Page 50 of In Love and War

“Amelia.”

I let out a frustrated half lungful of angry air through my nose, which made him bring a hand up to his mouth and rub at it to hide his failing attempt at suppressing a laugh.

“I hate you,” I said as I watched him break.

“Good,” he responded.

“So, you’re not going to give it back?” I was cursing myself for having forgotten it in the first place. I definitely,definitelydid not want Zac in possession of a piece of my lingerie.

“How can I give back something I don’t have?”

“A panty thief, Zac? Is that really what you want to be known for? Even I had higher expectations of you.”

New strategy—shame him into surrendering it.

“It’s almost as bad as being known for leaving your underwear behind in your boss’s hotel room after begging him to let you come, wouldn’t you say?”

Well, fuck.

I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks while I stayed silent, glaring at him, and the room was suddenly charged with a whole lot of… tension.

His expression sobered up to a more serious one, and he shifted on his feet.

“Tell you what, since you’re so adamant, you can come look for it yourself.”

“Fine,” I responded without thinking.

“Great, I’ll see you at six.”

And then he left.

It wasa quarter to six when I ran out of things to keep me occupied. I was pretty much organized and packed up for my flight back to Toronto tomorrow, I’d changed into a silk cami and jeans, nervous checked myself in the mirror fifteen times, and was now all but staring at the clock, debating whether I was actually going to show up or come up with an excuse.

Some might also say that I was spiraling.

5:46 p.m.

This is a terrible idea, why did I agree to go?

5:47 p.m.

I really,really, want his face in between my thighs again.

5:48 p.m.

I’ve lost my fucking mind. All of this is going to end up blowing up in my face.

5:49 p.m.

I still can’t believe he thought he hurt me. Also, why did he care?

5:50 p.m.

Maybe he didn’t care that much and I’m just reading into it.

5:51 p.m.

He really seemed like he cared though. And he was sweet about it…