Page 50 of Bought For Us

When she yanks her coat off, Zack steps forward, to take it from her. “I’ve got this. You get up to bed, get some sleep.”

“Thanks.” She smiles. “Goodnight.”

Zack bends over and brushes a kiss to the top of her head. “Night, Daredevil.” I fucking swoon.

She blinks up at him, a little in shock. “Night, babe.” I pull her in for a hug and love that she hugs me back.

“Night, Kimmy,” she whispers.

When she heads up the stairs, I turn to Zack and grin up at him like a fucking crazy person.

“Kimmy, baby,” he says in a warning tone.

“Don’t ‘Kimmy, baby’ me!” I hiss. “You kissed her. I’m allowed to freak out over the fact that she doesn’t plan on dating anyone because she wants to hang out with us. Zack, come on!”

“I know. I know. But you need to give it time. Don’t rush things okay? We don’t want her to feel like she needs to leave.”

“She can’t leave.” I frown. “She’s not allowed to.”

Zack chuckles. “Give it time. We can win her over, I’m sure of it.”

“I hope so.” I really hope so. Because the idea of her being with someone else isn’t a feeling I particularly enjoy.

Chapter 17

Cora

Sometimes, I lay awake at night and wonder, is this really my life?

Part of me feels like it’s too good to be true. How could such a perfect opportunity just get handed to me? And I’m not talking about the money.

Yes, it’s literally saved my life and now I have a job where I’m going to make around six grand a month when I used to break my back to maybe make two grand, just enough to pay bills and rent.

I’m talking about how I not only get the two people who’ve ever truly meant something to me—apart from Zack’s mom, Rose— back in my life when I thought I’d never get to see them again. Plus, I get to live with them.

Every morning I wake up to Kimmy making me coffee and Zack making us food. When I get home from work, they’re both waiting for me, as if they can’t bring themselves to go to sleep until they know I’m home safe.

My chest tightens every time I think about the fact that they care about me. Truly. I can see it in the way they are with me. No fake smiles or playing nice just to be polite. They mean every nice thing they say and do.

A part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the other is enjoying everything while I have it.

There are times where my pride wants to take over, but the needy part of me shoves it down because I need these people. I’ve been alone for so long and I don’t even care if I’m a third wheel.

My mind has also been at odds with me, because the more time I spend with the two of them, the more I know that it’s more than attraction I feel for them. Similar feelings as the ones I felt as a teenager are creeping in. But now that I’m an adult, they’re different because we’ve all grown and changed.

I still see the old parts of my best friends, the reasons why I made them my people and couldn’t imagine adding anyone else to my little circle of people I bother with.

Today is my day off as well as Kimmy and Zack’s. They asked if I wanted to hang out with them, and I said yes because I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do.

Trenton also asked if I wanted to go out tonight, but I turned him down. I know it sounds bad, but the only times I feel okay with accepting an invite is when Kimmy and Zack are busy.

When I know they’re home and I could be there with them, it’s all I can think about.

God, I’m pathetic, aren't I? Am I a little too obsessed? It’s not like I’m inserting myself into their life. I always wait for one of them to ask me because I fear I am intruding.

It’s been a few weeks now and I’ve made enough money to get my own place but now I’m finding that I don’t want to go.

Maybe I can stay until they ask me to leave?

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