Page 38 of Written in the Stars

I shrug, looking away. “Nothing… just curious.”

“Uh-huh… what are you beating around the bush about?” She crosses her arms across her chest and raises an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” I repeat with a blank expression. I hope she doesn’t see right through me, but if there is anything I’m sure of, it’s that Lissa knows me better than I probably even know myself.

She sits up in her seat on the couch, turns to her left to face me, and brings her legs up to sit cross-legged. “Nothing? Yeah, right. So, you mean to tell me you and Zander weren’t just texting back and forth for the last twenty minutes or so? I know something’s up and you’re probably trying to see him. Don’t even try to tell me otherwise, li’l sis.”

I open my mouth, about to deny it, but quickly go against it, knowing there is no hiding anything from my sister. She knows I like Zander a lot, but she doesn’t know it has developed into more than just an innocent crush.

I’m falling in love with him. Hard. Does that make me crazy or irrational? It’s only been a few months, and I was previously engaged to someone else, ready to get married. Now everything has changed, and I’m having really strong feelings for Zander. Is it possible? Am I crazy?

Noticing she’s still waiting for me to respond, I simply shrug my shoulders, offering her a nervous smile.

“Ren, it’s the middle of April… How much decorating do you think people do after Easter has already passed? Of course, it’s not busy, and yes, you are more than welcome to take a day off, if that’s what you’re asking. You technically don’t even work there.” She chuckles.

“I know,” I say, jumping in my seat, relief lifting off my chest. “I just feel bad leaving you alone to do everything.” I frown.

“Seriously, Ren, it’s not that big of a deal. Enjoy yourself. And tell Zander I said hello,” she adds with a wink. She turns back around, facing her attention to the movie she’s watching.

I immediately pick up my cell phone and text Zander back.

Serenity: I’m all good for tomorrow. I’ll be seeing you first thing in the morning.

Zander: I can’t wait… it can’t come soon enough ;)

Serenity: I agree. Good night, love <3

Zander: Good night, beautiful.

* * *

The following morning, I’m up bright and early preparing to head on over to Zander’s place so we can spend the whole day together. I have no idea what he wants to do besides cuddle with me, but I’m so anxious and excited about it; the butterflies are fluttering rampant in my stomach since we set the date last night. I couldn’t even fall asleep for a long time.

“Hello, beautiful,” he says, opening his front door and welcoming me in. He places a soft kiss upon my lips, and I make my way inside.

“Were you waiting long for me? I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting such a herd of cars before seven in the morning.” I throw my purse onto his couch, then turn to face him.

I’m pleasantly surprised to see him standing so close behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He places a light kiss on my neck and takes a deep breath, inhaling my floral scent.

“No worries. You smell heavenly, by the way.” He places his chin on my left shoulder.

I let him continue holding me, loving the feel of his arms wrapped around me. I don’t want to move. I can stay in his embrace around me all day long, but I have a feeling he has something else planned.

“So what did you have in mind for today?” I ask after a couple of moments more. I can just about die with how sweet and kind he is to me. He makes me feel like a princess; something I wasn’t used to, but it feels so damn good. When Walt and I first started dating, he was nice and did small things for me, like pulling out my chair and holding the door open for me, but after a while, it all died. I wonder if that’s normal or if that was him falling out of love with me.

Things with Zander are already so different, and I absolutely love it.

“I was just thinking we could watch movies, eat comfort food, and not have a care in the world. I want to cuddle with you in bed and not worry about a single thing. I just want to enjoy your company. I can’t picture a better way of spending my day off than basically doing absolutely nothing with such an amazing woman by my side.”

If there are ever the right words to melt a woman’s heart, it’s be the ones he’s just spoken. At least, that’s how he makes me feel. It also doesn’t hurt that he looks completely and utterly delectable.

His perfectly trimmed beard and dark chestnut-colored eyes make me want to stare into his gorgeous face all day long. His bulging muscles are noticeable even through his white T-shirt, making me want to run my hands up and down his chest, as I have done so many times before.

I reach up onto my tippy toes and place a sweet kiss on his full lips. “That would be perfect.”

And just like a groom sweeping his bride off her feet, he lifts me off my own in one swift movement, and my arms automatically wrap around his neck.

A soft but sudden gasp escapes from my lips as he carries me out of the living room and into his bedroom.

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