Page 93 of Pretty Little Scars

“Is she okay?” Darby asks around a bite of salad.

“She has memory issues,” Zack replies. I’m honestly surprised because my friend doesn’t give personal information to strangers. But, he also knows that if Darby’s mine, she’s safe. “So she rarely knows who I am, but I still show up. Sometimes, she thinks I’m my dad, and well ... that’s a whole can of worms. Anyway, pretty Darby?—”

I growl, but he ignores me, and Darby reaches over to put her hand on my thigh.

“—tell me about you. Are you from here?”

“Bitterroot Valley,” she confirms and her phone rings. “Sorry, I’m on call. But this isn’t Dr. Fisher.”

She frowns and answers the phone, and Zack and I share a look.

“Hey, Dani, what’s up?”

Her sister, I mouth to my friend.

Hot?He mouths back.

Married.

He shrugs, and I smirk.

“Yeah, that sounds fun. I’ll be there. Love you too. Bye.”

She hangs up and smiles.

“Sister lunch tomorrow. I haven’t seen them much since I’ve been home.”

“How many sisters do you have?” Zack asks her.

“Three. I’m the oldest sister, and we also have an older brother. Do you have siblings?”

“Nope.”

“Okay, enough small talk,” I cut in, and Zack chuckles. “What’s going on with you? You never just show up out of the blue.”

“Oh, if you guys need to talk, I can go?—”

“No, stay,” Zack says, shaking his head. “I don’t think you have the tabloids on speed dial or anything.”

“Not anymore,” Darby says, making us both laugh. “I’m a vault, but honestly, I don’t mind letting you guys talk.”

“You’re sweet,” I murmur to her.

“I don’t mind having you here,” Zack says. “I like you, and I’m glad Tuck found someone. About time. Anyway, Mom had a stroke, and I had to come home to see her and make sure that she’s getting the care she needs since she can’t really advocate for herself.”

“What?” I feel my heart jolt. “You should have called me, and I would have gone over there.”

“I know, but I was able to charter a plane and get here in a matter of hours.”

“When did this happen?” Darby asks softly.

“Last night,” he replies, and drags his hand down his face, and I see the worry and exhaustion there. “I’ve been with her since I got to town, but the nurses suggested I leave for a while since she was sleeping. So, I came here.”

“Should have fucking called me,” I say again. “Seriously, man.”

Zack blows out a breath. “I’m herson. If something happens, it’s on me to help her.”

“Did you have to leave work to get here?” Darby asks, mirroring my thoughts.