Zane (The Powers That Be, Book 6)

by Harper Bentley

  “Hi,” I said to the concierge who was standing behind the desk, looking through some forms.

  “Hello, miss. How may I help you?”

  “I wanted to know if I could leave these flowers here? I mean, just on the desk as decoration? Or you could take them home for your wife…or husband…or significant other,” I babbled trying to be PC and sounding like an idiot.

  He chuckled. “How about we leave them right here for everyone to enjoy?” He took the vase and set it on the desk.

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  “I’m Henry,” he said, holding out his hand for me to shake.

  “Jillian.”

  “Very nice to meet you, Jillian. You’re new here?”

  “Yes, I just moved in maybe a month ago? I really like it here, though.”

  Henry was tall and thin and maybe as old as my dad. His gray hair was balding a little on top but had a nice smile.

  “I’m so glad. If there’s ever anything you need, I usually work the evening shift, so give me a call and I’ll do what I can to help.”

  “Thanks, Henry.” I stood there for a moment not knowing what else to say.

  “Have a good evening, miss.”

  Well, there you go. I smiled then went back to the elevator and up to my apartment. Inside, I let out a deep breath and deciding it was definitely a Bewitched kind of night, I showered then got in bed to watch the show and fell asleep shortly thereafter.

  I dreamed that I was flying but as I flew, what I saw below me was only dead fields and landscapes. I woke up the next morning in the worst mood ever and went to my Ecology and Evolution of Marine Protists—eukaryotes that had no classification, fun!—class pretty bummed out.

  The day got even better when Darren stopped me after class to ask me out for coffee.

  When I turned him down, he grabbed me by the upper arm making sure to graze the side of my breast with his fingers, and leaned in close asking, “What is it about me that you don’t like?”

  I jerked my arm from his grip then glared at him. “You touch me again and you’ll regret it. Do you understand?” He let out a huff as he smirked and I wanted to smack him. “I’m sure the university president would love watching this on video in the security office,” I informed, getting huge satisfaction at seeing his face turn white before I left.

  I was walking to the parking lot when I got a call from Alicia.

  “You’re coming in at noon, right?” she asked.

  “On my way now!”

  “Well, I thought I’d prepare you.”

  “Oh, lord. What now?”

  “You won’t believe it until you see it, hon.”

  We hung up and I got in my car heading to the record store wondering what in the world it could be. Had Preston Templeton III shown up? Or worse, Gerald Ainsworth? Had Rusty escaped jail and was holding Alicia hostage and was waiting for me to get there so he could kill me?

  I pulled behind the store and walked in slowly, peering around the doorframe, phone in my hand with 911 on the screen ready to be dialed if I needed it. Upon seeing nothing that was of particular interest, I stepped on into the floor looking around warily.

  “Alicia?” I called, even though I knew the stupid girls in scary movies always did that—hollered for someone so the killer/monster/poltergeist would find her, and I decided I’d never be annoyed by another chick in a flick doing so.

  When I got fully inside, I saw Alicia standing behind the counter. “In here, hon!”

  She didn’t sound as if she were being held at gunpoint, but one could never be too safe. Finally seeing no one else in the store, I came around to the counter opening.

  “So what won’t I believe?” I asked.

  She chuckled then nodded to her right. Frowning I walked around the front of the counter to see what the heck she was laughing at then I jerked my head back.

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah, wow,” she said coming to join me.

  “Where’d you get this?” I asked.

  “I didn’t get it anywhere. It was sent to the store a few minutes before I called you.”

  Before me stood a huge stuffed unicorn that was all white except for its lavender and light-blue colored mane, forelock and tail.

  “What the hell?” I mumbled.

  “That big toy store north of Century Field delivered it.”

  “It’s taller than me!” I pointed out the obvious.

  “A card with your name came with it.”

  She went behind the counter and brought it to me. Looking at the unicorn, I tore the envelope and pulled out the card. On the front it said, “I’m an Asshole.” Like, it was a legit card that said that. It hadn’t just been written on the front.

  “I’ll leave you be,” Alicia said and disappeared into the back.

  I let out a breath knowing just who it was from. I went behind the counter and sat on the stool just in case it made me mad and I inadvertently attacked the innocent stuffed animal.

  Opening the card, I read what Zane had written.

  Dear Jillian,

  I’m sorry.

  I know that doesn’t seem to be enough, but it’s all I know to say.

  I’m an asshole. A prick. A douchebag.

  I know this.

  I didn’t mean to hurt you.

  Well, at the beginning I did because you hurt me when you left that first time without leaving your number or even saying goodbye.

  I know I was immature and stupid in trying to pay you back. I also know I shouldn’t have said anything about you to Pope, but I had to justify what I was doing by making you look bad. But I want you to know that I never told him your name.

  You also need to know that my plans totally fell apart before our first date even began. When I went to pick you up, my whole intent was to use you to get to Stewart and after I got him, I’d cut you loose and move on. But when I saw you, I was floored. You were gorgeous. You were stunning. Then when we talked, you were a total surprise. A miracle in my dark world. You suddenly became the light that helped me make sense of everything.

  But I didn’t like that. So I resisted. I put up a barrier because I was used to dealing with things on my own, and being with you made those things not seem as ominous anymore.

  What I’m trying to say here is that I love you, Jillian.

  I LOVE YOU.

  I only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me because I know I hurt you. I KNOW IT. And I’m sorry.

  Zane

  I read the letter three times.

  Then I read it to Alicia, seeking her advice.

  “Aw, hon, he sounds like he’s trying hard here.”

  She knew everything that had happened because I’d told her, knowing she wouldn’t judge and she’d be nothing but supportive. I also told her so she’d know the reason why I’d missed so many days of work.

  I next called Izzy and read it to her.

  She’d tell me straight out what I should do. Whether I chose to take her advice or not, that was another thing. But as best friends, we’d always told the truth, not telling the other what we thought she wanted to hear.

  “Read it again,” she said. After the second go-round, I heard her sigh. “He really sounds sincere, JB. At this point, it’s up to you to decide what you wanna do. If you love him, give him a chance. If not, keep the unicorn and give it to Laurel’s first child.” She snorted.

  “Thanks, Iz.”

  “Anytime, Jilly Bean.”

  I finished out my workday telling myself I wouldn’t think about it until I got home. Which worked for all of thirty seconds.

  By the time I got home, I needed some Half Baked and a lot of The Office. I passed out in a sugar coma falling asleep as I laughed when Michael roasted everyone after they’d roasted him. The last thing I remembered him saying was, “Meredith, you’ve slept with so many guys you’re starting to look like one. Boom, roasted.”

  Chapter 20

  It was Saturday and I hadn’t heard from Zane for the rest of t
he week.

  The more I thought about his letter, the more I thought about everything that’d happened, which meant the more the hurt and anger came rolling back, which wasn’t good.

  And I knew I hadn’t forgiven him.

  That afternoon Izzy and I went shopping for a new comforter set for my bed. I told her I was just going to buy one online, but she insisted we had to go out because I needed shopping therapy. I hated shopping. She knew this but insisted it was better than hanging out at my apartment. Um, I liked hanging out at my apartment! But when she promised to get me a caramel frappe that I could drink while we shopped, I caved then ended up getting the most beautiful comforter ever, a soft seafoam green with a lacy, skirted coverlet, and I adored it.

  “When I get this on my bed, with the lights on the canopy, it’s gonna be gorgeous!” I told her. “All I’m gonna want to do is sleep!”

  “Not funny,” she said remembering how I’d been only a month before.

  “I know. I won’t be that bad,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “You’d have done it for me. Actually, you have done it for me like three times. I still owe you.” She laughed. “Okay, let’s get back to your apartment! I wanna see this all put together.”

  We got off the elevator on my floor, and as I walked to my door, I saw a big square wrapped in kraft paper leaning against it.

  “What’s he done now,” I groaned.

  “I don’t know. Open it!”

  Handing her my bags, I picked up the square and we went inside where I placed it on the bar. I frowned as I pulled one corner of the paper, ripping it across which revealed not a whole lot. I kept going and finally seeing what it was, gasped. He’d sent a framed print of a gorgeous mermaid.

  “Oh, that’s beautiful,” Izzy said. “It’ll go perfect with your new comforter!”

  She was right. The soft greens and pinks would complement everything in my room so well. A small card fell on the floor and I picked it up reading it out loud. “You’ll always be my Syrena. Zane.”

  “That’s so sweet,” Izzy whispered.

  “It’s very sweet. But will I sound like a bitch if I say I’m kinda getting tired of the soft sell,” I said.

  She burst out laughing.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  “It’s just lovely, JB.”

  “It is.”

  We were lying on my bed after having put the new comforter on it and hung the mermaid print on the wall at the foot of my bed. The lights were out except for the twinkling ones in the tulle on my canopy.

  “It’s like a fairy tale,” Izzy declared dreamily.

  And it was.

  “You think a prince will show up?” I said turning my head to look at her.

  She glanced back at me grabbing my hand and squeezing. “Definitely.”

  ~*~*~*~*~

  A week passed.

  Then two.

  Then a month.

  And I didn’t hear from Zane.

  Nothing.

  Nada.

  Zilch.

  Over the course of the month, I went from not caring (kinda), to wondering if he’d given up, to worrying that something had happened to him, and I started checking the paper every day, praying I wouldn’t see his name in any of the crime articles.

  He was on my mind daily even though I hadn’t heard from him. And I realized I was letting the psychology of it all get to me.

  “He’s either finished with me or doing this on purpose,” I told Izzy Friday night before spring break.

  “Why do you say that?” she yelled over the music.

  We’d gone to a bar downtown and it must’ve been open-mic night because various bands had taken the stage and played. Even though our table was farther in the back, it was still loud.

  “He set it up just right. Sending gifts here and there with sweet notes to reel me in, then boom! He disappears leaving me to wonder what’s going on, and thus think about him.”

  “I’ll bet he’s just busy with a case,” she said, taking a drink of her beer. “Maybe he’s undercover!”

  That didn’t settle my mind any. Jeez.

  There was a five-minute break between bands, thankfully, and we didn’t have to scream at each other. But I liked the atmosphere because people were having a good time and it was good to be out.

  “If that’s not the case, then the whole thing’s actually pretty genius if you think about it. I mean, there I was, hurt and upset but kinda moving on or trying to anyway, then he pops in making me think he wants me back, so I start to melt a little and then he disappears.” I narrowed my eyes. “Hell, he could be dating someone else now for all I know, and he’s got me pining for him.”

  “You’re pining for him?”

  My brow wrinkled. “Not so much pining as wondering, you know?”

  “That is a pretty genius scheme,” she agreed. “But I wouldn’t give him a ton of credit for it until you know for sure because you know how guys are. Some of them do this shit without even knowing they’re doing it. Like, they want you until something else catches their eye. Then they’re like that dog in Up. ‘Squirrel!’”

  “Good point,” I muttered, taking a drink. “So you and Corey fly out tomorrow?”

  They were going to Greece over spring break, not only because it was spring break but her birthday was next week and Corey had some time off. I’d already given her my present which she was wearing tonight under her pink leather jacket which was a t-shirt that said, “Friends Don’t Lie.”

  “Yes! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see the Parthenon and the Acropolis! I’ll send lots and lots of pictures!” she shouted.

  The next band had started playing so we were back to screaming.

  “You better!” I yelled.

  “What’re you gonna do for break?”

  “I don’t know. I’m thinking about going to Yellowstone! I’ve never seen it.”

  “That’s like twelve hours away!”

  “I know. But I’ve already mapped it out. I’ll drive seven hours and stay in Missoula, Montana, then Yellowstone’s only about four hours from there. I figure I’ll stay a couple days then drive back. I’m a nature girl and I wanna be au naturel!”

  I yelled that last part just as the band finished their song so everyone heard it and I got a couple of strange looks.

  Izzy giggled. “I know you are. I expect lots of pics too!”

  “I’ll get one of Old Faithful to prove that some things in life are reliable.”

  She totally got me and said soothingly, “I’ll bet he’s giving you some time. Like I said earlier, I do know a little about how guys work. So I think he’s just letting you sort things out.”

  I gave her a small smile knowing she was trying to help.

  “This song goes out to his beautiful mermaid, Syrena, from Zane!” the singer on stage yelled.

  My eyes bugged out at Izzy and I felt all the blood drain from my face.

  Turning, I saw Wilder and his band on stage, and my eyes teared up when he started singing Candlebox’s “Breathe Me In.”

  I looked back at Izzy who smiled and squeezed my hand, all, See?

  I nodded tearfully and squeezed back.

  “Do you see him anywhere?” I leaned in and asked her.

  She’d been looking but shook her head.

  As Wilder sang, I tried putting everything between Zane and me into perspective and came up with two facts: we’d both hurt the other and then we’d fallen. I’d say it was even now, and it was then I realized I’d forgiven him.

  After the song, I told Izzy, “I feel like a fifty-pound weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” to which she smiled and winked.

  After Wilder’s band finished their set, Izzy and I went to talk to him after I warned her he was a huge flirt.

  “Hey, Wilder,” I said, giving him a hug.

  “Hey, gorgeous. Ready to hook up with me yet?” he asked with that trademark smirk. God.

  I laughed. “Not just yet, but
I’m sure you’re not hurting for company. Hey, this is my best friend, Izzy Smith.”

  “Damn. Two beautiful ladies at one time? I’m in! Can’t say it’d be a first though.” He winked at us and I snorted at how ornery he was.

  “Was, uh, Zane here?” I asked.

  “Yeah. He was earlier. You didn’t see him?” He got serious now.

  I bit my lip. “We kinda broke up two months ago.”

  He frowned. “Well, that sucks. That was the happiest I’d ever seen him when he was with you.”

  I shrugged. “Que sera, sera, huh?”

  He grinned, the spark coming back into his eyes. “Which only means you can go out with me now.”

  “You’re so rotten,” I said with a laugh. “Well, we were just heading out. Thanks for the song. It was beautiful. It’s great seeing you again.”

  He told Izzy it was nice meeting her then he hugged me. As in grabbed me, wrapping me tightly in his arms hard which caught me off guard and I let out an “Oh!” When he pulled back, he said, “It’ll be okay. I know my brother. He’ll be back.”

  I smiled because no one but Zane could know that, but it was a nice thought and I kind of hoped he was right.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  The cab dropped Izzy off first then took me to my apartment building. I paid the driver and went inside telling Abe, the concierge on duty, hi before getting on the elevator. When I was on my floor, I stepped off and since I was busy checking Yellowstone’s hours on my phone, I didn’t look up until I was almost to my apartment. Where Zane stood leaning against the door frame looking cool as ever in a suit, hands in his pockets and one foot crossed over the other waiting on me as if he did it every day. And he was smirking.

  “What do you want?” I asked not meaning for it to come out so rudely and instant surprise showed on my face at my hateful tone. Whoops.

  His smirk got smirkier and his dimple popped out. “I want you.”

  Boy, he didn’t waste any time, but he was him and I should’ve known he wouldn’t.

  “What if I say I don’t want you?” I mean, come on. I had to make him work a little hard to get me, right?

  I saw his lip twitch before he said, “You do.”

  I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms on my chest. “You think writing a couple of sweet nothings and dedicating a song to me will win me back just like that?”