Strut the Mall (Love at Westbrook Mall #4)

46. Positive Vibes Only

46

Positive Vibes Only

My sneakers shrieked against the tile as I hurried into the warehouse, shoe racks and dim bulbs blurring in my peripheral. I had to find Zack. My gaze shot from one big guy in a uniform to another. Even from the back, I knew my man’s silhouette.

“Zack.” My voice snapped through the warehouse like a leather whip.

Heads turned. Silence descended.

Wow, maybe I’d fit in with his family more than I expected. Loud, strong women thrived in the Turner clan.

Zack walked over with firm, steady steps. “Are you okay?”

I let out a breath. “Your family’s here.”

He knitted his brow. “Okay. Was there an emergency?”

“I don’t know. I think they’re just shopping.” Or hunting. For me.

He glanced at the door. “Did they ask to see me?”

“No. I ran here before they could say anything.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs. They probably thought I was hiding. Sending out their golden boy would be a nice peace offering.

He placed his hand on the center of my back and led me to the computer to punch out for a break. “Let’s go say hi, then.”

I dragged my feet. “I can’t take a ten yet. Andre assigns them. I’ll just wave from the display.”

He frowned and rubbed my waist. “Are you trying to avoid them?”

I shrugged. An imaginary choker tightened around my neck. “I’m just not sure how well they should get to know me. You don’t want me influencing the babies, and Shelby seemed not so jolly.”

“That’s not because of you. My family is… Here, come with me.” He strode ahead to push open the doors to the main floor, blasting light on our faces. “Hey, weirdos.”

“Zack,” the kiddos cried, thundering toward him.

“And Nicole?” May shrieked and tugged on a woman I hadn't met.

“Hi.” I closed the door and stayed halfway behind Zack, hoping he made a nice linebacker and quarterback to protect me from projectile cousins.

Joon repeatedly pushed at various parts of Zack to spar with him. “Can we see the warehouse?”

“No,” he said, his hands up to block the shots. He was immovable as always.

“Why not?” Joon complained.

“We’d have to put a box over your head to sneak you in. You might get shipped to Canada by accident.” My boyfriend playfully tapped the back of his cousin’s head.

Joon blinked and screwed up his brow. “Canada?”

“Where the geese live,” his mom explained.

May pouted at the door. “I don’t want to hang out with geese.”

“They’re poopy and mean,” Joon agreed.

“You two’d fit right in,” my boyfriend said.

“Zack.” I laughed and nudged his arm. The audacity of this man. “Be nice to your cousins.”

Shelby mustered up some cheer. “Canadians can be nice, eh? They have maple syrup. And snow.”

Zack’s mom, Coral, nudged the kids toward the warehouse door. “Go on. It’s cheap world travel.”

“Noooo.” The kids clung to the woman I hadn’t met yet.

She offered me a tired smile. “Hi, I’m Zack’s aunt, April. The family has told me a lot about you.”

“Good things, I hope.” The stupid joke stuck in my teeth like gum on the bottom of a shoe.

Coral patted Zack and me as if to push us together. “Of course good things. All good things. How are you?”

“Fine, thanks. Just working.” I gestured to the sales floor.

Cassandra eyed us from afar, then raised her brows and pointed between all of us with impish teasing.

Yes, I was with his family, I confirmed with my body language.

She gave me a thumbs up. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need the good luck, but I still appreciated it.

April eased the kids from behind her. “If you’re ever looking for more work, I’m sure the kids would love you to babysit. You could even tag-team.”

“Does that mean you’ll be paying her, me, and Shelby?” Zack asked dryly.

“We don’t charge family,” Coral chided.

April blushed. “W-well, I’m sure we could arrange something. Do you need house cleaning?”

My mind snagged on the idea of Zack’s mom and aunts wiping my ass-prints off the kitchen counter or spotting condoms in the trash. “I'm not sure about that."

Zack squeezed my shoulder. “She’s pretty busy. She just got a new campaign, actually.”

“Really?” Coral beamed.

“Congratulations.” Shelby clasped her hands and bounced, her boots jingling.

May sagged her shoulders, her gaze trailing down. “So, you won’t babysit?”

“No. But I’d still like to hang out, if that’s okay,” I said.

Zack smiled and squeezed my arm.

It was more than okay. May listed off a dozen things we could do next time I was free.

“Sounds great,” I told her. “I have to get back to work, but it was nice seeing you all.” I waved, then offered hugs to those who wanted them (Zack, May, Coral, and Shelby). Each squeeze threaded more reassurance into my bones. These people supported me.

A jingling bell reminded me of something Cassandra'd said earlier. “Oh, Shelby, can I introduce you to my coworker? She might be interested in hiring a party princess. I was going to ask you for a website, but since you’re here, can you talk to her?”

“Sure thing.” She looped her arm through mine and waltzed off with me as if we’d always been best buddies.

Part of me wished I had known her in high school. Maybe she would’ve dragged my wallflower ass over to eat with her friends or included me in her plans for the dance. She’d have complimented my outfits, asked about my day, and built my damn confidence. Maybe with a real friend’s support, I’d have been brave enough to confront what I really wanted from Zack. Love. And maybe attention, at first. I’d have cheered with his family in the stands, packed him off for college, and stayed with him when he had a concussion. Maybe we’d be engaged by now, living in a big house with our own businesses, because we’d encouraged each other.

But I didn’t regret how we got here. Our future was still looking pretty damned bright from where I was standing.

He jerked his chin goodbye and led his family away from the door.

“Thank you for getting me away for a minute,” Shelby confessed.

“Were the little ones acting up?” I asked.

“No, my mother.” She sighed. “She keeps trying to convince me I don’t need to buy anything, but she hasn’t even seen the place I’m subletting. And I get that I don’t need everything, because I’ll have roomies and then Harvey, but there’s only so much you can clean an old mattress.” She wrinkled her nose.

“Ew, yes. You deserve a sweat-free mattress pad or at least a protective slip.” I straightened my spine and tried to keep my voice even. “So, you found a place?” Why wouldn’t Zack have mentioned it?

Shelby nodded. “Zack and I are subletting from his friends. You might’ve met some of them at band practice. You should come by. We’re still figuring out which room will be whose. Everyone wants the single, and the only guy I’d be okay sharing a room with is Zack. Or Harvey, for obvious reasons.” She flushed.

I nodded, distracted. “Right. Lots of people enjoy living with their partners over their friends.”

She read my carefully neutral face, then hugged my arm. “You should come by. We’ll have a mini housewarming party.”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t,” I said. Zack hadn’t even told me about it himself.

She glanced over her shoulder. “I know it’s weird because you’re dating my cousin. I am loyal to him, but I want you to know, we can still be friends. I’ll still tell him when he’s being an idiot. I told him that recently, as a matter of fact. But it'd be silly to avoid seeing our place just because he hasn’t mentioned it. Zack wants to build a solid foundation before he presents stuff like feelings or accomplishments. He likes you, and he wants to share his life with you, I promise.”

I sighed and slid out from our linked arms. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“No, I promise. He does.” She held up her pinky and wiggled it at me. “Will you come by the apartment?”

How could I refuse such an earnest ask?

I rolled my eyes with fondness and linked our pinkies. “I promise.”

At the very least, I’d get to visit a friend.