Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 76696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
You're the only reason why I'm here. Zach's words kept repeating themselves in my head and they filled me with strange warmth. He liked me. Maybe Reagan was right and he didn’t just see his best friend's sister when he looked at me. It made me hopeful and, though, I knew it was dangerous for me to allow myself to hope, I couldn't help it. I chanced a look up at Zach's face. At his strong jaw, his blue eyes, his high cheekbones. For a second, his eyes darted to me. He squeezed my hand gently as we continued gliding over the ice. Maybe it was because of the gloves between us but I didn’t mind his touch at all, instead of frightening me, it gave me a strange sense of being safe. How was that even possible? Zach was huge and strong. He was everything I’d been scared of in the last three years, and yet I wasn’t afraid of him.
“Hey!” Reagan's voice carried over to us and I found her standing with Kevin near the exit of the ice and she was waving. “Let’s grab dinner!”
Zach and I exchanged a disappointed look and skated over to where they stood. I could have spent hours skating beside Zach, his hand around mine, his body so close that I could feel his warmth. Reagan flashed me a grin when Zach wasn’t looking and I had to stifle laughter. Zach and I stepped off the ice; we were still holding hands. I stared down at our gloved hands in amazement. It felt so good. Zach followed my gaze, then met my eyes. I wished I knew what was going on in his head. He didn’t let go of my hand until we’d sat down on a bench to remove the skates from our feet. His warmth lingered on my skin and I wondered how it would be to touch him without gloves. I missed Zach's touch. His hand around mine was a feeling I wanted to experience over and over again. Reagan scooted over to me. “Looks like it’s going great between you and Zach. You are so sweet together. You’d make such a cute couple.”
I cast a quick glance at Zach to make sure he hadn’t overheard what Reagan had said but he was talking with Kevin about one of his professors.
We had dinner at the rink. Fries and burgers, but I hardly tasted what I was eating because I was too distracted by the way Zach kept looking at me.
***
We arrived back at the apartment building and stepped into the elevator together. I pressed my back against the wall. The space was too small for me to feel comfortable. That definitely hadn’t changed. Reagan took my hand in hers and I squeezed her fingers, silently thanking her for her support. I didn’t dare to look at Kevin or Zach to see if they noticed anything. It wasn’t as bad as last time, but as soon as the doors slid open, I stepped out and drew in a deep breath. Kevin and Reagan waved at us and headed for their apartment. Suddenly I felt nervous about being alone with Zach. I felt like something had changed between us, but I wasn’t sure if Zach felt the same way.
We walked in silence to our apartment and the second we entered, Brian advanced on us. “Where have you been?” He snarled. “I've been out of my mind from worry!”
I shrunk back, it wasn’t voluntarily, my body acted on its own accord. He halted, his expression one of despair. Slowly his shoulders slumped and he took a step back, the pain in his eyes almost too much to bear.
“Relax, Brian. We were just ice-skating with Reagan and Kevin,” Zach tried to explain but Brian wasn’t listening. He glared at Zach. “Don’t you remember what I told you?”
Zach tensed. “Didn’t you listen to what I just said? We were out with Kevin and Reagan.”
Brian shook his head, then he disappeared in his room without another word.
“What did he tell you?” I asked.
Zach looked uncomfortable. “Nothing.” His face was giving nothing away, but something had happened between Brian and him, and it had something to do with me.
“Brian will calm down soon,” Zach said. I gave him a weak smile and shook my head. “I need to talk to him.”
“Are you sure?” Zach asked. We were standing so close, closer than I’d have thought possible before today. “I could try to talk to him.”
“I’m his sister. I’m the reason why he’s like this. I need to do this.”
Zach hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more, but then he nodded and headed for the kitchen. I went ahead and knocked at Brian’s door.
“Go away, Zach,” Brian shouted. “I don’t want to deal with you right now.”
“It's me, Brian.” It was silent in the room and I feared that he didn’t want to see me either. Why was he being so difficult?
“Come in,” Brian said so quietly I almost didn’t hear him. I eased open the door and stepped into the room. Brian was sitting on his bed, his elbows propped up on his legs. He raised his head. Our eyes met and I could tell that he was on the verge of tears. The struggle was obvious on his face.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. I pushed my anxiety aside, and closed the door behind me. His eyes followed me as I moved toward his bed and slowly his face filled with confusion. I sank down an arm-length away from him. Brian sat up straight. He was silent, waiting for me to do the first step. I took a deep breath and reached for his hand resting on his legs. Tentatively, I covered it with mine.
Brian froze and stared down at our hands like he'd never seen a hand before.
“Brian?” I said softly and he lifted his gaze to look at me. He didn’t try to grab my hand or move at all.
“Amber?” His voice shook with emotions and the small flicker of hope in his eyes encouraged me further. I could do this. I could be a good sister for Brian. I was in control of my fears. I could conquer them.