Chapter 459 - Don’t Walk Away

Chapter 459: Chapter 459 - Don’t Walk Away

Oh, this was perfect.

She’d just discovered something rather interesting about his supposed relationship with Olivia, and here he was, practically presenting himself for questioning.

"Actually, yes." Roxie smiled, folding her arms. "It’s been a wonderful evening. Lovely wedding, excellent champagne, and I’ve learned so many interesting things."

Zac looked at her for a moment. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Because you’re standing alone in the garden laughing at yourself."

"I happen to be excellent company." She grinned at him. "And got a lot of jokes. You wanna hear one?"

He shook his head and glanced toward the reception before returning his attention to her. His tie was gone, and the first two buttons of his white shirt were undone. He’d rolled his sleeves up to his forearms, revealing the tattoos on his right arm. Roxie found herself looking at them before remembering that she was supposed to be angry with him.

"Go back inside, Roxie."

She raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Your friends are probably looking for you."

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you owned the garden too."

Zac exhaled through his nose and started to walk past her.

Roxie’s smile widened.

"How’s Olivia?"

He stopped.

"Fine."

"Such a lovely woman. Really beautiful too. You two make quite the couple."

Zac turned his head slightly. "What do you want?"

"Nothing. Just making conversation." She took a step toward him. "Although I have to admit, I’m impressed."

"With what?"

"Your acting skills."

That got his attention. Zac turned fully toward her, studying her face with an expression that made Roxie want to laugh again.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on, Zac. You can tell me. I’m practically family."

His expression hardened. "Roxie."

She leaned closer and lowered her voice conspiratorially.

"Your secret’s safe with me."

"What secret?"

"Olivia."

He went very still.

For a moment, Roxie felt ridiculously pleased with herself. She’d finally managed to surprise him, and the fact that he couldn’t immediately come up with an answer made it even better.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"You were listening to our conversation? Again?"

"Well, you were talking rather loudly."

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough."

"Then you should know it’s none of your business."

Roxie laughed. "Oh, relax. I’m hardly going to call the press. Although I suppose it would make a fascinating story. Famous quarterback and gorgeous model pretending to be in love. Very romantic."

Zac looked toward the hotel, his jaw tightening before he returned his attention to her.

"Keep your mouth shut about Olivia."

"Wow. Touchy."

"I’m serious."

"So am I. I’m a journalist, remember? I know how to keep a secret."

"Then prove it."

Roxie rolled her eyes. Honestly, he was making this so much more entertaining than it needed to be.

"Fine. Your arrangement with Olivia is safe. Although I have to wonder why someone like you would need a fake girlfriend in the first place."

Zac stared at her.

"You’re drunk."

"I’m tipsy. There’s a difference."

"Apparently, that difference isn’t helping you think."

Roxie gave him an offended look. "Oh, please. I’m thinking perfectly fine. I’m just wondering why Zac Prescott, who used to have girls throwing themselves at him in high school, suddenly needs to pretend he’s interested in women."

His expression changed immediately.

Roxie noticed.

Oh, she had him.

"Careful," he said.

"What? It’s a perfectly reasonable question."

"Leave it alone."

She tilted her head, pretending to consider something.

"You know, I was thinking about Dylan earlier."

Zac’s entire face hardened.

"Roxie, I swear to God."

"What? I didn’t even say anything!"

"You’ve been saying the same fucking thing since you got here."

She laughed, genuinely amused by how quickly he’d become angry. "Relax, Zac. It’s 2026. Nobody cares about that sort of thing anymore."

"Are you seriously doing this again?"

"I’m just saying, if you and Dylan..."

"Enough!"

His voice was sharp enough to make her stop smiling.

Zac stepped toward her, his expression furious.

"You know what happened between Dylan and me. You know exactly what happened, and you’re still standing here running your mouth about it."

Roxie’s amusement faded.

"Well, excuse me for asking."

"You’re deliberately trying to humiliate me. You’ve been doing it for three fucking days, and I’m getting sick of it."

"Oh, please. You’re acting like I announced it to the entire wedding."

"You’ve already tried that."

Roxie crossed her arms tighter.

"God, you’re so sensitive about him."

"And you’re still obsessed with something that happened ten years ago."

That irritated her.

"Obsessed? You really need to get over yourself."

"Then stop bringing him up."

"Then stop acting like he’s some innocent little victim who never did anything wrong!"

Zac looked at her for several seconds, his expression growing colder.

"You really don’t know when to stop."

Roxie laughed bitterly. "Oh, I know exactly when to stop. I stopped ten years ago, remember?"

Something moved across his face, too quickly for her to identify.

"Yeah," he answered. "I remember."

The way he said it made her uncomfortable, although she couldn’t explain why.

She looked away first, annoyed that he’d managed to ruin her perfectly entertaining discovery.

"Whatever. Go back to Olivia. Or Dylan. Whoever you’re supposed to be pretending to date this week."

Zac’s jaw tightened again.

"You know what’s funny? You spend half your time questioning who I’m sleeping with, then spend the other half throwing yourself at some guy you met yesterday."

Roxie turned toward him so quickly that she nearly lost her balance.

"Excuse me?"

"Sean, right?"

She stared at him.

Oh, that fucking asshole.

"Are you seriously bringing up Sean?"

"You’ve made sure everyone knows about him."

Roxie laughed in disbelief. "Are you jealous?"

Zac’s expression didn’t change.

"Why would I be?"

"You’re the one who brought him up!"

"You’re the one who spent the last two days flirting with him in front of everyone."

"And? I’m single, Zac! I can flirt with whoever the fuck I want!"

"Then why are you so interested in Olivia?"

"Because I just found out your relationship is fake!"

"And that concerns you because?"

Roxie opened her mouth, then stopped.

Fuck.

She hated it when he did that.

"It doesn’t concern me. I’m just finding the whole thing hilarious."

"Then laugh about it somewhere else."

He turned away.

Roxie stared at his back.

Oh, absolutely fucking not.

"Are you seriously walking away from me?"

Zac continued toward the pathway.

"Zac!"

He ignored her.

Roxie followed him, furious that he thought he could start insulting her and then simply decide the conversation was finished.

"Hey! I’m talking to you!"

He stopped but kept his back to her.

"Then talk."

She reached him and slapped her palm against his chest.

"Don’t fucking turn your back on me when I’m talking!"

Zac turned sharply.

"Are you finished?"

"No, I’m fucking not!"

She moved to strike his chest again, but he caught her wrist before her hand landed.

"And I’m fucking tired of listening to you!"

Roxie froze.

His hand was wrapped around her wrist, and they’d ended up considerably closer than she’d intended. She could feel the warmth coming through his shirt, and she was suddenly very aware of just how much bigger he was.

"Let go."

He released her immediately.

Roxie pulled her hand back, glaring at him, although she remained exactly where she was.

Zac looked down at her, his breathing heavier now.

"Funny," he said coldly. "You really hate it when someone walks away from you."

Roxie’s stomach tightened.

She stared at him.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"You heard me."

Her temper flared all over again.

"Oh, so we’re doing that now? You want to talk about who walked away? Because I have plenty to say about why I left!"

Zac gave a humorless laugh.

"I’m sure you do."

"What the hell is your problem?"

"Right now? You."

"Then why are you still standing here?"

"You’re the one who followed me!"

"Because you were walking away while I was talking!"

"And I’m still trying to figure out why you care."

Roxie opened her mouth to answer, but the words caught somewhere in her throat.

Because he was standing so close.

Because she’d been looking at him for three days and remembering things she had absolutely no business remembering.

And because, despite being furious with him, she was suddenly thinking about the last time she’d had her hands against his chest.

Fuck.

She hated herself.

Zac’s gaze moved over her face, and she saw his expression change slightly.

"What?" she snapped.

He said nothing.

"What are you looking at?"

His eyes dropped toward her mouth.

Roxie noticed immediately.

Oh.

The realization made her pulse quicken, and she became even angrier because she recognized that look. She’d seen it countless times when they were younger, usually right before he kissed her.

But this was ridiculous.

They were standing in the garden arguing about Dylan, Olivia, and Sean. She’d just slapped him in the chest, and he looked as though he wanted to strangle her.

Yet he was looking at her mouth.

Roxie swallowed.

"Stop looking at me like that."

His eyes returned to hers.

"Like what?"

"You know exactly what you’re doing."

Zac gave a short, irritated laugh.

"You’re unbelievable."

"And you’re an asshole."

"Then get out of my face."

Roxie glared at him, her heart beating considerably faster than it had a moment ago.

He’d given her plenty of room to move. She could’ve turned around, gone back to the reception, and found Karen or Angela.

Instead, she remained there, staring up at him.

Zac’s gaze dropped toward her mouth again.

Her stomach tightened.

God, she remembered that look.

And she remembered what usually happened afterward.

"Fuck you," she muttered.

"Yeah, you’ve mentioned that."

Roxie grabbed the front of his shirt.

She wasn’t entirely sure what she’d intended to do. Perhaps pull him closer so she could insult him properly, perhaps shove him away, although she knew perfectly well how ridiculous that would be considering his size.

But the moment her fingers closed around his shirt, Zac looked down at her hand.

Then back at her.

Neither moved.