Page 25 of Honey Sunshine

What’s the worst that could happen? That’s the question I asked myself when I decided to take a blind shot at Zach. Talk about a coincidence—developing the biggest feelings you could ever have in only eight days for the person you saved because you overheard him sending a rather desperate call for help, only to find out shortly afterward that the same person you decided to save also happens to be the head of a small advertising firm you were considering investing in.

It reminds me of a cheesy, low-budget rom-com, adapted from a one-hit-wonder romance novel initially published online by a one-hit, wannabe-bestselling author. I know this because my older sister happens to be an author of such romances, written when she was a teenager.

To this day, I still tease Becky, who absolutely cringes that she even wrote them—mainly because everyone knew it was a self-insert between her and Justin Bieber.

Is this my karma? Is the world getting back at me for all those times I laughed in her face, by placing me in a situation where I’m hopelessly falling for a guy I barely know yet feel I’ve known forever? The paradox of it all leaves me perplexed.

There’s no way he feels the same. Hell, He’s probably just going along with it so I don’t reject his proposal. Perhaps I should have gone about this differently. I would absolutely hate myself if it turns out I put unnecessary pressure on Zach to agree to my plan. But then, I see no way the situation could have played out any better. I would still have gone after him regardless.

I leave Mom’s message on read as I key Zach’s address into the GPS. I hope he won’t be too overwhelmed by my parents, sister, her husband, and my niece.

Making my way out, the drive isn’t too bad, and I’m glad I left fifteen minutes early to account for any slowdowns on the highway. Like investing, being prepared for unexpected obstacles can save you time and frustration, and leaving room for flexibility can help you navigate uncertainties.

I find him waiting for me out the front of his apartment complex. He’s wearing a black turtleneck tucked inside dark navy slacks, and the faint redness on his face tells me he has to be somewhat cold.

I don’t miss the way the light catches on his finger, the faint glint of gold reflecting back at me. He’s wearing the ring.

I know we planned this, but damn, it hits me like a punch to the gut, though there’s nothing painful about it. It’s more like a flood of heat, pride, and something possessive curling in my chest. My thumb instinctively rubs over my own ring as a thought flickers at the back of my mind, undeniable and sharp.

Mine.

He starts to walk toward the car and I get out to meet him. As I get closer, a smile creeps onto his face and his eyes light up.

My chest tightens, stealing the breath from my lungs as my eyes remain trained on him—entranced. Heat creeps up my face when I realize how hard I’m staring.

Yeah, he’s definitely wormed his way into my heart somehow.

“You didn’t need to wait outside.”

“I know.” He grins and sniffles, and I can’t help taking off my cardigan and draping it over him. It’s practically two sizes too big, wrapping around him like a cocoon, and something about seeing him in it, acknowledging the size difference between us, sends a signal straight to my cock. Thankfully, he doesn’t catch on as he pouts. “It’s notthatcold, and your car is right there.”

“Uh-huh,” I remark, completely deadpan and stoic.

“Plus, I haven’t been out here long, really! I just thought, knowing you, you’d rather be early than late, so coming down five minutes early was actually the right call, am I right?” he questions a bit too smugly, like a child.

“You know me too well,” I admit with a smile. Too damn well for someone you’ve barely known a week.

“Duh, we’ve been talking practically every day,” he laughs.

We head to the car, and I don’t miss how he slips his arms into my cardigan either.

“Ready?” I ask, holding the door for him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,Sunshine,” he chirps, and dammit, I’m smitten by that goofy smile.

He slides into his seat and I reach over to strap him in.

I don’t miss how his breath hitches at our close proximity, but I don’t dare get my hopes up. Not when he’s only agreed to this because he understands my situation with my folks.

“There’s no way you’re going to call me that in front of my parents,” I declare when I return to the driver’s side. He whips his head toward me, and I press my lips together so as not to laugh, already imagining the look on his face.

“But you’re allowed to call me Honey?”

“What’s wrong with Honey?” I ask, looking over at him after flicking my signal and pulling onto the street.

“What’s wrong with Sunshine,Sunshine?” he throws back. I don’t think there’s a single moment I’ve been bored, with the satirical statements he throws out as easily as breathing. “Or wait, should I call you my knight in shining armor?”

I’m fighting a smile and losing horribly. “Anything you want, my prince.”

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