“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Will you be okay?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting Audrey for coffee today, and Tessa is organizing another picnic in the park tomorrow. Besides, I have some work to finish.”
It’s all true, and yet I don’t want him to go. I like being with him, having his attention on me, his teasing, his hands on me… I’ll miss him, I realize with a jolt.
“Do you mind if I stay a few more days here?” I whisper, wiggling my bare toes on the floor. I need to repaint my nails, I think randomly. “I may have something lined up, but it’s not sure yet.”
“Come here.” He opens his arms, and I walk into them with relief. “You can stay here as long as you need. I wish…”
I wait for him to finish, but he doesn’t. He holds me against his chest, his arms strong and secure around me.
I wish we could stay like this forever.
“Need to get going,” he whispers.
I let him go, though I hate it. I hate being apart from him. I hate seeing him so stressed and sad.
I’d tell him to write down all these things I hate in my folder, but he’s already leaving.
***
After Zane is gone, I wander the empty apartment. I don’t know why I’m in such a funk. I want to know what’s wrong with his sister, but I’m scared to ask. Scared I’ll press him too much, too soon, and he’ll push me away. Scared to make him relive the pain. That everything
I do hurts him, when all I want is to see that smile on his face.
Zane is complicated. This is complicated. But I’ve never felt more alive. Never felt happier than when I’m with him.
And now I’m scaring myself, because it is too much, too soon.
I meet Audrey at a new cafe downtown. She’s all smiles, happiness radiating from her face like the freaking sun. She’s been that way ever since Asher moved in with her. They’re such a cute couple.
“Where is your other half?” I nudge her with my elbow as I take my seat and grab the menu. “Is he hiding under your chair?”
She laughs. “Yeah, right.” Like the rest of the Brotherhood, Asher is over six foot of muscled hawtness. Hard to miss in a room, really.
“How is he?”
“Great. Passed his GED.”
“That’s awesome!” It really is. Audrey told me Asher missed so much school he thought he’d never catch up. “We should celebrate.”
“What did you think tomorrow’s picnic in the park was about?” She falls silent when the waiter arrives to take my order, then leans forward again. “How’s Zane?”
I don’t even know how to begin answering this. Hot? Awesome? Sex on legs? Funny and charming? Sad, damaged, dark and brooding… Hurting. “He’s fine.”
“Tess says you’re staying with him.” I swear her green eyes frigging twinkle. God, I’m like Grumpy Cat. “What’s going on? Are you guys, like, officially together?”
Couldn’t be any further from ‘officially’ than we are now. I mean, sex and joking around don’t count, do they?
“I’m just staying with him until I find a new roommate.” I pray the coffee comes soon to give me something to do with my hands. I was looking forward to meeting Audrey, and now I feel like running.
“I see.” She’s still smiling though, and I wonder what exactly it is she sees. “Do you like him?”
Like him? I freaking love him.
Oh sweet Jesus. “He’s okay, I guess.”
“He’s hot.”