I laugh, rubbing my nose against hers. “Of course not. The only person I’m interested in is you. Always you.”
Then I cup her face gently, my thumbs brushing over her freezing cheeks. She leans into the touch without hesitation, and it makes my chest ache in the best way.
“Come home with me,” I whisper. “You still haven't seen the place, and that fireplace I keep telling you about could warm you up properly.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “I thought you said you couldn't see me tonight. That's why I came to practice.”
“Yeah, I was supposed to go over some video, but fuck it. I'll get up early and do it instead.”
“I don't want to get in the way.”
“You never get in the way.”
She purses her lips together before pushing them to the side.
“Please.” I’m not averse to begging when it comes to her. “Let me show you my house, at least. I know you don't want to live there. I've got that message loud and clear, but you haven't even come over to see it. Let me spoil you a little tonight.”
A hint of a smile tugs at her lips, and for a second, she tries to fight it as though agreeing with me might be giving too much away.
“Okay,” she says softly.
“Fuck, yes,” I murmur, leaning in and kissing her again, slower this time, savoring it, because this moment? It’s everything I’ve been pushing for.
Honey. In my house. In my bed. It’s everything.
“It’s just here,” Zach says, rolling his truck into the driveway.
“Wow.” I lean forward, peering through the windshield, taking in the sleek, modern home. With black siding, matching shutters, and a perfectly manicured lawn, it looks like it belongs in an architectural magazine.
“This?” I say, pointing at the house. “This Is where you live?”
“All mine,” he replies, pride radiating from his voice.
I scoff.
“What’s wrong?” he asks with a frown. “Don’t you like it?”
“No. No. It’s not that. It’s beautiful.” And so perfectly him. It’sambitious, impressive and a little showy. “It’s just so… flashy.” I pitch my voice playfully and rest my hand on his knee. “It looks like someone rich lives here.”
He raises a brow, feigning offense. “And where exactly did you think I'd live?”
“I don't know.” I shrug, trying to process what I'm seeing. “I guess I thought you'd pick something a little less modern with a big white porch, not thismansion.” I gesture to the imposing building. “My dad would love it.”
He barks out a laugh. “Good. That’ll work in my favor when we tell him we’re getting married.”
I roll my eyes, smacking him on the chest. “Oh, please. No house is going to make my father happy that I went against his wishes even if the whole place looks like it judges you on arrival.”
I’m quiet for a second at the mention of the man I’ve barely spoken to since I started at St. Michael’s last year. Once he realized Zach wasn’t a phase and that I wasn’t interested in getting back together with Jamie, he backed off. As if I’d ever want to marry someone who cheated on me and had a baby with Tiff.
It’s not like I’ve tried to stay in contact with him, either. Frankly, I don’t have anything else to say. How can I continue a relationship with a man who is trying to destroy Zach’s cousin?
Zach sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I know. It gives off villain vibes, doesn't it? There wasn't much choice in Hope unfortunately. I needed something walking distance from the stadium and campus with at least four bedrooms that hasn’t been used as a frat house before. Not to mention I needed one of the bedrooms to be on the opposite side of the house.”
“So you won't be disturbed by Ella?” I ask, knowing the main reason he wanted so many rooms is because he plans on having his cousin Tiff, and her four-year-old daughter Ella, move here.Not sure I can really imagine a kid playing on this lawn, but maybe the back is more kid-friendly.
Zach smirks, leans in close, and cups my cheek before brushing his lips against mine. “No, Honeycomb. So we could make as much noise as we want without disturbingthem.”
Heat floods my face as he places a kiss on my lips. I push him away, whacking him lightly on the chest. “You're impossible.”