I’ll Be There (28 page)

And out of his life.

“But…you have to be at my wedding, Gabs. You just have to!”

They'd had this conversation on the phone at least a dozen times in the last three months, but no matter how much Summer tried, Gabriella stuck to her guns. “Believe me, I would love to see you and Ethan say ‘I do,' I really would. But unfortunately, I can't get the time off.”

“I still don't see why you didn't take Uncle William up on his offer. If you were working for any other branch of Montgomerys, your attendance at my wedding would be mandatory.” She paused before whining, “Come on, Gabriella! You're supposed to be my maid of honor! We talked about it. Remember? The night with the massages and the sushi? You promised!”

Gabriella was normally a fairly patient person with Summer, but right now she just wasn't feeling it. In the three months since she'd last walked through the doors of the Montgomerys office in Portland, she'd pretty much cut herself off from everything and everybody. It was for the best—apparently she couldn't trust anyone.

Even the person who claimed to love her.

“I promise we'll get together when you get back from your honeymoon. I'm really sorry, sweetie, but I have to go. My lunch break is over and I have to get back.”

Summer was silent for a long moment. “Won't you at least tell me where you are? It's been months, Gabs. I'm worried about you. I hate that you're somewhere out there all alone.”

So did she. Being independent had been fun and invigorating when she was younger, but this version—coupled with self-imposed isolation—really sucked. “It's not important, Summer. I don't want you to worry about me. I'm okay. Really. I want you to marry that handsome man of yours and be happy.” She choked back a sob and took a moment to compose herself. “Okay?”

“You know he's a mess too, right?” Summer said quietly. “Zach. He's worse now than he was after the accident.”

It shouldn't have made Gabriella feel better, but it did. A little.

“Has…has he asked about me?” As soon as she asked the question she wanted to take it back. She'd been able to control herself in all of her previous conversations with Summer but for some reason today, she just needed to know.

“Not directly. But whenever your name comes up, I tell him how you've probably started the agency you always dreamed of—you know, the one you never told him about.”

“There was a reason I never told him, Summer,” Gabriella hedged.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…whatever. The look on his face when I told him what you really wanted to be when you grew up was pretty priceless.”

“Did you get a picture? You know, for your screensaver?”

Summer laughed. “I love you, you know that, right? And I miss you like crazy.”

“Text me some pictures from Hawaii,” Gabriella said. “And try not to do anything crazy like skydive into a volcano.”

“Please. I think Ethan might have been up for that about a year ago but we're both just looking forward to being away from everything and finally being married.” She sighed. “I feel like I've waited my whole life for this.”

“You have,” Gabriella said sadly. “You've been in love with him your whole life, remember? Go have that happily ever after, blue eyes. No one deserves it more than you.” She hung up quickly, before Summer could say anything more.

Slipping her phone into her purse, Gabriella made the two-block walk back to her office. The weather was beautiful and people smiled and waved—it was something that should have made her smile. But she just didn't have the energy to do it.

Her position at the small insurance company was well beneath her skills. It was mind-numbingly boring. But after her years in the corporate world and all she'd endured there, this was the perfect fix. Zach had shipped her luggage back to her apartment the day after their fallout and Gabriella had essentially been on a plane east the day after that. There was no way she was going back to Seattle, and staying in Portland was out of the question.

There had been no calls to William Montgomery. She didn't want to have anything to do with the company—there was too much of a chance of seeing or hearing about Zach. A clean cut was what she needed most.

South Carolina wasn't really a conscious decision. But she'd heard Summer talk so much about the home she and Ethan were building in North Carolina that she knew she'd at least be close enough to get to see her friend once in a while if she wanted to. Like when her heart was healed.

So maybe never.

North Myrtle Beach was close enough to the coast if she wanted to go to the beach, and it was easy enough to blend in and not draw attention to herself. She learned to tone down her wardrobe and went from what Zach used to call her sexy librarian look to just librarian. She missed her shoes. She missed her makeup. But in order to stay under the radar, it was better to be as plain Jane as she possibly could. It wasn't the way she had ever envisioned her life, but it certainly cut back on the drama.

So she worked a boring job.

Lived in a tourist town where nobody knew her name.

And essentially relegated herself to a life of complete and utter boredom.

“Yeah, I'm living the dream,” she sighed as she put her purse away in her desk and went back to filing claims. It was a Thursday. Summer's wedding was Saturday. She hated not being there. Hated that she was going to miss out on something she had really been looking forward to because…of what? Cowardice, or self-preservation? It was a coin toss.

Her plan was to drive up the coast to Wilmington and park a bit away in hopes she'd at least get to see Summer and Ethan as they left the church. Summer had given her enough details about the wedding that Gabriella knew the itinerary inside and out. She sighed as she thought about the gown she had hoped to wear.

Strapless.

Midnight blue.

Killer heels.

All going to waste in the back of her closet. Why she had even bought the dress she had no idea. Gabriella was a practical woman and when she spotted the dress in a little boutique a month earlier, she already knew she wasn't ever going to wear it. It wasn't even a bridesmaid dress, but she knew it would be perfect for Summer's wedding. But she was feeling sorry for herself and for a few minutes, it felt really good to just have it on.

She was losing her mind.

Slowly and painfully.

Maybe someday she'd have somewhere to wear it to. Of course that would mean doing more than eating alone in her little apartment, but that was a depressing saga for another time.

The day wore on and when she was finally ready to leave at five o'clock, she stopped at her boss's desk. “Mr. Anderson?”

“Yes?” He was an older man, happily married and a grandfather of five. The agency had been started by
his
grandfather.

“I was wondering if I might have tomorrow off. I know it's short notice. But I've completed all of the claims that were piled up and did the software update we talked about, and the new website will be up and running by Monday. I'm actually a little ahead of myself.”

He took his glasses off his round face and smiled at her. “I don't think it should be a problem, Miss Martine. If anything comes up, you know my Norma wouldn't mind coming in to lend a hand. Go and have yourself a good weekend.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said with a shy smile. “You too.” As soon as she was outside, Gabriella let out a huge sigh of relief. That office, that job were slowly sucking her will to live. Slinging her purse strap over her shoulder, she breathed in the night air and vowed she would try to have a better outlook by Monday.

Her apartment was only four blocks away—a happy coincidence—and she enjoyed the walk. It was amazing what sensible shoes allowed you to do! Once home, she thought about her conversation with Summer. She hated keeping her friend in the dark but she wasn't ready to face anyone—or more specifically, any Montgomery—just yet. Summer had given her hell for leaving Portland without telling her, but Gabriella had simply said she hadn't wanted to interrupt Summer and Ethan's week off.

That, and she didn't want anyone talking her out of what she was doing.

In the back of her mind, she kept thinking Zach would call her, reach out to her, even if it was only to remind her of her job. But he didn't. Even when he'd arranged for all her belongings to be delivered back to her apartment, there was no communication. She'd simply opened her door to a team of movers and thanked them for their time.

Bastard.

She knew him. Or at least she'd thought she knew him. She knew his moods and how he thought, and for the life of her she couldn't understand how things had spiraled out of control so quickly. Alan's appearance—while awful and annoying—should not have had the effect it did. For weeks Gabriella had refused to believe Zach had lied about loving her. But after so much time had gone by without a word from him, she had no choice but to accept that he had.

Even thinking about it now had her heart clenching.

Stupid heart
, she thought.
Lesson learned.

* * *

It wasn't so much that Zach Montgomery hated everyone, but at the moment, he kind of did. It was like the entire world had just forgotten how to do any work and do their jobs because they were too busy laughing and smiling and joking around. Or getting married.

“Dude, come on,” Ethan said as he popped his head into Zach's office. “You're all packed, right?”

“I said I was,” Zach huffed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Well, the car's going to be here in fifteen minutes, and do me a favor, lose the attitude. If your sister is on the receiving end of one of your snarky comments, I'll seriously have to kick your ass.”

“Isn't she already in North Carolina?”

“Why? Is the plane ride going to be the magic touch that takes the stick out of your ass?”

“Screw you,” Zach muttered as he rose from his chair and shut down his computer. By the time he looked up, Ethan was standing right in front of him. “What?” he snapped.

“I asked you this once before—aren't you tired of this nonsense?”

“What the hell are you talking about? Don't we have a flight to catch?”

“Yeah, we do, as a matter of fact. But I'm tired of this. This last year has been a real bitch and it's mainly because of you. I'm done, man. You screwed up. You blew the greatest thing in your life and you won't tell anyone why. Fine. I get it. But it was
your
decision and you need to move on. Stop punishing everyone else for having a life!”

Zach raked a hand through his hair and paced away and then back again. “You know what, Ethan? You're tired of me? Well, let me tell you, buddy, I'm a little tired of you and everyone else trying to tell me how to live my life! I've been to hell and back and I'm here, doing the work, just like everyone wanted and expected. No one said I had to do it with a smile on my damn face!”

“I don't even care about a smile, Zach. Not being a complete jackass for even five minutes would be a great start!”

“You know what? I'm done. Go. Catch your plane. Get married. Live happily freaking ever after. If I'm such a damn nuisance to everyone, I'll do you all a favor and stay home.”

Ethan sighed loudly and then clapped theatrically. “That's just wonderful. Seriously. Bravo. If I had a sword handy, I'd set it up for you to throw yourself on.”

“I'm serious, Ethan. I'm not going.”

“Um…yeah. You are.”

“Why? If I'm such a pain in the ass, why would you even want me to?”

“Maybe because I'm marrying your sister! Or maybe it's because we've been best friends since forever and you're like a brother to me. Take your pick, man. You're getting on the plane. I don't care what the hell you do after I leave on my honeymoon, but for the wedding? You're going to be there for your family.”

Zach glared at him. Hard. “I…I can't. I can't do it, man. Everyone keeps asking and wanting to know what happened.” His voice cracked. “I…I just can't.”

Ethan sat down in one of the chairs and looked up at his best friend. “So tell me. Tell me what happened and I'll make sure no one brings it up.”

“It's not that easy.”

“So make it that easy. You have my word, Zach, right here, right now. You tell me what happened and I'll make sure everyone knows the topic is off limits for the weekend. Work with me here.”

Collapsing on the leather sofa in the corner of the office, Zach finally let it all out. Everything he'd felt, everything he'd said. And then he just let his head fall back against the cushions and closed his eyes. Neither spoke for a long time.

“You know none of that ever mattered to her, right?” Ethan asked.

“Now I do. At the time, I couldn't see it. I didn't
want
to see it.”

“When you were on the climb and we were all waiting for news about you, she was a mess. Honestly, there were times she was more distraught than Summer was. Neither of them were fans of you taking risks on those trips, but Gabriella? Man, she just…she just hated the thought of you getting hurt. And whenever someone tried to blow us off or didn't get us sufficient information, she was like a tigress. I had a lot of respect for her.”

“Is there a point to this story?”

“She stayed, Zach. She stayed even after you treated her like crap, she put up with all your foul moods, and she fought for you when the rest of us were feeling too overwhelmed to even know what to do. And even after you essentially kicked her out of the state of Alaska—not your finest moment, by the way—she still stayed. She could have come and worked for me and things would have been easier for her. But Gabriella doesn't take the easy way out.”

“She left.”

Ethan nodded. “Everyone has their limits, Zach. She trusted you. She trusted that you loved her and when she really needed you, you chose a really crappy time to go back to being a jackass.”