Unforgivably Broken (The Broken Series Book Two) (27 page)

She moved slowly, almost in a trance, until she stood at the foot of the bed. I stepped closer but kept my distance, waiting for some sort of reaction. Her silence wasn’t something I’d anticipated. Maybe this was a bad idea? She reached out slowly, running her fingers over the petals of the heart that outlined the two words I’d spelled out on the king-sized comforter.

Marry Me?

“Zane,” she whispered
, not looking away from the bed. I couldn’t tell what that meant. This wasn’t going how I’d planned at all but then again, I’d had no idea what to expect. Her fingers, still exploring, moved to graze over the closed lid of the small, black velvet box that was placed below the words inside the heart. This was torture of the worst kind. I wanted to move over beside her so I could see her expression but I was terrified.

When I heard her breath hitch, I spurred into action. Those could be tears of happiness or I could’ve been way off base with this. Marriage wasn’t something we’d ever discussed but I thought it was what she wanted. I thought it was what all girls wanted. But obviously, what the fuck did I know? This was a bad idea and I was ready to kick the shit out of Adam for talking me into it.

“Lizzi—” I was cut off by pounding on the door to the suite. I let out a huff, deciding to ignore the knocking for the girl in front of me. “Lizzie, will you say something? Or look at me?”

She spun when I spoke, blinking as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks. “Yes.”

Pausing, I tried to make sense of the word. I’d wanted her to say it but I hadn’t actually expected it. “Yes? As in… yes?”

“Yes,” she said, nodding her head as a smile broke across her face. I scooped her up, spinning her around as I kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around my neck, laughing against my lips.

When I set her down, the pounding on the door came again. I rolled my eyes, already knowing who it was. I stopped her as she made to leave the bedroom. “That can wait.” I grabbed the ring box that she had yet to open, caressing her cheek with one hand before I knelt down. I hadn’t planned to get down on one knee and do this traditionally but since she didn’t see the ring yet, it felt like the right thing to do.

“Elizabeth Michelle Montgomery, I love you. I know I haven’t always been the best about showing it
, but it’s true. I lost track of what was important this last year but I know now that I never would’ve made it if you hadn’t stuck by my side. I never want you anywhere else. Will you marry me?” I opened the box, knowing the ring wasn’t much. I wasn’t about to give her my mother’s ring, that thing was tainted with horrible memories. But by the way her eyes lit up, you’d have thought I was giving her the giant blue diamond from Titanic.

“Yes. I love you. Yes.” She sobbed as I slid the ring onto her left hand, tossing the box back onto the bed behind me. I kissed the ring before I stood and pressed my lips to hers, only to be interrupted by the knocking yet again.

“Don’t make me use the other key!” I heard Adam bellow from the hallway. “You know I will and I don’t want to see your naked ass either, Zane!”

“Jesus, Adam,” I groaned, keeping ahold of Lizzie’s hand as I went to open the front door for him.

“‘Bout fucking time. Damn. Couldn’t you hold off the nookie long enough to let a guy in to congratulate his two best friends?” Adam held up a dark green bottle and a sleeve of plastic cups that looked like he’d probably swiped them off a housekeeping cart. I laughed and shook my head.

“How do you know she said yes?” I smarted off, opening the door wider and letting him step in. He moved straight to the mini bar, pouring the champagne into three plastic cups.

“Maybe I just know her better than even you do,” he said without looking at me. I raised an eyebrow at him. “Dude, of course she said yes. Have you seen the way you two act around each other? It’s disgusting. You’re in love.”

I pulled Lizzie into my side, grinning when she nuzzled into my neck. Adam handed us each a cup and held his up to toast. I lifted mine and my grin widened at Lizzie’s giggle when she followed suit.

“To my two best friends. We’ve been through a whole shit ton of nasty in the past but I hope you get everything you deserve and I hope I’m around to watch every step of the way.”

My phone vibrated in my hand again.

See. It wasn’t all bad.

As I read her message, I realized I had been smiling at the memory. That was the night I first started to think that maybe the mistakes I’d made hadn’t completely ruined my life. I believed that night. I believed that the future I’d planned out for Lizzie and I might actually be possible.

Swallowing, I looked back up at her. She met my eyes and I watched the tear dr
op to her cheek when she blinked. Without thinking, I reached across and wiped it away with my thumb. Her eyes widened, shocked at the kindness. Honestly, I was too.

“You’re right. It wasn’t all bad,” I said, dropping my hand and clearing my throat as Conner looked up from his coloring.

“I need to potty,” he announced, breaking the moment. Lizzie and I both laughed and I dropped my phone on the table, rubbing my hands over my face as I tried to reign in my thoughts.

“Okay. Let’s go, buddy.” I slid out of the booth, holding out a hand for him once Lizzie let him out of their side. “Order the usual.” I called to Lizzie as we walked away, almost staggering mid-step at the realization of how normal this all felt.

When Tish and I laid out the plan for our trip, I’d decided to come down a few days early. I needed to take care of some things and it gave me time to do just that. I needed to get copies of my birth certificate and social security cards, which I was sure my parents had, but I also knew I could at least take care of the birth certificate at the courthouse. It would be easier to take care of things like that before anyone knew I was here.

I also had to meet with the
prosecutor about the trial. He warned me of the dos and don’ts of being on the witness stand and what to do if I didn’t understand a question. He walked me through my testimony, during which I made Tish step out of the office. I didn’t want him to be in the courtroom at all when I was on the stand but I knew there was no way around it. That didn’t mean he needed to hear the details more often than what was necessary.

And though it was unplanned, I spent time with
Denni and Kaitlyn. I was thankful to hear that once Denni moved back home after my disappearance, Kaitlyn had moved in with her.

I still felt embarrassed when I remembered the blubbering mess I’d become when I finally let go of the anger I’d held on to for so long. I’d never blamed Kaitlyn. In fact, there was a time when I regretted not offering to take her with me when I left.

In the beginning, I’d worried about her. I wondered what would happen, if Hunter would come after her too. I almost came home, but then I remembered the helpless, hollow feeling I’d been left with at the end and I knew I couldn’t face it. It was selfish. I was selfish. But I didn’t know what else to do.

Kaitlyn was the only member of my family I’d never blamed for what happened. I had blamed
Denni, though I hadn’t wanted her to blame herself. It was completely unfair and I knew that but she took off to unknown foreign places the same year all this happened. Outside of Kaitlyn, Denni had been my best friend. And she wasn’t there when I needed her.

By Monday morning, I was a mess of nerves. It was officially the first day of the trial and as I stood
, staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to tell myself it would be okay, my phone buzzed on the counter. The screen lit with Zane’s name and I opened the text.

Do you have any idea how much I miss you?

I couldn’t help but smile, releasing a breath, and with it, a bit of the anxiety I felt. Every morning since I left, I’d received this exact same message. And even though I’d been away from him for five days already, it still warmed me the same way it had the first morning.

I think I have an idea.

I typed the response quickly and my phone buzzed before I could even turn off the screen again.

Check the front pocket of your bag.

I frowned at the words, reading them a second time as I wandered out of the bathroom and toward my duffle bag. I lifted it onto my bed, slipping open the zipper. When I ran my hand into the shallow pocket, my fingers met something solid. I pulled out the piece of paper intricately folded into the shape of a heart. I dropped onto the bed beside the bag, running my thumb over the two words written in Zane’s neat handwriting across the front.

My Heart

“Damn him,” I muttered as I swiped away the tears that were no doubt going to run ugly, black trails down my cheeks before I even left this motel room today. Tish chuckled from where he sat at the table by the door and I glanced over for only a second before I returned my attention to the paper in my hand.

Slowly and carefully, I unfolded each detailed tuck until the page was completely open. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for his words.

Pixie,

Today, of all days, I wish I were with you. It’s where I belong. But even though I’m not beside you, know that I’m behind you. You can do this. You are doing this and your courage and determination are nothing short of staggering to me. I’ve never met anyone like you in my life and just the fact that I get to call you mine is miraculous. You are an example of what strength truly is and I hope you know that every day — Every. Single. Day. — I fall deeper in love with you.

I know you’re scared. Whether you think you’ve hidden it from me or not, I know there’s fear. But that
is what’s so inspiring. It’s not bravery if you’re not scared. But you have nothing to fear. He can’t hurt you anymore. Even if things don’t go the way they should, he’ll never be able to hurt you again. He holds no power over you. Remember that.

I miss you. Conner misses you. We need you to focus and make it through this because we need you to come home. So take a deep breath, lift your chin, and keep those beautiful eyes open when
you walk into that courtroom. And when it’s all said and done, come home to us.

My heart is yours.

Zane

I didn’t bother wiping the tears as I attempted to read the words again. I knew I would be in a rush to finish getting ready if I didn’t hurry but the third time
through, I finally started finding the pull of that strength he spoke of. As I hurried to the bathroom to calm myself and reapply my makeup, I typed a quick text.

Your letter is going to make me late. I’ll be coming home to you as soon as I can. And mine, too.