Page 17 of Zac

“You really are annoying,” I tell her, wiping away the tears from my cheeks.

“You only say that because I’m telling the truth.” I don’t argue. “I love you, now get your ass inside and relax. Enjoy his company.”

She ends the call and I toss my phone into my bag. Gripping the strap of my bag I start up the sidewalk and just as I reach the front step, the door opens. In the doorway stands Zac, wearing a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. The material fits snug over his strong arms and chest.

Offering me a smile, he opens the door more. “I was wondering how long you were going to stand outside. Had I not been talking to Jace and him informing me that Aurora was currently giving you a pep talk I may have come out and gotten you sooner.”

My cheeks warm. “I wouldn’t call it a pep talk.” He arches his brow. “It was more of a calming my nerves kinda thing.”

“You’re nervous?”

“Yes,” I say without thinking only making myself feel even more foolish. “The last time I was here I blurted out in front of a room full of your friends that I was pregnant. We fought and I left.”

“They are your friends too,” he reminds me and I decide not to press the point that it’s not the same. “We fought, because I was being an ass and you were being stubborn.” He’s not wrong. “But the second you told me you were pregnant, the floor rocked beneath my feet.”

He grips my elbow, leading me inside. Once I am over the threshold he closes the door behind me and I turn around to face him.

“I’ll admit, I was shocked, a little sacred maybe.” I smile, because those were the exact things I felt too when I found out. “But now, knowing you are carrying my child, I wouldn’t change this.” Zac steps forward and places his palm over my stomach. “There is a part of me growing inside you and it’s incredible. Every time I think about it, my heart races. I want this, I’ll be honest I never thought I would, but I’ve never been happier to be wrong.”

His thumb brushes back and forth over my stomach.

“I already love this baby, Presley.”

Right then, staring back at him as he looks down at his hand on my stomach, a large piece of my armor crumbles and falls to the floor, shattering.

ChapterThirteen

Zac

The light from the television flickers in the darkness, ricocheting off of the windows, illuminating Presley’s face, her eyes closed as the sounds of her soft snores fill the space. I turned the volume down long ago, turning my body so that I could see her better.

She barely made it thirty minutes into the movie before passing out. Made me think she was working too hard, when she should be taking it easy. But telling her that would only trigger an unnecessary argument. So instead I make a mental note to keep tabs on things without making it obvious.

I’ll admit I have no idea how to do this with Presley.

Would we be where we are now, doing what we are doing if she hadn’t told me she was pregnant? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t have been something at some point. The more time I spend with her, the more I realize I truly enjoy her company. She is funny, and smart, and behind that snarky attitude is a sweet version of a woman I think truly wants to be loved.

What I do know is I’d really like to get ahold of her ex. The guy sounds like a douche. I mean what kind of man leaves the woman carrying his child alone to fend for herself? And not only that, he walked away from his son, and Grayson, he’s an awesome kid. His dad was missing out.

A small whimper escapes her as she stretches, her arms going up above her head and her T-shirt rising at her waist. A sliver of her stomach shows and my focus falls to the space. Wanting to reach out and touch her, I resist.

Laying there, staring at her, I can imagine a life with her. Yes, there is still so much to learn, and so much to share with her about myself too. But as I watch her sleep, for the first time in a long time, I let all the feelings in. I stop pretending that being alone is okay with me. I stop pretending that I’ve been perfectly happy with the way my life is.

An hour later, the credits of the movie are scrolling down the screen. I stand from the couch. Gathering Presley in my arms, I’m careful not to wake her as I make my way to the stairs.

The smell of her perfume, or maybe it is her body wash, surrounds me with each step. It’s something floral, and it reminds me of all the flowers my mother had when I was young. Lilacs were her favorite and she always had fresh flowers in the windowsills and on the kitchen table. It brings me back to my childhood, and I can’t help burying my nose in Presley’s hair as I continue up the stairs.

My bedroom is completely open to the space below, no walls, no dividers. Just a king- sized bed in the middle of a large open area. I used to tell Jace it was like sleeping on a cloud, above the rest of the living space, and nothing closing me in.

But now, laying here alone in the darkness, it’s lonely.

The warehouse I bought being on the edge of town, it’s lost in the darkness. I used to love the seclusion, loved knowing that I had no neighbors to bother me, no interruptions to keep me up at night.

But a little chaos wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Laughter, the sounds of cartoons in the background, music, and even excessive chatter.

I spend hours at the shop, even when I don’t have appointments, just to be in the presence of those I love. Just to hear the hassling and crazy banter of Dax, Olly, Luna, and Jace. Most days I don’t mind that I end up being the subject of their entertainment. I love the wild days, and when I leave, I instantly miss it.

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