Page 43 of Zac

She closes her eyes as if she’s not sure how to accept my words.

“Now that you two aren’t there, it feels emptier than it’s ever felt.”

“We invaded your space.” She smiles but I can tell it’s forced.

“Not invading, consuming,” I correct her. “And nothing has ever felt better. You two made it feel like home for the first time. It was always missing something that I couldn’t put my finger on. Now I can.” I cup her face in my hands. “It was missing a family.”

I press my lips to hers and she surprises me, instead of fighting me, she accepts me.

ChapterThirty

Presley

“You do understand that I will screw this up a dozen times.” I roll over and face Zac who is curled up behind me. We’d spent more than an hour sitting in my car talking before going inside and getting Grayson.

He’s now safely tucked into bed, inside his fort and Zac and I are curled up on his oversized couch. I showered and am currently wearing one of his Deranged Ink shirts. My hair is still damp and he toys with the ends, watching me.

“I’m sure I will too, baby. This is new for me too, but I’m not willing to give it up.” I smile at his words. I know he’s not like my father or Grant, but years of having shitty guys in my life made an ugly dent. Every time Zac says anything sweet, my first instinct is to run, the heavy doubt creeps up in my stomach and I’m forced to shake it off.

This is Zac.

“I want this too,” I confess, dragging my fingertip over his jaw. “I won’t deny that it scares me, but I’m pushing past it.”

“Good,” he says right before his lips press to mine. “We’re gonna talk about your place tomorrow.”

“What about my place?”

“Tomorrow,” he pushes, closing his eyes like he’s going to fall asleep.

“What about my place?” I repeat and see the corner of his mouth tip up in a grin.

“There’s my stubborn girl.” He chuckles softly, not wanting to wake Gray I’m sure. The both of us had been whispering to one another, keeping our conversation for only the two of us. “When is your lease up?”

Instantly my stomach tenses, and without being able to control it, my nostrils flare.

“Frankly I don’t care if it’s next month or ten months from now, you’re not going back there.”

“Zac.”

“Don’t Zac me, Pres.” He reaches out curling his arm round me. I’m sure it’s because he thinks I’m about to bolt. Truth is I’m too tired to move, both mentally and physically. I can have this debate right here, with my eyes closed if it comes to that.

“I won’t let Grant run me out of my home.”

“Is it?” Zac asks, confusing me. “A home,” he clarifies. “Because to me a home is a place you feel safe in. It’s the one place you look forward to being, with those you love. This,” he looks around, then back to me, “it could be your home, and Grayson’s. He loves it here, and I love having him here.”

My heart races.

“I want you both here.” Again he runs his fingers through the ends of my hair. “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. I didn’t know this place was missing anything until I had you both here with me. Now every time I come back and you two aren’t here it feels empty.”

“Until we’ve taken over and there are toys everywhere, with cartoons on repeat every hour of the day. Until Gray has one of his fits and he screams like someone is killing him slowly. You love it now, but I can promise you you’ll hate it then.”

“No.” He smiles, cuddling in closer. “Impossible, my best bud doesn’t scream.”

“Oh, he screams,” I assure him with a matching smile. “Earsplitting screams.”

Kissing me, I accept it, allowing myself to get a little lost in his comfort. I sort of love how he holds me and kisses me, it’s when I feel the safest. Zac gives me that, security, and I’m still battling with that. Like when he is holding me nothing else can touch me and I fear I’d be lost without it, I never want it to be taken away.

“I want it all, even the terrible times.”

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