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Zach casts his eyes over my body, and it's then I realize I’m still wearing my not so beach-appropriate black work pants and white blouse.

I feel my face flush with heat. “Oh no, not tonight. Sometimes I come down here to unwind after school. Nice way to round off a week.”

And sometimes I come down here to see you.

He eyes me and smiles. His full lips are addictive, and his straight white teeth shine in the sunlight. It’s hard to tell where the ocean ends and his eyes begin, since on a bright day, like today, they both shine the same color.I’m not sure if I was staring, but I forcibly look to the ground, just in case I was.

“I’ve just finished my run, but how about I make us something to eat? I’m sure I owe you food after that breakfast drop off.”

I look back up and meet his gaze, and I can tell he genuinely wants to spend time with me. “Yeah, why not. And you can show me around your place!”

We fall into line as I try desperately not to show my physical reaction when he swings an arm around my shoulder and leads me in the direction of his beach house. “You know you’re all sweaty, right?” I prod at his tattooed arm.

Zach low chuckles and glances down at me. “Call it payback for wrinkling up my new shirt and shorts when you wrapped yourself around me the other week.”

Maybe I should feel a hint of embarrassment at the reminder of the way I dived right for him, but I don’t. Instead, I feel butterflies that he actually remembered.

“I think I can make a frittata,”Zach says from his position at the fridge. He has his head inside, looking at what’s available.

I laugh. “I guess these days you have a private chef.”

He turns back to the counter, his arms loaded with various ingredients. “Yeah, well that and Jon. At this point, I could just pay him instead; he stocks my freezer weekly.”

I set my juice down on the coffee table in front of me and kick off my work shoes. “You guys are still pretty close, huh?”

He nods. “Very. He’s my brother. We’ve had our moments, but we’re close. When you’re on the road sharing hotel rooms or at practice practically twenty-four seven, it brings people together.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I reply, drawing out the guess because I can’t relate to that. Neither the friendship thing nor the traveling. I’ve been on vacation to Europe, but mostly with my mom.

“Dammit, what goes in the base again?” Zach says from his position at the counter as he scrolls through his phone, clearly looking for instructions.

I can’t help but burst out laughing as I make my way over to him and take his phone. “Come here, you big dope. It’s not that difficult. You’ve been spoiled in this luxury lifestyle of yours.” Inudge my shoulder into his side. I’m that small in comparison. He towers over me, and I kind of like it. A lot.

“And you’re still just as bratty as ever,” he retorts, grabbing several vegetables and a pan ready to begin sautéing.

“You do know frittatas are for breakfast, right?”

“I do. But since they’re the only ingredients I have, and the only thing IthoughtI could make, sticking to frittata rules isn’t exactly an option.”

I look up at him and quirk an amused brow. “Thoughtbeing the operative word.”

He shakes his head and laughs. “I’ll make you wear this fucking frittata in a minute.”

If that involves putting those tattooed hands on me, then be my guest.

Zach continues chopping vegetables with a blunt knife, but the way he seems determined to finish what he started is seriously endearing. The way he checks and fights people on the ice, you’d never believe he was such a softy off it.

A few struggling minutes later, we finally reach a point where the frittata is ready to be plated.

“Do you like cooking?” he asks from across the island, “Because this isn’t half bad, and I never had you pinned as a chef.” He takes another mouthful, humming in appreciation.

“It was fifty percent of your work, but I guess I’m not bad. It doesn’t really interest me though.”

His lips twist to the side slightly. “So, it’s still space and how we get there?”

I take another sip of juice and smile around the rim of my glass.He does remember.

“Yeah, mostly the constellations right now, but astrodynamics still fascinates me. I watched the latest Falcon Heavy launch just before you arrived here.” I arch a brow. “Those side boosters get me every time.”