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“Home?” I ask, a smile tugging at my lips because I really love the sound of that word and what it means when she says it.
She smiles up at me. “Yes, home, our home.”
We swing by her parents’ place to grab her bag and fill them in on what happened at the station. Max has gone home, so when we’re back in the car, Zoey calls him to fill him in as well. I can’t hear his side of the conversation, but it at least sounds friendly and peaceful.
When she eventually hangs up, she turns to me and says, “Do you mind if we swing past my condo first. I want to grab some stuff.”
“Of course,” I reply, indicating to turn into town. Even though Zoey has spoken briefly with Delaney on the phone, I’m sure she’s itching to see her too.
“Maybe we can get the rest of my things this weekend?” she adds, smiling as she rests her hand on my thigh.
I pick it up, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “And officially move you in?”
“Well, I’m officially moving in now, aren’t I?” she says, her fingers brushing against the stubble on my cheek.
Smiling, I kiss her hand again before lowering it back to my thigh, resting mine over the top of it. “Honestly Zoey, I think you’ve been officially moved in since the first night you stayed over,” I say, glancing over at her.
She smiles across at me. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
I haven’t even switched off the ignition when the front door to Zoey’s condo opens and Delaney comes barreling down the path to the car, pulling Zoey into a hug the second she’s out of her seat.
“Oh my god, I was so fucking scared, I can’t believe this happened to you,” she cries, rocking her from side to side.
Zoey laughs, but I can see the shine of tears in her eyes, and I know she’s still overwhelmed by this whole thing too. “I know, but I’m okay, Del,” she says, squeezing her friend.
I move toward them, my hand on Zoey’s back as I urge them toward the front door where Alex stands. I’m still not keen on Zoey being anywhere outside where people can see her, especially knowing this asshole who took her is still out there.
We make our way inside, Delaney still clinging to Zoey. As the door shuts behind us, I watch as Alex walks over and wraps his arms around both of them, squeezing them tight as he lets out a teasing growl, making us all laugh.
“Ethan,” he says, looking over at me. “Bring it in, man,” he adds, tipping his head as he holds an arm out, encouraging me to join them. I walk over, laughing as Alex now tries to wrap me in the bear hug, Zoey somehow trapped in the middle.
“Okay, okay,” she eventually says, laughing. “You can let me go now.”
Alex drops a kiss on the top of her head before he releases us. My arm is still around Zoey’s shoulders, and I curl her into me, holding her close.
Delaney smiles at us, clapping her hands together as she says, “Okay, can I just say, as shitty as the last few days have been, this,” she pauses to wave a hand at us, “is so freaking cute. And yes, I totally called it too.”
Zoey lets out a loud laugh. “What, how exactly did you call this?”
“Um, do you not remember the day you told me I needed to go home and get laid? I’m pretty sure that was in response to me suggesting how you and Ethan should hook up and become the Badger Creek power couple.”
I burst out laughing at this as Alex says, “Wait what? Zoey suggested you needed to get laid?”
“Babe,” Delaney says, holding a finger up as if to shush him. “You’re missing the point of the conversation here.”
“Bullshit,” Alex scoffs, grabbing that finger and pulling her into his arms. “And not only do you neverneedto get laid,” he says, air quoting the word need. “Because for the record, I know I give it to you plenty. But I’m pretty sure I also told Zoey she should hook up with Ethan.”
“Oh my god,” Zoey mutters, covering her face in her hands as I let out another laugh, wondering if these two are just teasing or if maybe mine and Zoey’s attraction to each other really was that obvious, right from the start.
“Well, if we’re setting the record straight here,” I finally say. “Technically when you two got yourselves stuck in that avalanche, that’s when I really fell for Zoey.”
Zoey drops her hands, turning to me with a surprised look on her face. “You did?”
Smiling, I lean down and kiss her. “Uh huh,” I confirm. “I was so fucking obsessed with you, even back then, I just didn’t want to admit it.”
“Ohhhh,” Delaney coos. “This is soooo romantic and sweet.”
Alex scoffs again, kissing the top of his girlfriend’s head. “Please, like our story isn’t totally romantic. I literally saved your life, babe and then you saved mine.”
