Jesse’s nod was enough to end the conversation. She was glad they had talked. Zach and Jesse had made a whole lot out of nothing, but talking to Jesse had made the anxiety of going through the family’s things fade a little. Evie faced the wall of boxes again with a bit more determination.
“We can fit two boxes.”
“These aren’t as big as I thought. We can cram three in there. Four if you don’t mind Clementine sitting on your lap.”
Evie thought back to the full-sized black Lab. “That’s a lap dog to you?”
“I have a big lap.”
Evie laughed. “We’ll take three.”
With Jesse’s help they figured out which three boxes she wanted to go through most urgently. There was a box of pictures markedPHOTOS: YVONNE’S ROOM,one of the boxes markedFAMILY PORTRAITSand another markedYVONNE’S ROOM NOTEBOOKS. Jesse used his car keys to rip through the tape, and inside Evie found a bunch of her journals. Jesse grabbed a dolly and hauled the boxes out to the truck while Evie locked up. They both decided it made sense for her to keep the keys just in case someone else drove her the next time. Clementine was very happy to see them as they headed back to Pleasant Lane.
“That’s Zach’s place, right?” Evie asked as they pulled up the long drive. The lights in the house on the far end of their private cul-de-sac were on.
“Yeah,” Jesse replied.
“It looks like he’s home. Let’s go talk to him.”
“Okay.”
He pulled up in front of Zach’s house and when they hopped out of the truck, Evie walked around the front and grabbed Jesse’s arm so he couldn’t run away.
“I’m coming. You don’t have to put me under citizen’s arrest,” he said.
Evie laughed but she didn’t let go. Instead she tugged him all the way to Zach’s doors, Clementine following along at their side. Evie rang the doorbell and ignored the jitters in her stomach. She’d been wanting to see Zach all day. Under different circumstances, granted, but she was happy to be finally seeing him.
“It’s Jesse and Evie,” she called out. A moment later Zach answered the door. He was wearing a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a nice pair of jeans. It was a simple outfit, but he still looked so damn handsome. He flashed her that killer smile.
“Miss Buchanan, a pleasure.” Then the smile dropped and he glared at his brother over her shoulder. “Jesse.”
“Jesse and I would like to come in and talk to you.” Zach looked at the two of them before an odd chuckle bubbled up from his chest. “What’s so funny?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just like back in the day. Jesse would tell me not to pick on you, you’d tell me not to give Jesse so much shit. Somehow Sam always got off easy. Come in.”
“Thank you.”
Clementine took the invitation and pushed her way in.
Evie wasn’t sure what she expected from Zach’s house, but it was a smaller—but not small—version of Miss Leona’s house. They followed him to the big leather sectional in this living room. He had some basketball game on and there were a few boxes of pizza on the coffee table.
“I was just about to tell Corie and the ladies to come over. Give Miss Leona some peace and quiet for a moment. Have a seat.” He muted the TV and sat down in the middle of the couch. Jesse sat on the far end and Clementine wasted no time jumping up on the couch beside him. Evie took a seat on the other end so she could look at them both as they talked. She cleared her throat. She figured one day she’d have to get used to commanding a room again. Why not start with an audience of two.
“I think Jesse is worried that you’re not going to give me your all,” Evie said plainly.
Zach nodded firmly once. “Which I understand, but Jesse should trust me. We are business partners and brothers. But I understand that Jesse truly does care about you and is just looking out for you.”
“Jesse, would you say that’s an accurate representation of the situation?” she asked.
“Yeah,” was all he grumbled.
“Okay, now. Vega reminded me that it’s okay for people to mind their own business,” Evie went on, ignoring Zach’s snort of laughter. “So while I appreciate your concern, Jesse, it isn’t your business to say what happens between me and Zach.But, I do want you and me to get back to being friends, and I do want you to have my back, just like I hope I can have yours—is that okay? If I’m supposed to get better, then I need you to trust me. I need to be able to make decisions for myself. Informed decisions, but still they have to be my decisions.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“And just to clear the air, Zach has been a complete gentleman. I kissed him.”
“Told ya, ya punk bitch,” Zach joked.