Page 55 of Lost Paradise

“Not a chance, not on your own.”

“Stop babying me.”

“I’m not—”

“Just get lost!” I say, immediately regretting it, and I stop walking and put my hand on my forehead.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s just a lot of info dumping that happened tonight despite what everyone thinks of me. I do care.”

Zane tilts his head down and then wraps his arm around me, drawing me in.

“I’d never think anything bad about you, baby.” He says softly, and there’s something about his velvety voice that soothes my fragile nerves.

“But you barely know me,” I croak, suddenly mesmerized by his beauty; even in this pitch black dark, I feel physically attracted to him.

“I’m crazy about you, Eve. I mean it. Everything about you. Including those cute freckles you hate so much. I think you’re perfect.”

“I’m not perfect.” I retort and stop the snort.

“Believe what I tell you. And I know there’s so much yet to uncover about you, but I already know I’m going to love every bit of it.”

I raise a brow, “Love?” I ask skeptically.

“I didn’t say I’m in love with you, but I love things about you.”

“Isn’t that the same?”

“Nope,” he confirms confidently. “But I could fall in love if you let me.”

“Hmm….I can sleep on it. But I really want to go to Byron. He’s upset at me, and I need to sort this out. I don’t care about Astro, but I don’t want Byron to hate me.”

“Then let’s go to him.”

I pull him back. “I need to do this alone.”

Zane looks at me sternly. “Fine, once we find him, I’ll leave you two alone to work out whatever issues you have with each other, but not until we find him.”

I think about his suggestion and smile. “It’s a deal.”

He grabs my hand, and we stroll through the dark jungle as if we’re wandering a magical forest covered in cotton candy and pretty white unicorns farting rainbows. I feel somewhat emotionally lifted by Zane's declaration.

There have been a few guys in the past who said they were in love with me, but none ever felt as genuine as Zane. Even though he said he’s not in love with me, it’s more real than the blabber other guys have admitted. Not that I’ve ever dated so many guys. In the kind of circles I run in, there is only one guy of choice: the ‘bad boys’ of the Upper East Side, self-centered, sleazy, manipulative playboys.

But with Zane, I feel so comfortable and relaxed. A friend and a lover all in one.

We continue our venture through the eerie shadows of this dense jungle, our footsteps muffled by the thick undergrowth. It's not ideal to be doing this, but Byron shouldn’t be out here on his own.

"Eve, do you really think this is a good idea?" Zane whispers, casting wary glances into the darkness. It’s almost as if he can read my mind.

But my determination makes me press on.

"We have to find Byron. He stormed off in a rage, and who knows what dangers lurk out here alone."

We trek deeper into the wilderness, following the faint sound of rustling branches. We push through a thicket of tangled vines and emerge into a small clearing. There, bathed in the dim moonlight, stands Byron, his silhouette hunched in the darkness.

"Byron, we've been looking everywhere for you," I call out, my voice tinging with concern.

"Byron?" I call out again, this time softly, my voice breaking the stillness of the night.

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