“Neither of us would have ever left you,” I said as my heart hurt for him… and Zorro and me.
It had been a decade of sadness and tremendous pain. However, I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. There had been beautiful times too. Leaving Zach completely alone with that horrible murderous woman would have been unacceptable. Zorro had felt the same.
“I know you wouldn’t have left,” he said tightly. “It's one of the many reasons I wouldn’t leave you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You almost died, Willow. If Zelda hadn't gotten you to Sponge Bob in time, I think I would have died with you.” He shook his head and pressed his temples. “Zorro held me together. I spent every day and all night in the grove under the mighty oaks, sometimes to the point where I'd forget to eat, to sleep. Zorro made sure I did both with very colorful and persuasive language… and one sound kick to my ass.”
I smiled. “He is a bit bossy.” How many times had Zorro been there for Zach and me over the past decade? Goddess, he must have been as scared as Zach, but he kept his focus on hope and not despair. Zorro embodied hope.
“I can't imagine my life without you in it even though you deserve more.” I could see the struggle within him as he clenched his jaw. “Sometimes, it makes me detest myself even more.”
I sighed and longed to lean into Zach, but didn’t. Self-preservation instincts weren’t my forte, but I was developing them. My hairy magical beans were finally emerging.
“This is a lot to take in,” I whispered, unsure how to proceed.
“I know,” he replied, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “It’s probably as selfish as anything I’ve ever done. If I wasn’t a self-serving bastard, I would have kept my mouth shut.”
“No,” I said, wanting him to understand. “No, to hear you say the words is what I've dreamed of for years, but … but I don’t know how to believe you even though I want to. I’m terrified.”
The conversation wasn’t even close to what I’d dreamt this moment might be, but reali-tree was stranger than fiction by a long shot.
Zach took in what I said and was silent for a few moments. His handsome face darkened with sadness then a very small smile began to tug at his lips. His green eyes sparkled and my heart skipped a beat. “Will you let me prove it, Willow? Give me a chance? I’m still not sure I’m worth the risk, but I…”
Placing my finger over the lips I wanted to kiss, I shushed him. His feelings of worthlessness were going to be a problem.
What I really wanted to do was throw myself into his arms, ignore all the uncertainties of our past that we should discuss, and live happily ever after. However, that was a recipe for disaster. Our reality had been a disaster for so long, I wasn’t sure how to handle the possibility of a new one. But…
“I have a thought,” I told him, thinking I might be insane. “It's a little crazy.”
“Like Sassy crazy?”
“Yep,” I said. “Although, it's more a suggestion than a thought.”
“Will you be speaking Canadian?” he inquired with a charming lopsided grin that made me giggle.
There were so many reasons I’d fallen in love with the broken man sitting next to me. His goodness through his despicable situation was always there. He’d rescued Zorro when his pack had left him for dead. He’d welcomed me, an orphaned, lonely dryad without question. We became a pack of misfits. No matter how weak or drained of blood and magic he was, he’d sheltered both Zorro and I. And in turn, we’d sheltered him as much as we could.
His compassion had almost killed him, but his sense of humor had remained intact. His outer beauty didn’t compare to his inner beauty, but he had no clue. That was part of the issue.
“Yes, I will be speaking purely in Canadian. Do you understand it?” I asked.
“Actually, I do,” he replied. “I even understand and speak a little Puntreelish, dryad.”
“Interesting, warlock,” I said, raising a brow. “Shall we test that claim out?”
“Absolu-tree,” Zach said, mirroring my raised brow.
“What did the mighty oak wear to the pool party?” I asked.
“Swimming trunks,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Okay, you got one,” I conceded with a smile, loving the carefree lightness in his voice. “Could have been a lucky guess. What did Luke Skywalker say to the tree?”
Without missing a beat, Zach answered. “May the forest be with you.”
I laughed and was delighted. Hmm… I wanted to stump him. “What did the single tree say to the bush?”
“Easy,” Zach replied, looking cocky and pleased. “I don’t want no shrub. A shrub is a guy who can’t get no love from me.”
I grinned so wide, it hurt my cheeks.
Zach went for it. “Willow, I don’t deserve you. I’m very aware of that, but I would do anything for a chance. We could date. We could start at the beginning. We could get to know each other.”
He was so wrong about not deserving me, but I knew he wouldn't believe me if I told him.
“Anything?” I asked, forming a plan in my head. “You would do anything?”
“Yes,” Zach said without hesitation. “Anything.”
“Would you do couples therapy with me?” I questioned.
Zach looked surprised, but quickly nodded. “Yes. Is there a therapist in Assjacket?”
I nodded. “Roger is a therapist. As a matter of fact, he’s Zelda’s therapist.”
“The rabbit who was making up songs about graphically getting eaten by sharks?” Zach asked, worried.
“Yep,” I replied with a laugh. “And he apparently enjoys porn.”
“You think that’s a good idea?” he asked, skeptically. “Zelda’s not exactly a stable individual as far as therapy success stories go.”
“Your sister is wonderful,” I insisted. “You know it as well as I do.”
Zach looked down and grinned. “Yes, my sister is wonderful,”
