Chapter 2

2.

I couldn't wait to see him. I wanted to throw my arms around him.

I wanted to tell him how terrified I was and how lucky I felt to be breathing.

But when I ran through the front door, panting and exhausted, I found Zane on the couch.

He was staring at his phone, his brow furrowed as he typed away.

"Zane!"

He looked up, startled for a second.

Then he quickly put the phone down and stood up.

I opened my arms for a hug, but he frowned and put a hand out to stop me.

"Go change your clothes first. You're filthy," he said coldly.

I froze, staring at him. There was no joy in his eyes to see me safe.

There was no worry about the danger I had been in. Only irritation.

I looked down at myself. My clothes were covered in dust and grime.

There were even a few spots of blood from someone else who had been hit by flying glass.

"Oh, right... okay," I said, my heart sinking.

Zane was always a neat freak. I tried to understand.

But I had just stared death in the face, and his only concern was the dirt on my shirt.

"There was a robbery at the bank today. It was insane. Gunshots went off right next to me. I really thought I was going to die..."

I started describing the scene―the masked men, the cold metal of the guns, the screams.

I was trembling again just talking about it, cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

But Zane didn't even move.

His eyes drifted back to his phone. He only nodded occasionally when I paused.

Finally, he looked up, cutting me off with a sigh. "Okay, I got it. Are you finished?"

"Since you're done with the story, go boil some pasta or something. I haven't eaten all day."

The phrase "I was so scared I'd never see you again" died in my throat.

I pressed my lips together and didn't say another word.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was completely empty.

I realized I hadn't had time to grocery shop because of the nightmare at the bank.

I used the last of the dry noodles to make a simple bowl of buttered pasta and set it in front of him.

He took a bite and scowled. "Why is this so bland? Not even a piece of broccoli? You couldn't walk to the store downstairs?"

I couldn't take it anymore. I slammed the bowl onto the table.

"I almost died today, Zane! I don't have the strength to go grocery shopping!"

"I had a gun pointed at my head! I was treated like a dog for hours! I thought I'd never see your face again!"

My voice started to crack, and tears began to fall.

"I called you, and you didn't even care. I come home, and you won't even look at me!"

Zane finally looked at me, though he seemed more annoyed than guilty. "It was just a robbery. Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"

I lost it. I screamed at him.

"Dramatic? Zane, do you even care about me? Do you give a damn about what happened to me today?"

He was silent for a moment, his tone softening just a tiny bit.

"Look, stop crying. I know you had a rough day, but you're fine now, aren't you?"

"You think this is fine? You have no idea how scared I was. I thought my life was over..."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Standing at the door was a woman with puffy, red eyes―the kind of look that made men want to protect her.

"Zane... I'm so scared. Why didn't you answer my texts?"

The moment Zane saw her, he rushed over and put his arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay, I'm here. I was just busy with something," he said softly.

The woman finally noticed me standing in the living room.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Am I interrupting something?"

Zane smiled at her, his voice dripping with a tenderness he never showed me. "No, it's fine. If you need anything, just come find me."

My heart felt like it was being poked by a thousand needles.

That kind of warmth, that comforting tone... he had never given that to me.

After the woman left, I asked him calmly, "Who was that?"

Zane picked up his phone, not looking at me. "Don't get jealous. She's just a client. Her court date is coming up, and she's emotionally unstable."

"Is that who you were texting earlier?"

"Yeah," he muttered.

"If she's a mess, it affects the case. I have to keep her calm."

Zane looked at me with a spark of impatience. "Can you be a little more mature? Her whole life is on the line with this lawsuit. You're fine. Is it really that big of a deal?"

"That big of a deal?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Zane, I almost met my maker today, and you think it's not a big deal?"

"Enough already. I said the wrong thing. Don't overthink it. Just go to sleep."

With that, he turned and walked into the bedroom.