Page 9 of For the Love of Lily

We headed to a nearby park and settled under an old tree, eating in the shade of its large branches. Everything tasted amazing and fresh, and I couldn’t help but equate it to the new experiences I was devouring.

“These pastries are so good,” I said as I wiped flaky crumbs from my top and smiled.

“You said you love to bake?”

“Yeah, but I don’t have a knack like this for pastry,” I replied, wiping a crumb from Zack’s cheek. “I’m awesome at brownies, blondies, cupcakes, birthday cakes, the more traditional stuff.”

“Do you just do it for fun?”

“Yes. It could be a business, I suppose, but I don’t have a big enough kitchen, and it’d take a lot of time to set up. Maybe one day. For now, I’m happy being chief office baker and sorting out everyone’s special events,” I replied. “Oh, I should’ve made you something. Next time?” A hot flush swept up my face as I heard my words. “I mean, if you want there to be a next time. I wasn’t assuming-”

“Lily,” he smiled and ran his finger over my lips again. “Please relax, honestly. You don’t have to worry or apologise every time you say something. Unless in the next hour you try to mug me or snog my flatmate, I’m pretty sure I want there to be a next time. Especially if it involves brownies.”

“Thank you,” I said. “It’s just nerves. Can I ask, though, what does your flatmate look like? Am I likely to want to snog him?” I bit my lip, hoping he could sense the joke.

Zack leaned in close. “You’d better not. I’d rather you mugged me.” Another sensuous kiss landed on my lips, and we forgot everything else for a few minutes as that deliciousness enveloped me once again.

Zack looked content as he drank more coffee. “You seem like you live in the now,” he said. “It’s refreshing. So many people obsess about the future and their master plan, where they have to achieve certain milestones by a certain age.”

“I guess I realised a while ago now that it’s the simple things that make me happy, so I concentrate on those, and everything else just happens when it’s meant to happen.”

Zack placed his hand on my knee. “You are literally the loveliest person I ever met,” he said, staying close. “While you were waiting for the coffee, I got something too. I figured as you had about twelve bottles in your fridge that you were a fan.” He pulled two mini prosecco bottles out of the bag with a cheeky smile.

“Nice, what are you having?” I teased as I took a bottle.

We sat together, leaning against the tree, drinking cold prosecco straight from the bottle. The warm spring breeze washed over us as the fizz from the bubbles added to the excitement in my stomach. My world felt serene in a way it hadn’t for a while now.

I rested my head on Zack’s shoulder, and he kissed the top of my head. “Can I ask a question? I don’t want to sound stupid, though,” I said quietly.

“Yes, and I wouldn’t ever think you were stupid.”

“So, I guess you’ve dated a lot, this is all new to me. Is it always like this? This feels so natural, and I thought it would be all awkward and weird,” I admitted.

Zack paused for a moment before he spoke. “Trying to think of a good way to word it, but no, it’s never like this. Never for me before, at least. I haven’t been trawling dating sites for years, by the way, but when I have been on dates, they’ve not been great. Girls that either lied about their age or are nothing like they made out. Or you get people that are after someone with money, or often just want sex. I never found the prospect of sleeping with a girl who is working their way through the internet that appealing myself. There have been second dates, but never with the right connection.” He laced his fingers into mine and rested our hands together on his knee. “So, basically, no, it doesn’t normally feel anything like this. This is something else entirely…”

“I just wondered,” I said. My voice was quiet as I squeezed his hand a little tighter, trying to stop my mind from running away with me as I absorbed his words and what they could mean. Was he feeling this as much as I was?

We strolled back to Zack’s flat, holding hands and chatting about anything and everything. As he went to unlock the front door, it opened out and a tall, skinny man with a huge, black beard and a mass of dark curls escaping from a ponytail stepped outside. There seemed to be more hair than man.

“You off out?” Zack asked him.

“Going shopping. You need anything?”

“No, all good thanks. This is Lily,” Zack smiled and raised our entwined hands up into the air. “Lily, this is Adam, the infamous hairy flat mate.” He then mouthed to me, “no snogging,” and smiled with a mischievous glance.

“Lovely to meet you,” Adam replied, his face breaking into a cheery expression. “I didn’t believe him when he told me the tale about the cancelled train, either. I’ll leave you in peace, catch you later.” He waved as he headed away.

“Aww, have you been talking about our date?” I teased Zack as I followed him inside.

“As if. What was your name again?” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “This is the living room, the kitchen is through the archway there.” Turning, he pointed to two doors leading off the living room. “The left door is my bedroom, the right door is Adam’s – please never get them mixed up. Could be awkward.”

It wasn’t awful like he’d made out at all. It was just... obviously inhabited by men. The walls were cream. A large, black leather couch dominated the room, sitting on top of a polished wooden floor. The main focal point was a crazy big television surrounded by various games consoles, controllers, chargers and other gadgets. Zack had mentioned that Adam was a games designer. I guess he took research seriously judging by the amount of equipment he owned.

“You made out it was a total dump, but it’s nice,” I said. “It’s not full of stuff like mine is. You have as many games consoles as I have photographs.”

“I would blame Adam, but I don’t take much convincing to join in,” he watched me closely. “Want to come and see my room?”

I nodded as he led me over and opened the door. The room had a large window on the adjacent wall, the bed underneath it was covered in soft looking, dark grey sheets. A large, double wardrobe took up another wall. Everything was neat. I walked to the wardrobe and ran my finger along the door.

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