Letters from Home (Love Beyond Reason #1)(14)

Yet.

She’d have to face him eventually. Might as well drum up some of the determination that had gotten her through college and med school and tell him to back off. They’d grown up together, even worked together off and on through the years. It was her turn for romance, not the same old, buddy-buddy friendship she was bound to get with Zack.

Playing pool? Hanging out at all their old stomping grounds and fishing with her brothers? No. No more reliving the past. She wanted an adult relationship of mutual trust, commitment, and affection, in the present day. She wanted to move beyond the past.

She had fallen in love with the man in those letters. The man who had spoken to her of his dreams and desires—his desire for her.

…

Zack turned his back and leaned into the metal bar, opening the door to the auditorium. He carried a box under one arm, his laptop under the other, and a whole slew of cords were looped over his elbow.

“Just set the flowers along the edge of the stage, Lena.”

Zack glanced up. Anabel, at the front of the auditorium, with Lena. He’d known Anabel would drag Lena along after he told her they needed more help with decorations.

It looked like they’d been working for a while. The poinsettias, which had been on the floor before, were now covering the steps on either side of the stage. Lena picked up a pot and set it on the edge of the stage above where Anabel draped red velvet swag across the wood paneling.

An unexpected case of nerves struck his insides.

“Hello, Zachary,” Mrs. Rodriguez called from the stage.

He placed his gear on the table behind the rows of seating and waved. “The place looks great, as usual, Mrs. R.”

“Why, thank you.”

He woke the computer up and connected to the school’s Wi-Fi. Above his head, the projector hung from the open rafters. He’d stream photos through it during the concert.

“Mrs. Rodriguez? Would you mind lowering the screen?”

She waved and disappeared through the side door that led backstage.

Zack stepped closer to the stage. It hadn’t been an easy night of sleep. Thoughts of Lena had kept him awake with Mike’s warning echoing through his brain. But it was Mike or Lena…and he really didn’t see the comparison. This was his time. He’d waited long enough. “So, are you going to ignore me forever?”

Lena set another plant on the stage and turned. “I’m not ignoring you.”

She eyed him up and down. “You look good, Zack.” Then she blushed. “You always looked good, I guess.”

“You guess?” He laughed, unsure if he should be insulted.

“Yes.” Lena picked up another plant. Zack came forward and took the load from her hands. “Well, no. Maybe. I have a question for you.”

“Okay.”

She bit her lip.

His heart fell, and the nerves returned. He carefully set the plant at the edge of the stage, in line with all the others.

“Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with letters?”

It seemed like a trick question, but he answered with his gut. “Yes, but there could be issues…like, what would happen on the wedding night? Think of all the paper cuts, Lena.”

She laughed like he wanted her to and even slapped his arm. “No, really,” she answered, getting serious again.

He rolled his eyes. “No. I think the connection you feel through the letters was already there. Maybe your subconscious recognizes those thoughts put to paper.”

Lena brightened at that thought. “Yeah! That’s totally it.” At ease again, she picked up the last poinsettia and set it on the stage. “All I know is, we’re soulmates. Those letters, Zack. He talked about politics, religion, family. He had a sister who died at three months old when he was only two. Can you imagine?”

Yeah, he could. Of course he could. That had been a long time ago, before they’d moved to Red Bluffs. But the ache of losing half his family had stayed with him.

Thankfully, Lena kept talking. She really did not think he could have written those letters. Not even a little? Sheesh.

“Look Zack,” she started, “I think we should just forget last night happened—”

“What?” He came out of his pity-party musings with a jolt. “Hell, no.”

“Hell, no?” She laughed with a shake of her head. “That’s almost sweet.”

“That’s not sweet,” he said, as a knot of irritation rubbed against his chest. “That’s the facts. It’s open season on Lena Rodriguez. I’m not going to let those letters stop me from getting what I want.”

Her eyes widened. The vein in her neck pulsed. “Wow—”

“Oh, shit.” That might not have sounded right. “I’m sorry.”

“No, please. Don’t hold back. I just love being referred to as game.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He backpedaled. “I’m not good at this.”

Zack rubbed the back of his neck and blew out a breath. “Lena—”

He hadn’t even heard the hum of the screen lowering, but it was down. Mrs. Rodriguez walked back through the doorway. “Everything looks great. Lena, would you mind sticking around after the show? We need to have everything taken down and loaded back up before we leave. It shouldn’t take long. The drama club will be here for the stage props. But the flowers came over from Sacred Heart.”