Embrace (19 page)

             
“I'm liking this being right thing.” She says, shaking her head in approval.

             
“Seriously though Bec. I have been so worried about his reaction to this but at the end of the day, it's my life not his. If he can't accept my decisions then that's his problem not mine. He is guilty of the exact same thing and instead of freaking out when I found out about him and Emma, I wished them luck. Because I love them both and I want them to be happy, whether that means they find happiness together or apart, I just want them both to be happy and loved.” I say, now rambling.

             
“So he should want the same for me and Zayne.” I conclude, feeling a large amount of weight lift from my shoulders.

             
“You're the best.” I say to Becca. Her expression reads that she didn't do anything and that I figured it all out on my own, but she led me there. She pointed me in the direction that I needed to go.

             
“I think another shot is in order.” I say, laughing when her face morphs into elation.

Chapter Twenty-Two

             
“Sorry, it's kind of my fault.” I hear Becca chuckle as I lift my head off the bar to peer up at an amused looking Zayne.

             
“I never thought I would see the day where you would call me, completely hammered in the middle of a Friday afternoon.” He laughs.

             
I wrinkle my nose up at him. “For the record, I am not hammered.” I manage to get out with only a hint of a slur. “I just have a really, really good buzz.” I laugh when Becca snorts her own laughter.

             
“Come on.” He says, wrapping his arm around my waist and sliding me off the bar stool and into his chest.

             
The moment my feet hit the ground, I sway, but find my balance pretty quickly. Peering up at his incredible face, I can't contain the sigh of contentment that escapes my mouth.

             
“What?” He asks, a sweet smile pulling up his lips.

             
“You are just so damn beautiful.” I say, reaching up to trace the back of my hand down his strong jaw line. “It's unfair really.” I pout, letting my hand drop.

             
“Isn't that supposed to be my line to you?” He lets out a light laugh and shakes his head at me. “You're coming home with me.” He states, not giving me an option. “You can tell me how unfair it is when I have you tied to my bed and your body is all mine.” He says so quietly that only I can hear his words.

             
“Bye Becca.” I say, suddenly more than ready to get the hell out of here. Zayne laughs again, clearly amused by my enthusiasm to take him up on his offer.

             
“Bye.” Becca laughs, throwing up a half wave as she pours a drink for one of the now four customers sitting at the bar.

             
Zayne throws his arm over my shoulder and leads me outside. The moment the sun hits my face, all I see is bright and blurry. I have to stop and give my eyes a moment to adjust before I feel certain that I can actually see where I am going.

             
Once again, the temperature is unseasonably cool. Okay so not really cool, but much cooler than one would expect in late August. Usually this time of year is the hottest on the east coast. At the end of every summer, when I would return to campus, the heat was always almost unbearable. But right now, we are barely reaching into the eighties and I am so very grateful for the break in heat.

             
I love summer. I just can't stand the blazing heat or unbearable humidity. I mean, sure, it gets warm back home, but nothing compares to how heavy the air feels on the east coast. So humid that it feels like the air literally has weight to it and it bares down on you, making it hard to breathe freely at times.

             
“So.” Zayne breaks into my weather analyzing thoughts. “Is there a reason that I received a phone call to come get you?” He asks, his voice light and playful. “I mean, is everything okay?” He asks.

             
Suddenly I realize his question. He's worried because I was drinking in the middle of the day.

             
“No, no.” I laugh. “Me and Becca.... Well, we were just celebrating I guess.” I say, squinting towards the sun to get a look at his handsome face.

             
“Celebrating huh?” He asks, bumping his body into mine.

             
“I have dinner plans with Alec tomorrow.” I blurt.

             
He only nods his head slowly. “Yes, I know.” He says, reminding me that he was with Alec when I made the call.

             
“Anyways.” I say, shaking my head. “Thanks for coming to
get
me.” I say, emphasizing the word get, knowing full well I could have just walked home.

             
“The pleasure is all mine.” He says, his eyes dancing across my face. I pick up on his words hidden meaning instantly and my stomach twists in the most incredible way. Already my body is ready for him, reacting to him, anticipating the feeling of him inside of me.

             
“It will be.” I say, smiling wickedly. I don't miss the way his eyes darken or the way his arm tightens around my shoulders.

             
“Keep talking like that, and we'll be lucky if we make it to my car.” He says, his voice dropping low. His way of telling me he's completely serious.

             
“I'm kind of counting on it.” I say, knocking into his hip with mine.

             
Without so much as a warning, Zayne drops his arm from my shoulder and grabs my hand, pulling me to the side. At first I think he's following through with his threat and that he's about to pull me into some dark alley and take me against a dirty brick wall.

             
Imagine my disappointment when I realize that he's pulling me in the direction of where his black sports car is parked along the side of the alley. He opens the door for me and I quickly slip inside, the heat from the leather feeling too hot against the back of my bare legs.

             
The car ride to Zayne's feels too long. With hidden looks and stolen touches, by the time we pull into the parking garage of his apartment building, my entire body feels on edge. Tightly wound and in desperate need of feeling him against me, inside me, our bodies tangled together as one.

             
He lets his hand trail up the back of my black plaid skirt as the elevator climbs towards his floor, his fingers brushing across my panties. I try to contain myself but I know he can sense what hes doing to me.

             
He can tell in the way my pulse pounds rapidly against my neck. In the way my breathing hitches and becomes labored. And in the way that my legs tremble under his touch. He knows exactly what he's doing to me and I stand absolutely no chance of fighting against him.

             
Before the doors even slide open, his mouth is on mine, hot and firm, not allowing me to pull away when the doors slide open. He hoists my body against his, my legs wrapping around his lean waist as he leads us out of the elevator and towards his apartment.

             
It isn't until his body freezes and I feel every ounce of him tense underneath me that I realize that something is off. Pulling back, the panic that flashes across his face is enough to send my stomach plummeting to the ground.

             
He gently sets me to my feet, his eyes never leaving whatever has caught his attention. Afraid to turn around but unable to resist, I slowly spin. The moment my eyes land on Alec, a shudder runs through my entire body.

             
“Alec.” His name is off my lips unintentionally but it does nothing to soften the glare that is hard set on Zayne. His hands twist around an envelope and it's clear that he was just stopping by to drop something off.

             
“Alec.... I can explain.” Zayne starts, for the first time since I met him, his voice faltering slightly.

             
Alec remains completely still. I don't know if he's in shock or he's trying to talk himself out of killing Zayne. Either way, his face looks absolutely murderous and the tightening in my chest tells me one thing... We messed up...Bad.

             
It seems like hours pass as we all just stand there, looking at each other. None of us really sure what to say. After what feels like an eternity, Alec finally finds his words.

             
“How could you?” His words are like acid and his eyes are set on Zayne. In the whole time we have been standing here, he has yet to even acknowledge my presence.

             
“Alec... I.”Zayne starts but is immediately cut off.

             
“Grace, Zayne. Really? Out of all the women in the fucking world, Grace?” He questions, playing my name off his lips like he's trying to convince himself that I am actually somehow involved in this.

             
“Alec.” I start, taking a step towards him but still, he refuses to acknowledge me.

             
“How long Zayne? How long? Since she arrived in New York? Or was it before that? At the lake house right after I asked you to stay away from her?” His words send my heart into a frantic race. Wait.. what?

             
“I told you what she had been through. I told you and yet you chose to pursue her anyways?” He asks like it's a question, his voice mixed with disbelief and anger. Wait, what?

             
“You knew about Kyle. Before I told you... You already knew?” I ask Zayne, my voice weak. Everything seems too slow, almost like I am in some really bad movie that has been placed on slow motion. I don't know if it's the events that are taking place, or the alcohol still swimming in my stomach but I suddenly feel very off kilter.

             
Confusion floods through me as I look at Zayne. He, like Alec, refuses to look at me. Suddenly not only am I terrified of what is about to unfold, but I am also beside myself with betrayal. He let me believe he knew nothing of my past. He let me cry and relive the whole story to him the night I showed up at his apartment, and all the while, he already knew.

             
“Alec, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. It wasn't like I went out intentionally trying to do exactly what you asked me not to. It just. Fuck Alec, it just happened.” He says.

             
I step to the side, positioning myself in a way where I can see both men. Zayne stands tall, seeming completely unphased, and yet I can tell that he is. I can see it in the way his forehead crinkles, and in the brief glimpses of panic that flash through his eyes, but he still remains in control.

             
Alec, on the other hand, looks anything but controlled. His face is flushed and the snarl in his nostrils tells me that he is mere seconds away from turning on his best friend and likely beating his face into the ground.

             
“How long?” Alec's repeated question rings through the hallway.

             
“Three months.” Zayne admits, leaving out that we have only actually been together about half of that time given our many speed bumps along the way.

             
“Three fucking months!” His words erupt from his throat and this seems to be his breaking point.

             
“You are
not
good for her Zayne. After everything, you should understand that. But you did it anyways.... You were my brother. I trusted you. And now what? What happens when you fuck her over? Who is going to have to pick up the pieces when you disregard her like you have every other women in your life huh? Who Zayne?” He pauses, waiting to see if Zayne will respond.

             
“I am. That's who.” Alec's voice is teetered now between a growl and a yell and my skin crawls with his words and seeing him in such a state.

             
“I am the one who will have to clean up the mess you leave behind. I am so fucking tired of cleaning up after you Zayne. And this time, well this time you've gone too far.”

             
Sensing we are reaching a climax, I finally find my voice. Whether it's alcohol induced bravery or just my natural need to protect Zayne, I'm not sure. All I know is I can't stand by and let him say anymore.

             
“Enough” I yell, my voice cutting through the air like an alarm bell. As if just noticing me for the first time, Alec's eyes land on mine.

             
“He wasn't alone in this. He didn't do this to you. I did.” I say, stepping towards Alec. “I pursued him. He tried to avoid me, push me away. This is
my
fault Alec, not his.” I say, my voice holding firm. “If you want to blame someone for betraying you, blame me.”

             
“Grace.” He warns.

             
“Don't Grace me Alec. I am not a child anymore.” My voice rises and for the first time in all of this sneaking around, it's not guilt that I feel, but anger.

             
“We wouldn't have had to keep any of this from you if you would just accept that! You are not my father and you have no right to determine who is or is not good enough for me. I love him Alec.” My words echo through the hallway and surprise even me. After all this time, the truth finally just slips out.

             
Alec's face contorts between a mixture of anger and complete disbelief. I can tell that me saying those words was not something he saw coming. I don't look back to see the shocked expression that I am sure is plastered on Zayne's face. All I care about right now is Alec and making him understand.

             
“Alec. I am in love with him.” I say, my voice lightening, the anger falling away. “I need you to accept this.” My words are almost pleading.