Page 12 of Zac

“You are not rubbing my—” But before I get the chance to finish my sentence, Zac is grabbing one of my feet and rubbing the soles. “Oh wow!” I mumble forgetting all about my need to be independent and pretend I am all good, by myself.

My eyes roll back, and I bite my lip to keep from moaning. His thumb is making circular motions in the center of my foot.

“Feel good?”

“No,” I say with a smile, refusing to admit that it’s better than good.

“Okay, well I will just sit here and keep giving you a shitty foot massage and you can keep hating it.” I nod, and he chuckles.

When he shifts to the top of my feet, then my ankles and eventually my calves, I do nothing to stop him. My entire body slowly relaxes, giving into the exhaustion I have.

Later and I am not even sure how long, I wake in my bed, tucked in with only the light of a night light from the hall illuminating the dark space. Laying in the darkness I feel a single tear roll down my cheek as I accept that maybe not all guys are terrible.

* * *

“Did he buy out the ice cream section?” Aurora says as she stands in front of my now opened freezer looking over the contents inside. “He did well.” She smiles, lifting up one after the other and reading over the flavors.

“So this was you?”

“Oh no, this was me telling him you have a sweet tooth, much like I do and that it has multiplied by pregnancy.” She glances back, still holding one of the small containers in her hand. “He’s been banging his head against the wall, trying to figure out how to be here for you, when you keep fighting him.”

“Because I can take care of myself,” I assure her. “I’ve been doing it for years.”

“And you don’t need to take this on all yourself.” She closes the freezer, grabbing a spoon, and sits down at the table. “Zac is an incredible guy. So maybe the two of you hooked up and it resulted in a pregnancy. I can without a doubt say one thing for certain. Zac is loyal, he’s the kind of guy that sticks. Even if there was no baby, he’s an amazing man to have in your corner. He was there for me when I needed someone the most. He held me up when all I felt like doing was crawling into a hole and disappearing.”

Aurora found herself in some dark times after Luna’s crazy stalker caught them all off guard.

“Let him be here, because yes you can do it on your own, but you shouldn’t have to.”

ChapterNine

Zac

“I’m trying to decide if there should be a keg, or an assortment of alcohol.” Aurora flips through a magazine, bouncing her foot as her leg is crossed over the other.

“Oh margaritas,” Bree blurts out. “Maybe those fruity drinks with umbrellas in them and little pieces of fruit.”

I stare at the two of them and then glance to my left to find Jace watching them with the same confused look I am sure I am offering them.

“And finger foods,” Bree adds, clapping her hands together. “Little sandwiches, and stuff like that.”

“What is happening?” I mumble and Jace chuckles.

“You gave them the freedom to plan this reception.”

“Yeah, I get that, but since when are any of us finger foods and fruity drinks kind of people?” I’m trapped in a girl bubble and I feel like at any minute, I’m gonna start farting glitter.

“Wait a minute,” I say, holding up my hand to stop them knowing I will probably regret it. But I can’t take much more of this frilly shit. “We have enough alcohol to supply a biker bar on a Friday night. If you chicks want fruity shit, whatever, but we aren’t making this a pussy party.”

I know the minute the words leave my mouth I’ve gone too far.

Aurora is up, with her hands on her hips and the magazine is on the floor. Her scowl says it all, and I swear her eyes are fucking glowing red.

“You did it now,” Jace mumbles doing nothing to calm her.

“Help,” I say under my breath and he laughs.

“Screw that dude, you are on your own.” He slouches back, getting comfortable in the cushions like he is about to enjoy his favorite show.

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