My heart was beating so fast and loud I could hear it thrumming in my eardrums. Was it him? Had he found me already?
The thought was ridiculous. I had been safe for the last few months in Danville. Running would not have disrupted that equilibrium, unless Zach's uncle had asked the wrong questions already. My insides froze as I waited for Zach to open the front door.
Coming back was a stupid idea. What was I thinking? So I missed Zach, boo hoo! I'd probably just sentenced him to death. I stood from the stool, ready to split. It didn't matter that I'd probably break his heart again. At least I would keep him alive.
I gripped the counter top, willing my body to move for the back door, but my feet were rooted to the spot. I couldn't leave him.
Damn it, Zach! Why?
The thrumming in my head turned into a low vibration as the door creaked open.
"Oh, hey. What are you guys doing here?"
"Duh! We came to show you our shopping."
Jaeda.
The sound of her chipper voice brought an instant smile to my lips. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her. Man, she probably hated me. My knuckles were white as I listened to her rustle around Zach and spot me standing in the kitchen.
"Holy shit!" The bags of shopping in her hand dropped to the floor as Liesl came up behind her.
"Jaeda, do you really have to swear like that? It sounds so..." Liesl, the dark haired beauty who had always been so kind to me, looked pale as she drank me in. Her dark brown eyes were at first hard, but ever so slowly softened at the edges.
This should have made me relax, but Jaeda's hard glare was making it impossible. Okay, so she obviously hated me for hurting her friend. Guilt surged within me as I imagined how Zach must have moped around his friends over the last month.
Zach gave me a sweet smile from behind them, his eyebrows puckering with sympathy. My lips quivered with a grin as I crossed my arms, unsure what to say.
"Is it just you two then?" Zach cleared his throat, looking slightly nervous. He was probably worried about Elliot.
Oh crap, Elliot, Zach's best friend. The guy was like a Doberman when it came to protecting his friends. If Jaeda looked ready to pummel me, Elliot's death-stare would be a total annihilation. I hadn't thought this through! Coming back was such a huge mistake.
"The guys are on their way," Liesl whispered, her eyes still trained on me as she flicked her thumb toward the door.
My heart rate tripled as I gripped my biceps, escape plans flying through my brain. But I didn't have time to implement any of them, because the awkward silence was filled by AJ's booming voice.
"Where's my lover then?" His large frame bustled through the door. Pushing past Zach, he towered over his petite girlfriend and was ready to dip her back for an elaborate kiss when he spotted me. Standing Liesl upright again, he looked me over with his large eyes and whispered, "Holy shit."
"Angus. Language." Liesl lightly slapped his chest then adjusted her necklace. She was fidgety and unsure where to look.
A second later Elliot stepped in behind Zach and before he could even get a greeting in, he spotted me. His pale brown eyes rounded then he turned to Zach and muttered, "Holy shit."
Liesl let out a disgusted sigh. "Seriously, you guys! Language!"
I couldn't help a giggle. Man, I'd missed Zach's friends. Liesl was so sweet and funny. She was the mother of the group. What teenager ever corrected their friends on language? She was born in the wrong era and we all seemed to love her for it. She was too sweet to ever get angry with. Her kind soul and delicate manner just made her plain adorable.
My laughter did nothing to break the awkward silence. Tipping on to the edge of my feet, I pulled Zach's Nike shirt down, trying to look more in control, but I was a shaking mess. They were all staring at me, expecting something. Zach was ready to step in and rescue me, which only made me love him more, but I'd already caused enough problems between him and his friends. I needed to make things right.
"Hi guys." I raised my hand in a clumsy wave.
Elliot was the first to break, his usually hard expression softened with a grin. "Hey, Dani. Nice to see you back."
Jaeda let out a gasp and turned to look at him, while I gaped at his friendly greeting. Of everyone in this room, I thought Elliot would hate me the most. He'd always sent repellant vibes my way. He'd never wanted Zach to get together with me and when we finally had, he'd thrown a hissy fit.
The sudden change in him threw me and I didn't know how to respond.
Zach looked more than relieved as his friend slapped him on the back and shouldered his way past the surprised girls. He walked around me, gently nudging my back with his elbow as he stepped up to the counter.