Page 65 of A New Chapter

He shrugged. “When I screw up, I bring food.”

Emma gave him a slight smile. “If you bring food every time you screw up, I might get fat!”

Zack’s expression told her that he deserved that comment. “Can we sit down for a few minutes and talk?”

“Sure,” she said and led him into the kitchen. She purposely avoided the living room since it was the scene of the alleged crime. Once they were seated at the kitchen table, she took a long slurp of the shake and then said, “So, talk.”

Zack ran his hands through his messy hair and sighed. “I don’t know why, but it feels like I’m constantly screwing things up, when what I really want is for things to be perfect for you. For us.”

Emma set down the shake and replied, “That’s just it, Zack. I don’t need things to be perfect. Life is messy, but that’s also what makes it interesting. Life doesn’t follow an exact time table, even when we want it to, so why not just let go and enjoy the ride?”

“How’d you get to be so smart?” He reached out for her hand and held it across the kitchen table.

“Lots of books,” she quipped.

Zack gave her hand a squeeze. “I missed you, Em—so, so much.”

“I missed you too,” she admitted.

“I came to the bookstore the other day to apologize, but…”

“You saw me with Mike. I know, and what you saw was a conciliatory hug. I felt bad for him, but he understands that you and I are…”

“Together,” Zack stated firmly.

“Together,” she confirmed right before he pulled her into his arms. There was no mistaking the type of hug that Zack gave her; it was a possessive “you’re mine and don’t you forget it” kind of hug, and Emma ate it up. It was also the kind of hug that made her lady parts stand up and take notice.

After a minute or so, Zack pulled back and looked her directly in the eyes. “Emma, I need you to know something. The other day, when you made a comment about me just wanting sex—you’re wrong. I want you for so much more than that, and…”

Emma put her finger to his lips. “It’s ok, Zack. I think that you’ve apologized enough for one night.” She was just about to lean in and kiss him, but he held her back.

“Let me finish. I’d like to stay with you tonight, but I don’t want to have sex. I just want to hold you—all night long if you’ll let me.”

Emma’s mouth gaped open until Zack lifted up on her lower jaw to close it. “Seriously?” she asked, torn between feeling touched and disappointed.

“Yes. Is that a problem?” He arched an eyebrow at her.

“No. No problem. It’s just that you don’t need to prove anything to me. I spoke out of anger the other day, but I didn’t really mean it. At least, not all of it.”

Zack leaned over and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “Just let me hold you tonight.”

He spoke with such sincerity that Emma realized he truly meant it. “Ok,” she conceded, “But you better not be wearing the Superman boxers.”

“And you better not be wearing your days-of-the-week underwear,” he teased.

“Ha-ha. You wish!”

They climbed into bed together, and Emma snuggled in close to him, laid her head on his chest, and flung a leg over his. Being this close to him made her want to get even closer, but she restrained herself. Instead, she concentrated on the rhythm of his breathing and the warmth of his body next to hers.

“Zack,” she said a few minutes later.

“Um-hmm.”

“Thank you for this.”

“No, Emma. Thank you.”

They stopped talking after that, and even though she didn’t think she’d be able to, Emma fell into a deep, blissful sleep.