Page 67

LUNA

Imight’ve done a good job of acting unaffected by the bitchiness of Zach’s ex, but as we make our way back to his apartment, anxiety swirls in my stomach.

Every part of his life is on full display to the world, and with people like Amie around and knowing who I am, thoughts that I could end up plastered across social media and trolled scare the crap out of me.

“You gonna share what’s going on in that head of yours?”

I turn to Zach in the seat next to me. He’s chewing on his bottom lip anxiously. On reflex, I reach up and pull it from between his teeth and smile at him. “I don’t think any of my thoughts are helpful right now.”

His shoulders slump. “I’m really sorry you had to witness that.” He blows out a humorless laugh. “In fact, I’m kind of embarrassed.”

I frown. “Embarrassed? Why?”

His black dress jacket and bow tie are removed, leaving him in only a long-sleeve white shirt rolled up to his elbows. Hefolds his arms across his chest in a protective manner. “You must think I’m an idiot to get involved or even be attracted to someone like her.”

“I would never think that. I mean, she’s a bitch, yeah, that much is clear. But I would never think badly of or judge you. If I did, I’d be judging half the population. We all get caught up in the wrong people at some point.”

His eyes search mine for just a moment. “Do you think I’m the ‘wrong people?’”

“Zach, why the hell would you ever think that?”

With an air of defeat, he goes to open his mouth, then clamps it shut again, taking a second before he speaks. “I thought when I found out that the baby wasn’t mine, I would be in the clear to shut her out of my life completely. Stupidly I thought I could hit a few buttons on my phone and block her from my life. It turns out, she’ll just turn up and ruin events and insult those who mean the most to me. That’s only one of the humiliating parts of this.”

“What’s the other?”

“People who treat you like shit eventually start to make you feel like that’s what you deserve. It just kind of sits, manifesting in your brain, you know?”

My heart cracks clean down the middle.

I want to rewind the clock to an hour ago, and instead of throwing an insult, I’d like to slap that smirk right off her face.

Reaching across, I cup the side of his face with my palm. “Zach Justin Evans, I want you to know that everything you are feeling is valid. The things she made you feel are valid because you are feeling them. But that doesn’t make them true. You hear me? Because they aren’t. You deserve the absolute best, just as you give to everyone else. Do you think Lucas would agree that you deserve to be treated like shit?”

He shakes his head at me slowly. “No.”

“Do you think Jon would think that?”

“No.”

“Exactly. And I can tell you ten out of ten, I never have and never will think that about you. This is all on her.”

A long stretch of silence passes between us as we ride in the back of the limo, the Seattle night sky and street lighting shining through the panoramic roof above us.

His lips feel warm and soft as I lean across and attempt to kiss those thoughts right out of his mind.

Pulling me into his lap, I sit across him, but I can feel his length pressing into the side of my thigh as he swipes his tongue across my bottom lip, caressing mine with long, languid strokes.

Pulling back, he pins with a look that reaches my soul. “I meant what I said. It’s when and if you’re ready to take the jump, I’ll be here waiting, for as long as it takes. But I don’t think I can spend another night, your last night here, with you sleeping in a different room.” He waggles his eyebrows at me in jest. “I promise no funny business, just me cuddling the shit out of you.”

My shoulders shake with laughter. “Okay, you got yourself a deal, but please, for the love of all that is holy, never waggle your brows at me like that again.”

“Why?”

“Because I think I just discovered the one unsexy thing you do.”

What the helldo I wear to bed? I’ve been standing and looking at the two nightwear options I have laid out in front of me for what feels like hours. The question is do I go with a long oldcollege T-shirt and play it casual or pink sleep shorts and a matching cami?

I’m definitely overthinking. What I wear doesn’t matter because I’m going no further than first base.