Page 44 of Love, Just In

If Zac doesn’t really care who I date, why would he need a warning shot about that?

CHAPTER 15

Six years ago

Zac gazes at the email on my phone with a grin of pride to rival my parents’. ‘Jose, this is fucking amazing.’

‘Shucks, thanks. It’s just an internet news channel.’

He slides the phone back to me. ‘It’s a reporting job based in Sydney. It’samazing. I wish someone would hire me before I even graduate,’ he adds, sliding a forkful of puttanesca pasta into his mouth.

‘You’ll have no trouble. Employers everywhere worship at the altar of Zac Jameson. Plus, paramedics are always in demand.’

‘Yeah, but not necessarily in the area I want.’

‘Which is where?’ I twirl my fork in my pasta.

He pauses. ‘The inner west.’

‘Really?’ I cover my mouth with the back of my hand while my chewing slows. ‘You don’t want to go back to the north side?’

He makes a face. ‘Too quiet. Plus, Tara has her heart set on Glebe, so …’

I freeze, taking a moment to process the bombshell Zac just shoehorned into this conversation. ‘You guys are moving in together?’ I say, staring at his slightly darkening cheeks. While Tara has been his longest relationship by far, moving in together feelshuge.

‘Yeah,’ he replies, his lips tugging up at the corners. ‘Tara suggested it, and it makes sense. We’re both moving back to Sydney; we both need a place.’

I try to focus on the chuffed blush surrounding Zac’s smile instead of the ungracious thumping in my chest. I’m not jealous of this new arrangement—Zac and Tara are adorable together, and she’s become a really good friend of mine too. It’s more that I can’t help but feel a little … overlooked? After all, Zac and I have been spectacular housemates for nearly three years.

Josie, Zac and Tara are acouple. You’re the third wheel now.

Zac tugs the neck of his T-shirt, the rouge-coloured fabric printed with the words ‘I Look Good In Green’.

‘What’s going on in that head of yours, sunbeam?’ he asks.

‘Nothing. I guess maybe I’ll miss this place.’

He baulks, then leans forward with a confused smile. ‘Have you lost your mind? I can’t wait to get out of this shithole and live somewhere where the door’s not conspiring to trap us inside and the floor’s not so slanted that I always feel half-plastered.’

My laugh is a little forced. ‘I guess you’re right.’

As we silently finish our pasta, the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach persists, but I refuse to acknowledge it. This is happy news for Zac, so I’m determined to love it too.

When he sets down his fork across his plate, I get up out of my chair. Zac’s hazel eyes track me and widen a touch when I approach his seat and bend to wrap my arms around his upper back. He catches the space between my shoulder blades with his palm.

‘I’m really happy for you both,’ I say. When I pull back, his cheeks have tinted pink.

‘Thank you,’ he replies softly, his warm hand slowly gliding down and off me. ‘Where do you think you’ll live when you head back to Sydney?’

‘Not sure. The east side would be closest to my new job, so probably around there if I can afford it.’

Smiling, I ruffle his curls, then scoop up our empty plates and carry them into the kitchen so he can’t see the feeling of loss crawling into my heart and creasing my face.

CHAPTER 16

Today

In last night’s long and playful text exchange with Lindsay he didn’t seem to take issue with Zac and Meghan joining our fair outing. But when Zac and I approach him outside the ticket window on Saturday morning, Lindsay tosses a look at Zac that says something like,Thanks for screwing up my date, asshole.They shake hands so tightly that I’m surprised one doesn’t lose an arm.

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