Page 72 of The Hearts We Fumble
His arm lifts, forearm pressing against the wall above my head, his body angled toward mine like a shield, like he’s blocking out the rest of the world.
“No?” he prompts when I don’t answer right away.
I clear my throat. “I was gonna ride with Tatum,” I explain. “We both have to work tonight at Sweet Tooth, so I figured I’d just go with her. Save you the hassle of coming back to pick me up.”
Zane’s fingers curl under my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “Save me the hassle?”
“You know what I mean,” I murmur, feeling small beneath his intense stare.
“No, actually, I don’t,” he counters. “You’ll have to explain that one to me.”
I exhale. “I just figured you had other things to do after class. And since Tatum and I are already going to the same place, it made sense.”
His eyes darken, and his jaw ticks. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Decide for me. Put words in my mouth.” His voice drops lower, rougher. “There’s never a single second spent with you that’s wasted for me.”
My heart stutters in my chest. Before I can recover, he leans in, brushing his lips over mine.
It’s barely a kiss, but it still manages to send a rush of heat through my veins, leaving me weak in the knees. My hands find his waist on instinct, holding on to him like I might float away.
His lips skim over my cheek and the corner of my jaw before stopping just below my ear.
“I don’t give a shit if everyone saw me kiss you,” he murmurs. “In fact, I hope they did.”
I swallow hard, tilting my head back to meet his eyes.
He’s not just saying it. He means every word.
“I’ll be here after class,” he continues, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. “You can ride with Tate if you want, but I still want to see you before you head to work. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. Okay?”
I nod, my voice failing me.
His gaze flicks between my eyes, reading every silent thought running through my head. “I’ve watched my dad learn the hard way about keeping his personal life private.” He exhales. “Make no mistake, Wy—I’ll never let my feelings for you be a secret again. You understand?”
My chest tightens. I nod again, but he shakes his head.
“I want to hear you say it.”
I grip the front of his shirt, wetting my lips before whispering, “I understand. Our relationship is private but not a secret.”
A slow, satisfied smirk tugs at his lips, but before he can respond, the bell rings, signaling the last minute before class starts.
“Shit,” I mutter. “I’m gonna be late.”
His hand drags down my side before he steps back, swatting my ass playfully. “I’m not worried about it,” he says, grinning. “Worth every second.”
Chapter Seventeen
Zane
Every night this week, after class or practice, I’ve come home to find Wyatt waiting for me.
It’s become a routine I didn’t realize I’d gotten so attached to until tonight when I walked in and the house was empty. The silence settled over me like a weight, making it all too obvious what was missing.
Her.
