Page 48 of Zachary

He gives me a watery kind of smile, and the peace I saw earlier is back. “I know. This week has made me see a lot of things more clearly.” He seems to realize how tight he’s still holding my hand, because his grip suddenly loosens. “Sorry.”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “No apologies. Yesterday, you were there for me in a way I didn’t know I needed someone to be.” He’s been open and honest with me today, and now it’s my turn. “I’ve been so bitter lately, and I was just letting it happen. Eventhough I knew I had people who would be on my side. You made meseethings. And no matter what ends up happening between us, my hand is always going to be here for you to hold when you need it.”

“Thank you.” He chews on his lip for a moment, and I try not to think about soothing the abused flesh with my tongue. “So… I would like for something to happen between us.”

I grin. “Me too. And like I said, we can go slow. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He said he was sheltered—I have to wonder if that means the elf who raised him kept him isolated. No wonder he struggled to connect with others in the village. “We can just date for a while.”

He swallows. “I, uh. I know I wasn’t very good at it, but I liked kissing you yesterday.”

Without letting go of his hand, I get up and move to the chair beside him. My free hand lifts to cup his face. “Weren’t good at it? It felt like I’d been electrocuted,” I tease. “I liked kissing you too.”

Those must be the magic words, because his nervousness drops away. “Maybe we should do some more kissing,” he suggests. “Practice for me. It would be a huge favor.” His mouth twitches in a tiny smirk. “I’d owe you.”

“Owe me, huh? Could I have payment in cookies?”

An eyebrow shoots up. “Cookies? That’s a pretty steep price. I’m going to need some proof that you’re worth it.” His eyes widen in horror. “That’s not what I meant! Of course you’re worth cookies. I was just… ugh. I was trying to be cute and Ifailed.”

I laugh. “You didn’t fail. You flirted with me, and it worked. I’m totally at your mercy. One sample kiss coming right up.” Before he can protest, I lean in and capture his lips. The bottom one is puffy from being bitten, and he tastes like chocolate and cinnamon and something uniquelyhim, but I barely notice anyof that because of the same electric sensation that struck me yesterday. Twice.

Kissing him is going to be addictive.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Ronan

I’m grinningwhen I open my front door for Zoe that evening. The smile hasn’t left my face all day… except for when my lips were pressed to Zac’s. And that was a lot.

Awholelot.

Most of the day, actually.

Kissing Zac is my favorite thing to do, ever. I haven’t been kissed much before, but it was nothing like when Zac and I kiss.

We kissed in the kitchen. Then the oven timer interrupted us, and after I took the bread out, I dragged him to the living room, where we kissed some more in between me thanking him for the new stand mixer he bought me yesterday.

We kissed over a lunch of sandwiches and muffins.

We kissed while talking about his plans for the ski resort. He’s so excited about it, and I can’t wait to help him make it happen.

We kissed when I confessed that the group chat is actually a “help Ronan make friends” group, and that they finally settled on the weird name of “Ro Ro Ro The Group.” Zac laughed so hard, he choked, then explained that it’s probably a pun on a children’s nursery rhyme about a boat. He sang it to me, and I kissed him again.

In fact, we kissed right up until he had to drag himself away for family dinner, leaving me just enough time to daydream and get ready for Zoe to collect me. The plan we made yesterday was to speak to Damaris as a group after dinner was done, but before her children left the house. Garrett and Zoe were sad that the cousins felt the need to have their parents nearby as witnesses, but I get it. Damaris may have been doing what she genuinely believed is right, but that doesn’t mean she gets to control her family like this. They won’t see that until it’s shoved in their faces.

“Someone’s had a good day,” Zoe says, wiggling her brows. “I wonder why that could be?”

My face gets hot. “Shut up. No, wait—how did you know?”

She laughs. “Ronan, your lips look like a blowfish’s and there are stars in your eyes. If this was a cartoon, there would be little pink hearts circling your head. Either you had a good day with Zac or you and your vacuum cleaner have an unhealthy relationship.”

I snort. “That’s disgusting. Do you want to come in?”

“We don’t have time.” She motions for me to hurry up. “Get a coat if you’re still pretending to need one, and you can tell me everything on the way over there.”

I ignore the jibe about pretending to need a coat and get one. I’m still trying to fit in here. Then I pull the door shut and link my arm with hers. It’s strange to think that we only met properly a week ago, and yet I’m this comfortable with her in my personal space.

“Soooooo?” she asks. “How was it?”

“I’m not giving you details,” I warn, glad that the night helps to hide the flush of color on my face. Not that there are a lot of details. We kissed. And felt each other up a bit—through our clothes.

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