Page 86 of Take My Hand

“You do know I care about you, don’t you?”

I frowned. “Is this you about to dump me?” I asked.

“God no.” He laughed and then kissed me. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“So why so serious?” I snuggled closer to him, resting my head on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart against my cheek.

“I just want you to know. It was special, what we did, what you gave to me.” He looked unsure of himself. Like he’d been the inexperienced virgin. He was chewing on the side of his bottom lip and swallowing hard. I knew he wasn’t, though, because of the game of Never Have I Ever. And because in the moment he’d been so confident.

“I know. I trusted you. I still trust you.”

“Good.” He held his hand up and cocked his head to one side, listening. “I think they’re back. One minute.” He got up and bounded up the stairs. I heard the click of the lock and then he came back down, grabbed the remote and turned the TV to the adverts that were showing.

“I though you said they wouldn’t come in,” I cried, realising that we’d been close to being discovered bloody shagging on his mum and dad’s sofa.

“They wouldn’t, but now it looks entirely innocent if by any chance they do.” He smirked and nodded at the TV as the film came back on. “The film isFast & The Furiousif they come in.”

I stared at the screen. “I know that, but how am I supposed to pretend we’ve been watching films and doing nothing else?”

Zak chuckled. “Just don’t look my mum in the eye; she can spot a lie a mile away.”

I nudged him hard in the ribs. “You’re not funny.”

“I think I’m hilarious, love.”

His accent made me shiver with anticipation, wondering whether it was too trashy to ask him for sex in the back of his mum’s car on the way home.

“I think you’ll find you’re not.”

There was thundering up above us, and I tensed, wondering whether the door at the top of the stairs would open. I held my breath, but no one came down.

“Told you.” Zak tugged the throw up to our necks. “Now you want to watch the end of this film or fancy some more fun.”

“I think we’ve reached our limit of luck for one night.”

“Okay, film it is.” His hand went to my head, and that’s how we watched the film, snuggled together with Zak gently combing his fingers through my hair.

Zak walked backwards down the path, watching me as I stood in the open front door way.

“See you tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Yeah, okay,” I breathed out, giving him a little wave. “See you tomorrow.”

He stopped walking and then ran back to me. His arm went around my waist, his hand on my bum and he kissed me.

“I’ll message you when I get home,” he said against my mouth. “We can talk until we go to sleep.”

Giggling, I reached up on my tiptoes and cupped the back of his head, pushing his lips closer to mine. I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of the taste of him. He would always be my addiction.

“I should go,” he eventually said.

“Yeah, you bloody should.” Dad’s voice boomed behind us. “You’re letting all the cold in.”

Zak’s shoulders stiffened and he pulled away from me. “Shit,” he hissed. “I’d better go.”

“Good idea.”

Oh, shut up, William.

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