Done Being Friends (17 page)

“Please?” Faith whispered. She really didn’t want Zac to be angry; neither did she want to cause a rift in their friendship.

“You should take a bath and sleep early. You still need to get back to work tomorrow.”

The luxury of lazing in bed till noon was no longer an option. She had never been lazy, but she did enjoy staying up late with a good book, and not having to worry about being late for anything in the morning.
 

“Don’t change the topic.” Faith sat up straight and looked right at Zac. “Promise me.”

Zac sighed and pulled Faith into his chest again. “Fine. I promise. I promise that I will let it go this time.”

Faith signed too, out of relieve rather than frustration. “You should get back too. I’m sure you didn’t sleep well on the couch.”

“I’m staying tonight.”

“I’m fine, Zac.” Faith had no problem with Zac staying over, but she really didn’t want him to do it out of obligation from what had happened in the morning. She
was
feeling fine.
 

“I know you are fine. I know you can take care of yourself, but just let me stay for my own sanity. Let me stay so I don’t spend the whole night tossing and turning, wondering if you are all right.”

Zac always knew how to make Faith smile. “Fine, but you are going to sleep in the guest room and not on the couch. I want you to sleep well.”

Zac agreed and nodded.

“Go bathe and sleep. I need to go home and get my clothes. Don’t wait for me like last night. Just go straight to bed.” With that, he kissed her on her forehead and helped her up.
 

“I can go back with you, that way, you will have someone to accompany you on the drive.”

“Don’t be silly, I’m fine and you need your rest. And...I promise I will not look for Dylan, not tonight.” Zac put his hands on Faith’s shoulder, spun her around and pushed her gently to the direction of the stairs.

Faith tried to turn around and protest, but Zac kept his hands firm on her shoulders, and continued, “Go bathe and rest.”

She looked over her shoulders and seeing the look on Zac’s face, knew that no amount of debate was going to get anywhere. Sighing, she pouted her lips and gave Zac a quick hug. “Drive safe.”

He stood where he was, and watched her walk up the stairs before heading to his car.
 

When Faith settled into bed, she accidentally brushed her arm across her sheets, causing sharp pains to shoot up her arm. She shifted her weight and sat upright, checking her wounds. The slight friction had caused some bleeding again. She leaned back onto her pillow and put her arms gently beside her. She reasoned that the blood would clot by itself and went back to listening for any sign of Zac coming back.
 

She knew that if she hadn’t made him promise, he would probably go over to Dylan’s after leaving her house. She knew that Dylan was upset too, and she really didn’t want Zac to go and slap the rejection in his face.

Thinking about Dylan made her feel guilty. She really didn’t want to reject Dylan and upset him, but she only loved him as a friend, a brother.
 

Not wanting to dwell in her guilt, she brought her mind back to Zac. He had looked perfect when he stood there, half-naked in her office. She closed her eyes, remembering the scent of his cologne that swarmed over her when she put on his shirt.
 

She knew that she should have been consumed with anger over the behavior of the paparazzi, but the image of Zac, standing half naked in what was now her office was strong enough to drive out all other thoughts.

Turning to her side, she saw the Pride and Prejudice DVD which she had left on her desk. Zac was really sweet to her, and he had always paid attention to her. It was a small gesture, but it showed just how well he knew her, knowing the things she liked and disliked.
 

He had always bought her little gifts, things that he thought she would like while he was on a business trip or even when walking past a shop on the way to meet a client.

He had always done those things for her, but since the night at the hospital, something had changed. Before, no matter how close they were, Faith could feel this invisible boundary that Zac seemed to have placed between them. Whenever they had a tender moment, Zac would just disconnect himself and walk away. But for the past few days, he had stayed with her and they had almost kissed.
 

Could he really be ready to move forward and stop being just friends?
 

Though Faith knew that Zac would never hurt her, she couldn’t help but doubt. Was he just pitying her? After all, the women who have been on his arms were either models or gorgeous heiresses who didn’t do anything but spend their day making sure that they looked great.
 

Faith was plain. She had never felt that she looked ugly, but she was definitely unlike those gorgeous girls whom Zac was so used to. She didn’t have the habit of slapping on thick make-up, or putting on layers of mascara or eye shadow.
 

Besides that, she was a really boring person. She loved staying home to read a good book or watch a movie rather than being out there, partying away.
 

Who would like a girl like her? Even if they got together, there was no way she would be able to hold his attention for long. None of the girls ever did.
 

Faith, you are more important to me than you know...
Zac’s voice resonated in her head.
 

She let out a long breath. There was no point in running through all the possibilities in her head; she wasn’t going to get an answer. At least not that night. She popped the DVD into the player in her room and watched the movie that she had just finished watching less than an hour ago.
 

Jessica pulled up in front of Dylan’s house, and she sat still for a few minutes, contemplating if she should go in to look for him. She could see the lights in the house, so she knew he was home, but she wasn’t sure if she would be welcomed.

Since I have already driven all the way here...
Jessica pushed open the door and took her time walking up to the door. She rang the doorbell and waited, telling herself that she would leave if he didn’t answer it.

Dylan opened the door, wearing a casual t-shirt with a pair of faded jeans. He held up a beer can and grinned at Jessica. “Care to join me?”

Jessica stepped in and opened for herself a can of beer that was already sitting on the table. “Why not?”

They sat down, chatting about everything under the sun but Faith. Dylan wasn’t interested in bringing up the events that the day had unfolded, while Jessica was waiting for a right moment to broach the subject.

“So what are you truly here for Jess? To talk about Faith?” Dylan asked when Jessica fell silent.

“No, I came to make sure that you are fine and to talk about you.”

“I’m fine. I’m not giving up on Faith, I have been in love with her since I met her, and I will win her over. It’s just a matter of time before Zac moves on to another woman.”

Jessica shook her head. “I don’t think that will happen, Dylan. I don’t know about you, but it is obvious that the two of them love each other. They just need to figure that out. And when they do, Zac will not be moving on to the next woman.”

“You don’t know him,” Dylan countered.

“Perhaps not as well as you, but I have eyes. I have seen how they interact...especially when you’re not around,” Jessica paused, wondering if she should continue.
 

Taking in a deep breath, she was determined to speak her mind once and for all. “I lived with her in college. When they are together, it is obvious to everyone that they are in love. When you’re there, Zac steps back and toes the line, but whenever things go wrong for either of them, whenever they need someone, they find each other. I have seen how Zac drops everything and anything to be there for Faith, and I know Faith was there for him each time he needed her.”

“Enough.” Dylan didn’t want to hear anymore. He knew all of this, and he knew that he would never be the first person Faith would turn to. He knew that Zac would give up his life for Faith, but it didn’t matter, not to him.

“You are his best friend. Then you should know he was never serious with any of the woman he had been with. Just like you haven’t been either. But with Faith, surely you can see the difference. Whenever they are in the same place, even if they are apart, their eyes are constantly on each other.”

“They are friends, nothing more. If it does become something more, it will not last.”

Jessica bit her inner cheeks. She wanted so much to lash out at him, to tell him to stop dreaming. “And I thought they were the stubborn ones.”

Standing up, she walked away with a new understanding and strength. Understanding that the entanglement among them could only be solved by themselves. Until Zac and Faith could see their love together, until Dylan could acknowledge their love and let go, there would never be enough space in Dylan’s heart for her.
 

“Goodbye Dylan.”

It was nearly midnight when Zac got back to Faith’s house. Mumbling a quick thanks to George for opening the door, he jogged up the stairs. Halfway up, he heard the familiar background noises and gave a lighthearted chuckle. They had just finished watching the movie before he left, and she had gone and watched it again right after.
 

He strode in, expecting to find her eyes glued to the television, but her eyes were closed and she looked so peaceful. He put down the duffle bag in his hands and walked into the room. Zac switched off the television and took out the disc, putting it back into the cover.
 

Then, he walked over to Faith and pulled the blanket over her. “Mmmm...Zac?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Mmmm...”
 

Zac knew she was already back in her sleep and didn’t want to disturb her. Kissing her forehead, Zac whispered into Faith’s ears. “Goodnight angel. I love you.”

Walking out of her room, he closed the door quietly behind him.

Zac walked into the room down the hall from hers. Zac had been to her house countless times but had only stayed over a handful of times. Usually, when he had a problem with work and didn’t want to think about it. Faith had always been his tranquilizer and strength. She exuded such calmness that it allowed Zac to relax whenever he was around her.
 

Her easy laughter always warmed his heart after a horrible day of work and her smiles always brought about one of his. Having her beside him made him feel as if he could conquer the world effortlessly, that nothing could stand in his way. Just thinking about these made Zac want to turn back to her room and hold her in his arms.

He smiled to himself as he opened the wardrobe and unpacked his clothes. He had brought over enough clothes to stay for the next few days. He figured that he might as well bring a few more sets so he didn’t have to go back to his house each night to get a change of clothing.

Lying on the bed, his thoughts wondered to how Faith had looked in his shirt. She had looked incredibly sexy with the towel wrapped around her, but she was really hot when she wore his shirt. His shirt was way too big for her, covering her curves, but seeing her in his shirt was an absolute turn on.
 

Having already bathed at his house, he got into bed and closed his eyes. He had always loved Faith in his special way; her smiles were enough to encourage him even on his worst day, and her hugs had always melted away every unpleasant event in his life. For Dylan, he had been stepping aside and settling with just being friends, but he was ready for the change.
 

He truly wanted to have Faith to himself, and he wanted to let the whole world know that he wanted no one else but her.
 

When he saw her sleeping soundly, he had wanted so much to be beside her, scoop her into his arms and just hold her. The words “I love you” had flowed out of his mouth even before he thought about what he was about to say.
 

If it had been any other girl, he would have panicked and been worrying about how to brush the person off. Of course, he had never said those words to any of those girls. He had never been serious with any of those girls. Most of the time, he barely knew them.
 

More than half of the women who had been on the news with him were simply daughters of businessmen whom he had dealings with or some socialite whom he had to make some casual conversations with. The rest of the women had been with him for his money, and he had needed dates to go on events, which he had no choice but to show up at. Throughout it all, he had never been interested in anybody else but Faith.

Faith never asked him about the women in the news or magazines. She sometimes would give passing remarks about the women he had been with, but she never pried. It wasn’t her style.
 

As he drifted off to sleep, he didn’t know what he was exactly going to do, but one thing was for sure. He was going to let her know that there was no one else in the world that would matter more than her.

Chapter Ten

“Mr. Miller says that she’s just a rich spoilt brat, and without Mr. Hayden, she won’t be able to survive a day.”

Both Zac and Faith stopped right outside the pantry.
 

“Each time Mr. Miller gets back from a meeting with Miss Preston, he would say how pathetically naive she is.”

Faith had heard enough. She turned and was about to walk away when Zac grabbed her firmly on her arm. “You shouldn’t be the one leaving.”

“Zac...” Faith didn’t want to make an ugly scene. She simply wanted to go back to her office and forget the whole thing.

Spinning her around, Zac took her hand and boldly stepped into the pantry, half dragging Faith in along with him. Instantly, all conversations ceased. All the employees blanched, and everyone who saw the fierce protectiveness on Zac’s face was wise enough to scurry out of the room.