Uncompromising (Age Gap, gxg)

Chapter 47

I was down in the gym the following weekend, sweating my ass off on the elliptical, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I'd been blasting some Zolita through my earbuds so I wouldn't be disturbed, and almost jumped out of my skin at the disturbance. I whirled around, and saw a smiling Hollie there, so I stepped down, then pulled her into a loose hug so I wouldn't get my sweat all over her. She didn't care though, and stepped into me, hugging me hard.

"Welcome home," I whispered happily as I tapped my earphones to stop the music. "I'm glad you got here safely."

"Me too! I was a little worried, it was the furthest I've ever driven by myself." I could hear a few sniffles on her end, and it took me a minute to understand what she meant.

"You drove by yourself?" I stepped back, looking at her proud smile. "You didn't come with Zee?"

She shook her head, her smile faltering. "No. She's not coming. She's on her way to North Carolina. But she's been teaching me to drive, and I just got my license a few days ago. I passed the test on the first try."

I couldn't help but be proud of her after the disaster of a driving lesson that Elliot had given her. I couldn't even get her behind the wheel after that, and yet Zee had somehow talked her into learning and doing well enough to pass her test. And now she was gone, and not coming back. It was her choice, obviously, but why did that hurt? I should be happy that I wouldn't be hurt by seeing her, right?

"You did great, Hollie. I can't believe that she got you driving so fast!"

"She was really good, yeah." She paused for a moment before she sighed and kept going. "Can you please forgive her? She doesn't think you want her here at all, and she's my best friend. I really don't want to lose her."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Are you sure? And I thought Denique was your best friend?"

She blushed, then shook her head. "Denique made the jump to girlfriend. Do you mind if she comes and visits me over the break?"

"Girlfriend?" I was a little shocked by that, but happy, nonetheless. Hollie never even dated, let alone got as serious as an official girlfriend, so I was happy that she liked Denique enough to get there. "How did that happen?"

She gave me a little shrug, then smiled wide. "We were talking, and I told her about Zee and you and how much you were smiling, and she was smiling too, and it just happened. I'd always thought she was great, and the more we hung out and worked out a lot together to get ready for softball, the closer we got. Now it's so much better now that I'm comfortable with her, you know? I can really see why you and Zee hit it off. I'm sorry it all got messed up."

"I'm more worried about what she's doing. I told her she would still have a home here, and I want her to do the internship," I grumbled. "I'm going to have to call her, aren't I?"

"Please do? I really don't want to lose her as a friend. And she knows she messed up. I don't know if it will be weird, but maybe she'd be okay living here?" She looked me up and down with a frown. "Plus, you need to eat, and so does she. You're both getting too skinny."

I let out a heavy sigh, then nodded. "Okay. Go get unpacked, I'll call her now. I'll let you all know what is happening after I take a shower."

"Mom? Be gentle with her, okay?"

"I will." I may be hurt, but I also knew that Zee had been through a lot in her past and needed a safe place. Me wanting to help her get a good start didn't mean that I'd let her back into my heart, I just wanted to make sure she could get the internship, make some money, and then have a nice nest egg when she found her niche in the world. "I just have to make sure I don't get hurt again too."