‘She was bossy, strong-willed, had absolutely no filter whatsoever. She can still be bloody brutal. But she’s also the most kind-hearted, loyal, fun-loving person I’ve ever met.’
‘Thanks Dyl. That’s definitely enough chat about me now.’
‘But I haven’t told Zach about our first house party. Remember? You drained all the alcopops, puked in your dad’s wellies and …’
‘NOT TODAY, SATAN.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Dylan holds his hands up. ‘Actually, I might leave you lovebirds to it. The woman from earlier has messaged.’
I get up to give him a hug and watch as he and Zach give each other a frosty hand shake. We say our goodbyes and I ask Zach if he fancies one for the road.
‘I actually have to be up early for work tomorrow. I’ve just taken on a new portrait commission and the client is coming for their first sitting in the morning …’
‘Oh … no worries,’ I say.
Zach finishes his drink and fixes his eyes on me. ‘But perhaps I could walk you home first?’
As we walk through the empty streets, Zach hesitantly brushes my hand and I entwine my fingers in his. Normally I’d have batted the offer of being walked home away because been I’m strong, independent and perfectly capable of getting to places on my own. But I got the impression that Zach wasn’t doing it out of any misplaced chivalry, or a means to an end, he just wanted to spend more time with just me, and I liked that.
‘We’re here,’ I say, reaching into my bag to find my keys.
‘Unmistakably Alice’s house,’ Zach says, looking up at my rented terrace.
‘Why do you say that?’
‘It’s picture perfect … like you.’ He looks at the cherry blossom growing in the little patch of earth out front, the hanging baskets either side of my front door, and the little picket fence around the tiny front garden.
‘I know it’s kind of twee but I love it. I painted the fence in rainbow colours because …’ I trail off. We’re so close now that I’ve completely lost the thread of what I was saying. Zach’s started circling his index finger around my palm. As I move closer still I can smell fabric softener mixed with citrus fruits on his skin. I can feel the tips of his fingers retrace their steps from earlier, swirling around the patch of skin at the base of my back. Now they’re walking up my spine and I hear his breath quickening. There are no interruptions now. No buses pulling up. No best friends with impeccably bad timing.
Just me and Zach.
I have never been the type to think you should wait for a guy to kiss you first. If I want something, I’ll go for it.
And right now IwantZach.
I press myself against his body and tip my head up to his, my eyes trained on his full lips. Pushing up onto tiptoes, my whole body tingles as finally, finally, my lips find his. We kiss softly at first as if we’re learning a new language together, before the kiss becomes more urgent, more passionate.
I pause, breathless.
Zach leans back, a smile curling at his lips.
‘That was so good,’ Zach says gruffly. He runs a hand through my hair, his fingers finding my earrings. ‘I think we need to do it again. Just … um, to make sure it wasn’t a first time fluke.’
‘Excellent idea,’ I murmur, folding myself back into him.
In this moment, I forget about sparks being potential fire hazards, letting them ignite through my body as I feel myself being drawn into his orbit. As far as first kisses go, I already know that this will never be bettered.
Dog Walk
Zach
Wellthatwas worth the wait. There’s been a definite spring in my step ever since Alice and I kissed and I suspect people are starting to notice. This morning the barista at my regular coffee haunt even commented on how “chipper” I seemed as she handed over my flat white and I found myself muttering something about the good weather before making a sharp exit.
Iamchipper, though. I’d liked to have been the one to get in there first, so to speak, but there was something incredibly sexy about Alice initiating that kiss. I was busy panicking that I still wasn’t sure how she felt when she decided to take matters into her own hands.
‘What’s up with you?’ Raff says, pulling me in off the street.
‘That’s no way to great your one and only brother,’ I laugh.
