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“You always taste like strawberries,” Zie murmurs against my lips before kissing them again.

“Sorry.” I giggle softly.

“Don’t be. I fucking love it. I love kissing you.”

My heart leaps at his words and I can’t fight the goofy smile on my face.

“Shut up and kiss me again, then,” I demand.

“Yes, boss.” He winks and salutes me, so I lightly punch him on the arm.

He doesn’t seem inclined to actually listen to me, so I take matters into my own hands, hooking my leg over his hip and rolling so that I’m lying on top of him. I don’t care that we’re on my bed and my mum could be home any minute, kissing Zie is an addiction I don’t want to get help for. He grins up at me like our whole make out session just got a lot more exciting, and I have to admit, it did. I don’t usually take control like this, preferring to let him call the shots. I guess it’s because I still can’t believe my luck that he actually likes me.

Today though, I’m thinking what the hell. I want more, and if he’s not going to give it, I’ll damn well take it. With a playful grin, I lean down and lightly bite his bottom lip, causing him to groan. I can feel his arousal pressing up between our bodies, but it’s like an elephant in the room that neither of us wants to acknowledge.

I’m not ready for that. Not sure I’ll ever be, not with Zie. Or the others. But the thought of doing it with anyone else makes my skin crawl too.

I push those confusing thoughts aside and concentrate on kissing, enjoying the feel of him beneath me, savouring the taste of him, cherishing every noise he makes.

“Damn I can’t believe you’re leaving soon,” I complain when we eventually come up for air. I never knew I could survive so long without it, but simple things like breathing seem irrelevant when Zie’s around.

“I know,” Zie groans. “I hate that we wasted so many years. Why’d you keep refusing to kiss me like that? We could have been so good together.”

“Zie, it’s only been a few weeks and you’re already terrible at keeping secrets. Even Kaiden suspects there’s something going on and you know how unobservant he is!” I shake my head in exasperation. We have to be so careful. Our friendship is so delicately balanced. With the boys leaving to go to university in a few weeks and with me still having two years to complete, things are tense. I’m sure it’s because none of us want to face the very real goodbye that’s imminent. We care too much. But now with this secret thing between me and Zie, saying goodbye will be harder than ever.