Page 94 of Pretty Little Scars

“Yeah. The producer is pissed, but it is what it is.” Zack cringes. “I’ll be here for a few more days to make sure things settle down before I go back. And trust me, they’re reminding me that they’re losing millions every day that I’m gone.”

“That’s so kind,” Darby says with a saccharine smile. “How lovely of them to treat you that way. Assholes. You can stay here.”

Then her eyes go wide, and she looks over at me in horror.

“I’m so sorry. I should not be offering up your house to people.”

It’s our house, she just doesn’t know it yet.

“Zack knows he can always stay here, he just never takes me up on it.”

“Actually, I might this time,” he says. “Because frankly, this shook me, and I don’t like the idea of staying at the hotel.”

I eye my best friend and see the fatigue, the worry. His mom is worse than he’s letting on, and I’m irritated as fuck that he didn’t call me as soon as it happened. I should have been there with him last night.

“The cabin is empty and clean,” Darby says.

“And it’s yours, if you want it,” I tell my friend. “Are you going back to see her tonight?”

“No. I think I’ll crash and go back in the morning. They have my number and will call if anything happens.”

“I’ll go with you tomorrow,” I inform him, and he doesn’t fight me on it, which tells me he’s more shaken up that he wants to admit.

Darby’s phone rings again.

“Damn. ThisisDr. Fisher.” She answers, and her shoulders slump. “Hi, Dr. Fisher. Yep, I can be there in less than thirty. Send me the location. Okay, see you soon.”

“What do you do, Darby?” Zack asks.

“I’m a large-animal vet. Well, an intern,” she says as she finishes the last of the food on her plate and stands. “It was nice to meet you. Sorry about the hall-pass comment.”

“I’m not,” Zack replies, and I narrow my eyes at him.

“And I’mverysorry about your mom. Let me know if you need anything.” She turns to me and kisses my lips, then my cheek, and whispers, “I’ll see you later.”

“Be safe, sweetheart.”

When she’s left the room, Zack’s smile is all-knowing.

“You owe me a thousand dollars.”

“Why?”

“Remember about ten years ago when I said that you’d get married before me, and you said, ‘I’ll bet you a thousand dollars you’re wrong.’”

Shaking my head, I let out a laugh. “Dude, that wasten years ago.”

“We shook on it.”

“I haven’t proposed to her.”

He shrugs. “You will. You’ve never looked at anyone like that, and she’s great. I don’t even know her, and I can see that she’s great. And beautiful. And she’s gone over you. Wife her up, man.”

“Maybe.” He lifts an eyebrow. “Probably. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“No, being my best friend is the best thing that ever happened to you.”

“You seriously have a huge ego. You know that, right?”