It hits me that he said our truck. “You think of the other truck as ours?”
Zach starts the engine and turns with a sly grin. “Of course I do. It was where a lot of memories were made. I can still look at the passenger seat and picture you doing your summer strip down after I made the winning homerun.”
There are some memories I guess we’ll never forget. “I was young.”
“You were naked.”
“I had my bra and underwear on!”
Zach drives down the road with the biggest smile. “Pres, you had white panties on that might as well have been off. And you took your bra off if I remember correctly.”
I shift in my seat as he taps the steering wheel. “You aren’t wrong, babe. You took my bra off.”
Remember that, buddy.
We were always experiencing this high force of sexual tension as kids. I didn’t want to wait too long, but I was terrified once we had sex, he’d leave. Zach was always going somewhere and maybe I knew we wouldn’t last.
“I remember. You squirmed in that seat. You kept lifting your hair, letting the wind blow it around. I also remember that was the first time I realized why road head is a dangerous act.”
“Zach!” Heat burns my cheeks. “I can’t believe you said that.”
He shrugs unapologetically. “It was a good day.”
“Where are we going?”
His fingers tangle with mine. “We’re having a date.”
“But everything is closed, it’s already ten.” I peek at my watch. “And I’m not ready.”
I hate myself for saying that last part. I wish I would get over my issues. Zach has been damn near perfect. Today reminded me of that. The way he was with the boys, the race, and then how both of them rooted for him.
“I know, baby. This is a date for us. Trust me.”
I squeeze his hand. “I do. I’m sorry. I don’t mean that I’m not ready. I think I’m just really scared.”
“Relax.”
He turns onto a piece of land that the Henningtons own. It has a pond about two miles in where we used to swim as kids. Trent would freak me out with this stories of the blood-sucking leeches that would kill me. It took me a good year of watching Wyatt and Zach not die before I’d go in. Trent lived for tormenting me—he was damn good at it too.
“The pond?” I ask.
Zach doesn’t answer, he focuses on the road. The moon is bright tonight, and as we stop in front of the pond, the reflection is breathtaking.
“Zach,” I whisper. All around the lake are lanterns with candles casting the most beautiful glow. There’s a gazebo tent with chairs and a screen around it. I continue to scan the area as my heart swells. “It’s perfect.”
Zach gently takes my hand. “Come on.” His voice rings with pride. He drags me in front of the truck with the lights shining on us. “Dance with me.”
I don’t say a word. Instead, I wrap my arms around him and let all my fear fade away. The music from the cab plays around us, but I couldn’t tell you the song. I feel the music. I feel his pulse beneath my hands, but mostly I feel us. We’re the music of this moment. He’s the beat that I’m dancing to. And our music is a beautiful symphony.
“You’re like this dream I keep waiting to wake up from,” he croons in my ear.
My eyes meet his. “I know what you mean.”
“I thought you were gone forever.” His thumb brushes against my face. “I never thought I would touch you again.”
I smile softly, leaning my head in his hand. “I didn’t either.” We weren’t supposed to be this anymore. I learned to love with part of myself missing. It wasn’t easy, but I was doing fine. Never did I expect my reality to become this.
He lifts me slightly so I have to look in his eyes. “I’m not happy about the how, but I am happy that it’s this way. I missed you, Pres. You’re my heart.”
And I melt. “You’re making it hard to resist you, Zachary.”
Zach dips down and kisses me with everything. My fingers grip his hair, holding him to me. Our lips move with passion and fervor. I want him to feel how much he means to me. How much this means to me. Dancing under the stars with nothing but the headlights and lanterns shining on us. I hate how much he knows me. He planned the most perfect non-date date.
His hands frame my face as he tears his lips from mine. “I need to stop.”
I want to urge him to keep going. Every cell in my body is saying tonight is the night. We’ve danced around this, and he asked me to feel. I want to feel him. All of him.
But I don’t. Instead, I step back.
“Sorry.” He comes closer. “Sometimes I have to remember we’re not there yet.”
“I want you, Zach.” The words come out before I have a chance to catch them.
His eyes widen. “I’m not trying to push you.”
I never thought he was. There was a hope that tonight would be that, but I’m shocked I’ve been able to keep myself from jumping him. I know what I feel. I want to be with him.