-Blake West:
I ran. I don't even remember when my feet started moving. I just knew I had to get out. Away from him. Away from that room. From the ache building in my chest.
I heard Zade calling my name. His voice cracked. But I didn't stop.
"Blake! Blake, please! Just wait! Blake—!"
I made it downstairs somehow. My heart was pounding too hard. My chest hurt like I'd swallowed broken glass. I rushed toward the door, desperate, reaching for the handle.
But before I could pull it open—
Zade blocked me. He slammed the door shut, his body sliding in front of mine.
"No. Blake, please don't leave." His voice trembled. "Please. Don't leave." I avoided looking at him, kept staring at the door. My whole body shook. My vision blurred from the tears I couldn't stop.
And then—his hands. Soft, careful, touching my cheeks. His thumb brushed under my eye. "Don't cry… please don't cry…" he whispered, like it physically hurt him to see me like this. I nearly gasped when he cupped my face gently, tilting it toward him.
"Blake, listen to me. Sometimes… sometimes coming back to your family—it doesn't feel how you thought it would." His voice dropped lower. "Sometimes… they're not what you remembered. Or what you hoped. And living in this house? With my mom… with Chris? It's not easy." I couldn't speak. My throat was tight.
Zade's eyes glistened as he looked at me. "And what happened at the pool—I swear. I swear on everything, I didn't plan that. I do that almost every morning. I let the dogs out. I run. It's stupid, I know, but it's how I train. I never meant for… I didn't know you would be there."
I looked down. Couldn't meet his gaze. Couldn't look into those too-blue eyes without crumbling. He bent down slightly, forcing my eyes to meet his.
"Hey. Please. I'm telling the truth. I promise." I sniffled, nodding a little. I believed him. I hated that I believed him. Then, suddenly, he stepped back. His expression shifted like he'd had some great idea.
"Okay. Listen," he said. "I think… we started on the wrong foot. Let's fix that." I blinked, confused. "I'm serious," he said, grinning slightly now. "Let's just… start again. Right now. From the beginning. Like none of that happened. No dogs, no pool, no tears. I'm gonna come from over there… and we're gonna meet for the first time."
Before I could process it, he jogged around the corner, disappearing. I stood there, frozen, wiping my cheeks as best I could. Then he reappeared. His face lit up with fake surprise. "Oh my god! Blake! You're here already?!"
I blinked. Then… I laughed. I couldn't help it.
The sound came out of me like something I'd forgotten I was capable of. I giggled. Actually giggled. I wiped my face again, smiling for the first time in days. "Oh… hi, Zade."
His grin widened. Without hesitating, he crossed the distance between us in two quick steps—and hugged me. My heart did a blackflip.
"I missed you," he whispered into my haair, sending a siver down my spine. I felt the words hit me harder than anything else today. I whispered back, voice shaky, "I missed you too." As my arms moved to wrap around his slender waist.
He pulled back just enough to cup my face again, thumbs brushing my cheeks softly. "Hi," he said again, smiling down at me. I smiled shyly. "Hi."
"That's better," he murmured. "Promise me something?" I hesitated. "What?"
"Promise me… you'll never cry again. Not while you're in this house. Not while I'm around. Please." His voice cracked. Like he wasn't just asking. Like he needed it.
"I… I promise," I whispered. He wiped away whatever traces of tears were still lingering under my eyes. "Your eyes are beautiful," he said softly, almost like he hadn't meant to say it out loud. "Don't make them cry."
I swallowed hard. Was he… was he going to kiss me? Oh god. Why is he so close? My brain short-circuited.
I imagined it. Right there, right then. Him leaning in. His lips brushing mine. Then suddenly, us standing together at an altar, both in suits, both smiling as we said vows, we were pronounced married then we kissed, but he suddenly pulled away from the kiss with a grin— "You taste like chocolate!"
The sentence hit me like a slap as I went back to reality. "What?" I blurted out, stunned. Zade laughed. Bright, warm, real. "I said you smell like chocolate!"
I blinked, confused. Then realization hit. "Oh." I reached into my pocket and pulled out the half-melted chocolate bar I'd stuffed there earlier, blushing furiously. "I was eating this."
He chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "I knew it." "You want some?" I offered shyly, breaking off a piece.
Zade looked scandalized. "No way! I'll take one bite of that and my abs will vanish, but you can enjoy it." I laughed again, shaking my head as I took another bite, trying not to think of Zade's naked body right now.
"Which chocolate's your favorite?" he asked suddenly, eyes curious. I didn't even hesitate. "The kind with nuts inside."
His smile turned serious, like he was making a vow. "Alright. I promise. I'll get you the best nuts-covered chocolate in the world. I promise, Blake. I'll find it. And it'll be my apology. For today. For everything. Deal?"
I felt my heart swell. "Deal." He reached out, and we shook hands. His grip lingered a little longer than necessary.