Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets) (16 page)

“It was nice to meet you, Zach.” Pete holds out his hand and the security of Zach’s hand leaves my back for a second to shake it.

“You too. Have a safe flight and be sure to
not
take care of my girl in Anchorage.” Zach laughs and a nervous unsure chuckle escapes Pete, but he doesn’t smile.

Without another word, Pete leaves and I watch him hand his ticket over to the attendant, never turning back around.

“I was just joking,” Zach offers, confused why his joke didn’t go over. “Kind of,” he adds and the four of us laugh.

The laughing stalls and my throat tightens as I push back the tears. Libby eyes me and then links arms with Wes. “We’ll see you soon, Zach.” She winks and after a quick handshake between Zach and Wes, I watch their backs disappear into the walkway toward the plane.

The attendant eyes me, and the waterworks break with uncontrolled, hyper-ventilating hiccups starting. In one second I’ve gone from composed to an ugly snot-inducing mess. “Oh, baby.” Zach pulls me into him and I clasp my arms around his stomach as tight as I possibly can. “You want me to live, right?” he quietly says and I pull back, loosening my arms.

“What kind of question is that?” I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion.

“You’re cutting off my breathing.” He laughs and I giggle, leaning my head on his heart. Trying to memorize the rhythm of my favorite body part on him. “Now, you’ll see me in five days. Call me as soon as you land and I expect to hear from you at least ten times if I’m to make it through the day.” I smile into his sweatshirt and break the distance.

“Okay, officially sucking it up.” I push those bad feelings aside to show him how strong I can be.

“Me too.” He straightens his back and his hands cup my cheeks, leaving my eyes to slowly rise to his. The dim glare of the lights in this airport still allow me to see he’s just as affected as I am. “But I’ll never leave you without a kiss.” He bends down, his lips light as feathers on mine and my hands grip the front of his sweatshirt, pulling him closer.

I press firmly against him and his tongue licks my seam of my overused lips in a slow manner, but once it breaks through, my tongue demands more. Zach quickly adjusts, his hands firm on my hips, thrusting my body to his. Warmth spreads through my veins with the feeling of shelter and protection only he’s been able to give me. Our tongues dance, until we break apart, breathless and happy.

“I was trying to go slow.” Zach’s one corner of his lips turn up into a smirk.

“I’m not capable of that with you.” I smile back, jumping into his arms for one final bear hug from him. “See you Friday,” I whisper, while the tingling behind my eyes increase. I only have to hold them at bay for a few more minutes. I can do this.

“See you Friday, beautiful.” Zach kisses my neck right behind my ear, and I benefit from one more quake of shivers induced by his touch.

Letting me down, my feet find the floor and my one hand starts at his hair and then slowly falls down his face as I memorize his sparkling blue eyes and his tight jaw. The pink soft lips I love to kiss and that smile that melts my heart.

Turning around, I hand my ticket to the attendant who I swear has her own tears in her eyes. When I reach the opening, I turn around and his hands are pressed in his pockets as he watches me. I wave my hand to him and he does the same before putting it back in the pocket of his jeans. Every muscle in my body fights my movement away from him, but I manage to turn around.

Biting my lip, hoping that I can keep it together, I walk down the walkway and when I turn the corner, Libby’s arms are wide open for me. “Come here, honey,” she says, and all those tears release.

IT’S BEEN A MONTH AND
Zach’s come up on two weekends and I’ve gone there for one. This is the first Saturday night I’ve been without him. There was a wedding being held, and since it had been the first in a long time, he wanted to see it through. I can’t fault him; he’s pushed that fear away and started taking over the day-to-day operations of King’s Gate Resort. Although some of our conversations haven’t been stellar during the week, because he’s so tired and exhausted, he makes up for it on the weekends. Since he just hired on a new manager, Len, it should help him be more of a behind-the-scenes owner.

I thought about surprising him for the night, showing up at his house and waiting for him, but that doubt of mine still lingers, wondering if he really would want me to be there after a long day. My dad’s wedding is next week and I’m going, even if my sisters are on the fence. Communication is at an all time stall right now between us and I’m not sure I can remember a time when I felt so apart from them. It’s something I wished for as a child, to be an only child when I would find Mya in my closet or when Mikaela stole all of Mom’s attention when we were teens. I wanted all of the attention and to have my things solely be mine. Now that I have it, I don’t want it. Isn’t that always the way? Now that they never call or text, I miss them more than anything. I’ve picked up my phone to call them numerous times, tell them about Zach and find out about their lives, but I always put it back down.

I dig into my bowl of popcorn, watching the last scene in
The Wedding Date
when my phone chirps. Picking it up, the smile is already on my face from the designated tone Zach picked out for himself.

“Hi,” I say, finding the remote to mute the television.

“Hey, you. I miss you. Watching two people so happy while they tie the knot is hard to swallow when my girl isn’t by my side.” His admittance that he misses me flutters my heart, and I place my hand over it to seal those assurances in.

“I should have surprised you. I thought about it.” I bite my lip, waiting for his reaction.

“I would have enjoyed that,” he remarks and I hear his car door shut, as the keys jingle.

“Next time, I swear.” My boost of ego committing it to memory that he does like me.

“I’m exhausted. I think I ran all over that place tonight. Next on my list is to hire an event organizer.” I hear shuffling and I imagine his hand struggling with his tie to loosen it from his collar.

“I would have given you a massage if I was there.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” he remarks at the exact same time my doorbell rings.
Could it be? No—

Bolting from my seat, I allow silence to fill the phone line. I peep out through the hole and there Zach stands, disheveled, handsome and all mine. I bite my lip, staring out at this man who, if I was being honest, I love. “Well, are you going to open the door?” He laughs and shakes his head in a playful manner. Needing to feel his body against mine, I drop the phone and throw open the door.

“Hi,” I greet him, trying to act casually, but he wraps his arms around me, picking my feet up off the floor.

“Hey.” His deep voice softly speaks in my eardrum. In that instant, I feel as though I have everything I’ve ever dreamed of. A man who goes out of his way to see me. After working all day, he makes the long drive to come see me, because I’m that important to him. My body lightens and I squeeze my arms around his neck as hard as I can, because I’m hoping he never leaves.

“So, what are you watching?” he asks, placing my feet back on the ground even though I haven’t released my arms. He chuckles. “Babe, I’m not going anywhere,” he kids me, swatting my ass and I relent before kissing him square on his mouth.

“I know.”

ONE WEEK LATER, I’M BACK
in Chicago without a jacket. Walking into my old childhood bedroom is surreal, scary and comforting all mixed in one. The academic award ribbons hang from my corkboard that’s pinned with pictures of my sisters and I, plus some of our friends. Slowly, I take in my room in the house that formed me. Where I was stifled with the good girl image, how I always strived to make that come true. The good grades, top volleyball scorer, never getting into trouble. The late nights that Mya would sneak in past curfew and how I wish I had an ounce of her fun-filled carefree gene. Mikaela, staying home on the nights we left and jealously that she seemed content with herself, never trying for approval from anyone. All those expectations that strapped me unbuckled with Zach’s introduction into my life. He’s freed me of that stigma I thought was a necessity for too long.

I shake my head from the images of when I met Nate and thought he was someone to help wash that image from me. Help me find who I really was. He never did. It took Zach six weeks to find the real Marisa. The one who will always do right by her family and friends, but it’s a good thing. The one who can openly tell him what she wants without restraint, and finally, knows he’s lucky to have me. When you hear that phrase
I was lost without you
, it’s true for me. I was in a fog somewhere between my old self and who I wanted to be. Zach lifted that for me and now it’s crystal clear. I accept myself for who I am, the good and the bad.

A hard knock shocks me back to present. “Honey, it’s time,” my dad’s voice hesitantly says.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Dad,” I call through the door, checking my hair and make-up in the mirror.

Smoothing out my green dress, I fluff my hair a little, sweeping it over my shoulder. I take a deep breath and push back memories of my mom in this room with me. Today is my dad’s day and I have to be there for him, especially since I have no idea if my sisters will be joining me in that front row. The good girl thing is a hard thing to shake.

Walking down the hallways, the pictures of me and my sisters adorn the walls and my heart begins to ache with sadness over our shattered relationships. Our arms linked or hands entwined now separated by miles, and we don’t even try anymore. I miss them so much; I wish we could mend the breaks and become glued to each other again. My hope is someday it will happen.

All of my misery vanishes a little when I spot the large male figure leaning against the door frame, staring out to the yard. I bite my lip, unable to fully gather that he’s mine and he wants me for whoever I am.

Sensing me, he turns around and his eyes rake over my body. From my heels, up my legs, resting on my breasts for a beat, before his eyes reach mine. “Hey you,” he says and with those two words, my body tingles and my stomach flips.

“Hey, handsome.” I cut the distance and grab his hand he’s offering out.

Pulling me closer, he nuzzles in my ear. “You are gorgeous,” he whispers and goose bumps travel up my spine as fast as the warmth of his security hits my heart. Taking care of me this whole trip, he leads me to the car and we pull out of my parents’ driveway. “Everyone has already left,” he informs me, just as I figured.

We arrive at Tillman Estates and I watch the guests file in the building; my stomach clenching and churning, wondering if I can get through this. Pushing every gut-wrenching thought to flee. To run from this and maybe it won’t happen. Zach stands outside the car, waiting for me to gather the courage to see my father marry another woman as my mom’s fresh grave is only a few miles down the road. My hand rests on the door handle, and after a big inhale of air, I emerge, earning a reassuring smile from Zach. We walk through the doors and most guests are already seated. There isn’t much family here from our side and I know why. My body shakes with the thoughts of walking down that aisle to the first row, reserved for me and my sisters. The chilling whispers from friends or strangers of my father’s actions.

Zach wraps me in his arms before we descend through the doors. He’s my calming source recently. “Ready?” He pulls back from me, unsure eyes that are only concerned about me in the moment.

“Yes,” I answer, mustering the bravery as he escorts me down the aisle to the first row that has six chairs, all unoccupied. We look at each other and I don’t miss Zach’s sad eyes before he tries to conceal them with a smile. We sit down in the first two chairs, but my eyes keep wavering to the empty ones next to us.