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“Zach.”
“Laura.”
Iraised an eyebrow, waiting to see if this was one of the many jokes Ihad fallen for.
“It’smy attempt at apologizing for disappearing on you.” His lips curved to the side, palms held in front of him facing up. “Please, let me? Imean anight at anice place is the least Ican do.”
Idecided to lower down the cool-Laura mask I’dbeen wearing, and get something off my chest too. “You have nothing to apologize for. In all honesty, Iwasn’tsure you’dcome back, Imean Iwanted you to, but—”
“Why wouldn’tIcome back?” he interjected.
“After this shit with my parents and then showing up at your work, Iwouldn’thave blamed you.”
“Excuse me, wasn’tit obvious that Iliked you showing up at my work?”
Isighed, laughed, and shook my head all at once, expressing awide range of emotions and not giving afuck that Idid. No more masks. “Please let me finish.”
“Sorry.”
“It’slike, you get me. You get my long hours, my family, when to be there for me and when to take astep back. And Ilike this thing we have, this thing we set out as friendship from day one.” Iscrunched my lips, hoping to get to him. “Either one of us has the right to be gone for amonth, for ayear, or vanish, and that’sokay. Iwasn’tmad.”
He examined me and said nothing. It made me uncomfortable and so Irambled on, “I’mglad you’re back though.”
He scratched his head and looked outside the window for afew minutes. When he looked back, his eyes threatened to swallow me whole. The temperature in the room increased under his scrutiny and adrop of sweat slid from my nape down my back.
My lips were parched and my mouth went dry when he closed his long fingers around my neck, gliding them up my jaw, spreading the massage oil on my cheeks. The almond scent carried to my nose, while my other senses focused on Zach entirely.
As if hypnotized, Igravitated to him.
“Idon’twant us to be like that.” He touched his forehead to mine.
“L—like what?” Ididn’tknow which was worse, to leave my eyes hanging on his lips or to raise them and see the honesty I’dbeen fearing.
“Like we can run off on each other.”
“Ican’tgive you anything more.” Icovered his hand with mine, trying to pull him away from me again, to get some air. What Ireally, truly wanted was to smack myself over the head and give all the things to him.
“I’mnot asking you to.”
Iquit fighting when he wouldn’tbudge, and left my hand on top of his. “What are you asking then?”
“I’masking you to accept my apology. To accept my promise that I’ll make more of an effort.”
Effort for what? This wasn’tsome random bit. He was telling me something and Irefused to listen. Through the heavy lump in my throat, Idared to finally meet his gaze.
Honest, raw, pleading.
“I’masking you to do the same.”
When Inodded, Zach brought his lips to mine, inhaling me in.
When Imoaned, his tongue found mine, caressing it gently.
But when Iflexed my fingers on his hands, that was when he gave in and really kissed me.
We moved to the bed together, the loose knots of our robes releasing. They hung open, exposing two glistening bodies. Istroked his bare chest, making out every etched muscle from his shoulders down to his briefs.
Running my fingers over his body after amonth felt foreign and exciting and I’dbeen itching for him to do the same. Iled his hands to my shoulders, allowing me to guide him down to my collarbone and to my breasts.
