Page 78 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

“Sure. Whatever you want to do.” He lets go of my hand, putting space between us and dropping his eyes to the ground.

Is he surprised Teri suggested it? Or does he hate the idea of kissing me?

He answers my questions by shoving his hands in his pockets, indicating just howuninterested he is in kissing me.

“What kissing scene?” I ask Teri, forcing myself not to look at Zach. “I don’t remember seeing it in my script for this week.” And I don’t want to make Zach do anything he doesn’t want to do.

“Oh.” Teri glances at Zach, who’s still got a weird, almost-panicked look on his face, then clutches her laptop to her chest. “I think it’s only in Zach’s script. Ike doesn’t want you to know when it’s happening. You know…so your response will be more natural.”

“Natural? While I’m kissing my best friend?” I look at Zach for backup, but he only shrugs.

Maybe he’s thinking of Carly and whether she’ll be hurt by our pretend affection. Or maybe he can tell how excited I am by the idea of kissing him—my face feels like it’s on fire—and doesn’t want me to think he feels the same. That’s why he’s acting so bored.

“If people are supposed to think we’re in love, then they’ll be expecting some kissing,” he says in a voice that sounds more sad than anything. Which is weird.

“Including me.” I force a laugh. “Every time you get close, I’ll think you’re trying to kiss me. I’ll be so jumpy, it will be awkward when you finally spring it on me.”

I’m trying to put Zach at ease and make him believe I don’t want to kiss any more than he does. But my eyes are glued to his lips. His very kissable lips. The lips that I would very much like to kiss.

But only if he wants to.

There’s too much intimacy in sharing a kiss to keep things from getting awkward between friends. We both know this. We practiced our first kisses with each other when we were twelve, then barely talked for a month afterward.

“I could give you a signal if that makes it easier.” His tone is flat, and he’s looking at me, but also past me at the same time.

“Sure.” I nod, even though the last thing I want is for Zach to tell me he’s about to kiss me.

I don’t want it to be a scripted event. I want him to look so deeply in my eyes that he doesn’t even realize he’s pulling me into his arms. And after he has his arms wrapped around me, I want him to take his time. To tease me. Bring his lips close but nuzzle his nose against mine instead. Run his thumb over my cheekbone before tucking his fingers under my jaw and drawing me close.

Then his lips can touch mine. Softly at first. Then deeper, with a hunger that threatens to consume us both.

“Georgia?” Zach’s voice pulls me out of my daydream, and I force myself to meet his gaze. “What do you want the signal to be?”

I rub my fingers across my clammy palms and swallow hard. “Tuck my hair behind my ear. I like that.”

Zach bobs his head once. His back is slightly turned to Teri, who’s standing perpendicular to us. His hands are still in his pockets. He’s nowhere near laughing.

“But…” I offer.

His head darts up.

“We need a lot of teasers. Moments where we get close to kissing, then don’t.” I’m breathless at the thought of being in his arms, near enough to kiss him without warning. No signals. Just while we’re both lost in the moment.

“People love that stuff in movies and books.” My words pick up speed to keep up with my pulse. “Ask Adam. I bet he’s read that kind of scene a million times in his romance books.”

“Your brother reads romances?” Teri’s surprise forces Zach to face her again. “Please tell me he likes the steamy ones.” She waves her closed laptop back and forth, like she’s not even aware she’s fanning herself.

“None of your business.” Now Zach does laugh, just the slow rumble I’d been hoping for. It comes like a heat-relieving rainstorm on a sweltering summer day. It reverberates through my body, sending pulses of electricity to every nerve ending.

Zach turns his attention to me, almost smiling. Almost hopeful. Then he closes the distance between us. “Lots of teasers, and tuck hair behind the ear.” He lifts his hand. “Like this?” The tips of his fingers brush my cheek as he tucks a curl behind my ear.

I nod. Breathless. Speechless. Maybe even weightless.

Because I’m definitely floating on air.

Chapter 32

Zach

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