost everything because of her. Now you’re asking me to be her friend?” Zack let out a harsh laugh and backed away. He ran his hand through his hair not believing what he was hearing. “I can’t do this, Craig. I have nothing to say to her and if that makes me a jerk then, oh well.”
Craig gripped Zack’s shoulder and squeezed. “You forget that I know you. This jacked up uncaring attitude is not you. Listen, man, I know I’m asking a lot here, but I really think she’s changed. She wants to make things right with you. Give her a chance.”
Minutes later, Zack pushed open the door to Leslie’s hospital room, still not comfortable with his decision to see her. Tension gnawed at the back of his neck as he stood just over the threshold and inhaled deeply. Slowly releasing the breath, he took in the soft yellow walls, the single window with the closed blinds and the bed holding the woman of his nightmares. The bandage covering the right side of her face and the cast on her left arm didn’t soften his feelings toward her.
Damn, I can’t do this. He stood rooted in place, flashbacks of what she’d done to him, clouded his mind.
“Zack?” Leslie’s soft voice interrupted his musing.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally took a step forward. Zack had no idea what he’d say to her. What could he say? For months, the thought of her made his blood boil and seeing her not too long ago hadn’t helped his feelings toward her.
“Thanks for coming,” she said and pushed a button that raised the head of the bed. “I know you hate me, but I needed to see you.”
Some of the anger toward her subsided, but was replaced by a sense of guilt seeing just how bad she’d been beaten. Her swollen eye and busted lip stood out like a bright neon sign.
“How?” He spoke the only word he could form, sickened that someone could do something like this to her. No one deserved to be beaten, not even her.
She started shaking her head but stopped and shrug. “He got angry and this time was worse than the times before.”
“He’s done this before?” Zack growled but reined in the sudden anger swirling within him. “Did you report his ass? Why didn’t you stay away from him if you knew he had a problem?”
Raw hurt glittered in her eyes. “Where else was I going to go? I have no family unless you count my worthless brother,” she snapped. “Zack, this is not why I wanted to see you.”
“No? Then why did you ask to see me?” He braced himself for her to ask for money or worse, for them to get back together, which would never happen.
“When Craig showed up, I knew this would be my only chance to make things right with you since you wouldn’t answer any of my calls. Zack, I wanted to apologize.”
“For?” He knew he was acting like a jerk, but he couldn’t help it.
“For everything,” she huffed. “The lies, the betrayal, and everything else I did to you. I’m not the sam
e person I was back then. I know my past is no excuse for all that I’ve done, but I need you to understand that I grew up with nothing. I had to hustle for everything I got and unfortunately I hurt people along the way, especially you.”
Sometimes we have to give people a second chance, his mother’s words darted across his mind.
“Zack, you were the best thing that ever happened to me. No one had ever treated me as kind and was as generous as you were. And going through what I went through today, I’ll never forgive myself for accusing you of beating me. I can’t apologize to you enough for almost ruining everything you’ve worked so hard for.”
For the very first time, the anger that Zack felt toward Leslie wasn’t there. He didn’t know if he could forgive her, but he no longer wished her a life in hell. By the way she looked, she had already been there.
“I’m not sure what to say to you.” Zack leaned against the wall near the side of the bed, exhaustion suddenly taking root in his body.
“Craig told me you had moved on and was seeing someone,” Leslie said staring at her hands before her eyes met his. “I’m happy for you. I’m glad you didn’t let what I did to you keep you from finding happiness.”
So much for happiness considering Jada isn’t speaking to me.
“Zack, please tell me that you can forgive me. I swear to you I’ll never contact you again. All I need to know is that you forgive me.”
Zack studied Leslie. Maybe Craig was right, maybe she had changed. Or maybe we have to give them three, four or maybe even five chances, his mother’s words played around in his head.
Zack pushed away from the wall and approached the bed. “I forgive you … and I’ll see what I can do to help you get back on your feet.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jada sat at her grandfather’s desk, needing to be in a place that always brought her peace. Stopping by her grandparent’s house for a short visit after work seemed like a good idea initially, but her whole visit had been filled with thoughts of Zack.
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