The Dare

“What’s next?” I lean across and wrap my arms around his neck to bring me even nearer to him. “For us.”

“Well, I am never letting you go, that’s for sure. Never, ever. I need you with me.”

I giggle against him, leaning against his chest, listening to the lovely sound of his heart racing all for me. I never want him to let me go either, so this is just great for the pair of us. He isn’t going to just be a fling, someone that I hook up with just to get him out of my system, he might well end up being the long-term love of my life, the one that I am with forever. All of the fantasies that I have ever had about this man are coming to life in the best way possible. I really am about to have it all here, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

“What do you think about getting a new job?” he asks while kissing me. “Are you still considering it?”

“I think I might have to,” I admit. “I don’t know if I can face all of those people at the office again…” I lean up and stare at him. “It will probably be the best thing for us as well, don’t you think? We need to have some separation otherwise it might get too intense. We don’t want the pressure to ruin us.”

I’m a little terrified to admit this, but Zack seems happy enough about it. He isn’t pissed off that I might be about to abandon his company in favor of our relationship, thank goodness.

“I agree.” He nods slowly. “And I have been thinking about taking a bit of a step back at the office, working fewer days so I can be around Amelia more. The business is doing well at the moment, it can pretty much run without me if I can get the right people in place so that will give us more time to spend together as well.”

Wow, this sounds like something that he has really thought of, it seems like it’s what he wants as well, which means there is much less pressure on my shoulders when it comes to moving somewhere else to work. I need a fresh start in every part of my life, and it seems like so does he. And we’re going to do it together.

“Sounds good.” I curl back in to him. “It’s looking good for me and you, isn’t it? We are going to have a good future, me and you. I can’t wait to see where it will take us. Can you?”

“I know.” Zack tilts his head down to kiss me softly. “It’s going to be awesome…”

Chapter 20 – Zack

Six Months Later…

“Is everyone in place?” I gush out in to the back garden where the fairy lights are tickling through the dark, making it hard for me to see anyone in particular. “Mom? Amelia? Tracey?”

They all respond in a positive manner, making me grin with joy. I have been planning this for a while now, trying to make it perfect, and with the help of my family and Latesha’s best friend who has finally come around to me at long last, I think I might have it right at last. There is just one person missing.

“Oh, I hear the keys in the door,” I let them all know. “She’s here. I’m going to get her.”

My heart races as I stalk through my house, waiting for the love of my life to get back from work. Much as I do miss working alongside her, she is doing incredibly well at her new position and I know that she loves it. Plus, she doesn’t have to face the people who Karen informed about the video every single day which must be a massive relief for her. I don’t think that it’s gossiped about anymore, but that’s because there isn’t any more fuel to add to the fire. She is gone and I’m not there like I used to be. We’re gone.

The video is also gone. At least it isn’t on the work computer anymore. I do still have it on my cell phone though, in a safe and encrypted folder just for me. Latesha has even agreed that it’s safe enough to be okay. I just want to keep it as the memory of what brought us both together. Without it, we might never be where we are right now. Happy and in love with our entire futures laid out in front of us. Everything is possible.

“Ooh, you look nice,” Latesha declares as she leans in to kiss me, just like she does every single day when she gets in from work. We are very affectionate with one another; I think to make up all the time when we couldn’t touch one another. “What’s the occasion for the suit? I thought you didn’t go in to work today?”