by Allie Able
Twenty minutes later, I'm back across the street and sitting at a table while Lexie and Jenna close up.
“What do y'all have planned tonight,” Jenna asks me, while cleaning the display case.
I shrug my shoulders and look over at Lexie. She is counting down the register and not paying any attention to our conversation.
“Dinner at Brock's Seafood probably. It's up to Lexie, but I'm sure that's what she'll pick.”
She looks at me and smiles, as she drops her voice to a whisper. “Are you finally going to tell her?” she asks.
My head snaps towards Lexie and then back to Jenna. “What?”
“Don't play dumb with me. I've only been in this town for about a year and even I can see how much you love that girl. So, tell her already because she is obviously blind.”
I rub my hand roughly across my jaw, as I contemplate her words. I mean I wasn't exactly hiding my feelings all of these years, I just never came right out and said it. It makes me wonder how Lexie never saw it. Is she choosing not to or is she really that blind?
“Maybe,” I say, trying to avoid this conversation. I like Jenna and she seems like a really sweet girl, but I need to talk to Lexie, before I talk to anyone else about us.
“Alright, I'm ready. You done Jenna?” Lexie asks, as she makes her way towards my table.
“Yep. Let's go.” Jenna grabs her purse off of the counter.
I stand up and walk towards the door, holding it open for both of them to walk through. Jenna looks up at me as she passes. “Good Luck.”
I'm probably going to need it.
The girls say goodbye to each other and Jenna walks to her car, giving us a wave over her shoulder.
“Want to just ride with me and we can pick up your car later?” I ask.
She nods her head and I put my hand on her lower back, as I lead her over to my truck opening the passenger door and helping her up.
I look over at Lexie as I climb in and notice how tired she looks. She has her head laid back against the headrest and her eyes are shut.
“Hey,” I say quietly to get her attention.
Her eyes flutter open and she rolls her head over, so they she is looking at me. “Hey,” she replies with a soft smile.
That smile takes my breath away and it takes me a second to remember what I was going to say. “We don't have to go to dinner if you don't want to. Would you rather do it another night instead?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, I would rather eat with you than eat alone, but I am really tired. Do you mind if we eat at your house or mine?”
“Sounds good. You still want to ride with me or do you want to bring your car?” I ask.
“I'll ride with you. We can get my car sometime later.”
I nod my head and crank my truck. “Mind if I stop and pick up Lady on the way to your house? She’ll probably enjoy playing with Duke.”
“You know I don't mind,” she responds with another soft smile.
Shit.
I have to stop looking over at her or I'm going to wreck the damn truck.
* * *
We walk into Lexie's house and Duke comes bounding towards the front door. Lexie gives him some attention before letting them both outside into the large fenced-in back yard.
“Let them run off some energy,” she says as she walks back towards the refrigerator.
“Beer or wine?” she asks.
“Beer for me, please.”
She hands me my drink before uncorking the red wine and pouring herself a large glass.
“Busy day?” I ask, walking towards her.
“Yeah. With Summer on her honeymoon, it's just me and Jenna.”
I walk up behind her and set my beer down on the counter. I place my hands on her shoulders and rub. I dig my hands into the tight muscles, trying to get her to relax. She moans and drops her head forward.
“Oh, that feels good.”
I keep going until I finally feel her start to loosen up.
“Better?” I ask, as I drop my hands away from her and pick up my drink.
She nods her head and turns around to look up at me.
“Yes. Thank you.”
She boosts herself up on the counter and swings her legs back and forth.
“Dinner?” I ask.
“I'll make pasta, if you will talk,” she responds.
“What do you want me to talk about?” I ask.
“Why you wouldn't have sex with me last night and what in the hell we are doing here,” she says bluntly, motioning between us.
Well, shit. I guess this is going to happen sooner rather than later.
Chapter Seven
Lexie
I WATCH AS ZACK RUNS his hand along his scruffy jaw. He does this when he's nervous, but why is he nervous to talk to me? We've always shared everything with each other. Why do I get the feeling that's not true now?
“Alright, you start on the pasta. I'm going to fix your door and then we'll talk,” he finally says, after a long moment of silence.
“Fix my door?” I ask, raising an eyebrow in question.
He takes a drink of his beer and nods his head. “You need more locks.”
“What? I need more locks?”
“Just let me do this. Please?”
Whatever. If putting more locks on my door is what he wants to do, that's fine. My dad has been on me about that since I moved in over a year ago anyway.
“Whatever you need to do,” I say dismissively, waving a hand in the direction of my front door. I jump down off of the counter and start getting everything I will need for the pasta out of the cabinet and I hear him sigh before he walks away.
I'm not mad. I'm frustrated that he just won't talk to me. I know he can feel my frustrations, but all he has to do is freaking talk. I start filling the pot up with water when I hear him come back into the kitchen. I watch him as he lays a paper bag down on the counter and walks towards me.
His hand covers mine and he turns the water off, before picking me up off of the ground. I squeal and hold on to his shoulders, as he carries me towards the living room.
“What are you doing?” I ask in shock.
He sits down on the couch and places me in his lap. He pulls me close to his body and wraps an arm around my waist, while his other hand moves the hair off of my face.
“The locks can wait. I don't like it when you're mad at me, Angel,” he says with a serious expression.
I squeeze his shoulder and shake my head. “I'm not mad about the locks. I'm frustrated because you won't talk to me.”
He stares into my eyes for a second, before taking a deep breath. “I'm not sure how this is going to go and I don't want to screw us up,” he whispers.
He sounds so vulnerable. I've never heard him like this before and I don't like it—I don't like that I've made him feel this way.
“Just trust me,” I respond.
“Oh, Angel, I do. I trust you more than anyone in the world.”
I continue to stare at him. I'm not going to make him open up to me. That's his decision.
Finally, after what feels like hours, he opens his mouth and begins to talk.
“I love you, Lexie,” he says quietly.
“I love you too, Zack,” I respond. It's true, I love him. It's not the first time I've told him that.
“No,” he shakes his head. “Listen to me. I'm in love with you, Lexie.”
Wait, what? I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out, so I snap it closed.
He studies my face and nods his head. “Yeah. I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember and I still fall for you more every day.”
“But you've dated other women. Why have you never told me how you felt?” I ask on a shocked whisper.
“Do you see how badly you're freaking out right now? Imagine me just telling you this out of the blue. I may have taken other woman on dates Lexie, but think back. Have I ever had an actual relationship? I can promise you that there hasn't been a day t
hat I ever stopped wanting you and you haven't gotten out of my head at all since I first met you.”
“I'm not freaking out,” I protest, but I am. How have I never noticed that he treated me differently? I thought we were just really close friends. God, I feel stupid.
“You are,” he replies.
“Zack, we were ten when we met. It has been almost twenty years.”
He gives a solemn nod and watches my face closely.
Shit. I'm going to cry. I never cry, but right now I'm going to cry. He must see it coming because he cups the back of my head and lowers it to his shoulder. I bury my face in his neck and let a few silent tears fall.
“Angel, please don't cry. I didn't tell you I love you to hear you say it back. I just needed you to know,” he whispers into my ear.
“You never said anything. Why didn't you tell me? You are my best friend.”
“And that is the exact reason. I don’t want to lose you. I didn't know if you could or did feel the same way. I couldn't risk not having you in my life, even if it was just in a friendly way.”
I kiss the side of his neck softly and breathe in his scent. I can feel his heart pounding under my hand where it is resting on his chest. I lift my head and look at him.
“So, what changed now?” I ask.
He reaches up and wipes my tears. “Like you pointed out, it's been almost twenty years. I figured it was time. If you don't feel the same way that's fine, but one way or another, I have to move on, Lexie. I can't keep living my life like this. I've wanted to tell you for so long, but it was never the right time.”
I stare into his beautiful eyes. He looks so nervous. I know telling me this is hard. I take a minute to really think about how I want to respond. There isn't a reset button in life. You can't take anything back, and you can't undo anything. All of your actions have consequences, and the things I say or do right now will have a lasting impact on my life. Either way, my friendship with Zack is going to change. I think back on all of the years we've known each other. How did I never see how he really felt?
I run my hand up his chest and rest it on the side of his neck. I touch him so easily. Nothing has ever been forced with us. I decide right then to stop thinking so much, and just go where my heart takes me. My heart choses Zack and I think it has for a while now. I just never knew that it was an option.
“Okay,” I whisper.
His eyes widen in shock for a second before closing in relief. He pulls me closer to him and kisses my neck. He pulls back and opens his eyes, staring into mine. “Okay?” he asks.
Instead of answering him, I lean forward and lay my lips against his. He quickly takes over, his hand moving into my hair and holding me against his mouth. My lips part on a sigh and he slips his tongue inside as he tilts my head and takes the kiss deeper. Our mouths move together in sync, his tongue meeting mine stroke for stroke, and I can feel his hardness growing under me, my own wetness between my legs. He breaks away from my mouth and kisses down my neck.
“Do you really want this, Angel? Do you really want a relationship with me?” he asks. His voice comes out raspy and I can hear the need in his questions. Zack not only wants me, he needs me, and I need him just as badly. How long have I been pushing away my feelings for him, without even knowing I was doing it?
When I don't answer him, he pulls his head back and studies my face. “I will never force you to be with me, Lexie. I want to spend my life with you, but if you don't feel the same way, I will respect that.”
I give his shoulder a squeeze and shake my head. “I was just wondering how long I have felt the same way and never realized it. You aren't forcing me into anything. I am coming willingly. Take me to bed, Zack.”
His eyes flare with heat, before he picks me up and carries me towards my bedroom. He gently lays me down, but instead of joining me, he continues to stare down at my body. I sit up and lift my shirt over my head, tossing it towards the corner of my room. Sitting up on my knees, I face Zack as I start to unbutton my shorts.
“Stop,” he says, his voice sounding pained. My eyes snap to his in disbelief. Is he really stopping me right now? I tilt my head to the side in confusion. “Zack?”
I'm sitting on my bed, in a bra and shorts, ready to take this to the next step, but he's stopping me. Something about that doesn't make any damn sense. His hands were down my panties last night and he stopped us then too. I reach for him and slide my hands to his sides, holding on tight.
He looks even more nervous than he did in the living room. I have never in my life seen Zack this vulnerable and It’s freaking me out.
“Zack?” I question, again.
He sighs and shakes his head. “I thought this would be easier to say,” he mumbles.
I raise an eyebrow in question and he smirks, shaking his head again.
“Lie down.”
I continue to look up at him in confusion, but I do ask he asks. Lying back against my pillows, I watch as he removes his socks and shoes. He pulls his t-shirt over his head, before tossing it on the floor and his blue jeans follow, leaving him in only a pair of boxer briefs. I let my eyes slide down his toned chest, down to his washboard abs. Zack is more lean than he is built. He has a surfer’s body. I’ve seen him without a shirt on so many times, but right now all I want to do is follow each dip and curve with my mouth. He climbs onto the bed and up between my spread legs and rests his big body of top of me, his elbows planted on each side of my head. I wrap my legs around his waist and rest my feet on the back of his calves as he stares down at me for a moment, pushing my hair off of my face and tracing his finger down my cheek.
“Hi,” he whispers, with a smile. The dimple on his cheek winks at me and I can't help but smile back. He feels so good on top of me. This doesn't feel forced or awkward. It just feels right.
“Hi.”
I can feel his hardness between my legs and I lift my hands to his sides and run them over the smooth skin on his back. His muscles tighten under my touch and I feel myself grow wetter in response.
“Angel, I've never been with another woman,” he whispers.
I chuckle and shake my head. “What?” I ask, examining his face.
He looks happy, but still a little nervous. I wish he wouldn't feel so nervous with me.
“I have never been with a woman,” he repeats.
My eyes grow wide as I stare into his. I can see the truth behind his words. “What?” I ask, my voice barely audible, but he hears me.
“I have kissed women and I have fooled around a little, but I have never had sex with a woman,” he clarifies.
I am shocked to say the least. “How is that even possible? Look at you!”
He grins. “Do you like the way I look?” he teases.
“I'm being serious, Zack. How is that even possible?”
His expression grows serious.
He bends his head and runs his nose up the side of mine, his mouth gently kissing my cheek before he pulls back to look into my eyes again. “They weren't you, Angel. I knew what I wanted.”
Oh my God. This man. God, I love this man. I feel my eyes starting to burn with unshed tears. I don't even know what to say to that, so I say this first thing I think of. “Make love to me, Zack,” I whisper.
Chapter Eight
Zack
FIVE LITTLE WORDS THAt I never thought I would hear come out of Lexie’s mouth. I bend my head and take her mouth in a deep kiss. Part of me can’t believe this is actually happening right now, but a bigger part of me is too damn happy to question it. I slide my hands into her soft hair and tighten my hold, tilting her head to the side. She moans into my mouth and lifts her hips up, pushing herself into my hardness. I can’t help but grind into the heat that I can feel coming through her shorts. God, she feels so fucking good underneath me. I pull back and she makes a sound of protest deep in her throat.
“Shhh, Angel,” I whisper.
My shaking hands move underneath her and unclasp her bra. Slowly, I pull the straps down h
er arms, feeling her soft skin pebble with goosebumps. Her steady gaze never leaves my face as I reveal her perfect breasts.
Tossing her bra onto the floor, I take a second just to stare at her. Her pink nipples are pulled into tight buds and my mouth waters to taste her. I move my hand up her belly and cup her in my hand. Her breast feels heavy as I squeeze it in my palm and run my thumb over her nipple as she moans in response.
“Zack,” she whispers. Her voice sounds needy and it’s something I’ve never heard from Lexie before. My dick jumps in my boxers and I mentally tell myself to calm the fuck down.
“Fuck, Lexie. You are so damn beautiful, baby.” I bend my head and kiss a path from her neck to her breasts. Running my nose across her nipple before taking in into my mouth, I gently flick it with my tongue. Lexie’s hands move into my hair and she grips tightly, holding me to her, as she moans beneath me. After giving the other side the same treatment, I slide down, kissing her belly and biting at her hipbones. I unbutton her shorts, as I look up at her. She is staring down at me with lust filled eyes and I look back down, as I unzip her shorts. She lifts her hips and I slide them down her tanned legs. Flinging them to the side, I stare down at her and she squirms under my gaze.
I lift my eyes back to hers.
“I love you,” I whisper.
I lift her leg off of the bed, kissing a path from her slim ankle to her thigh. I can smell her and it’s the most intoxicating scent I’ve ever smelled. When I reach a spot on the inside of her leg, she moans long and loud.
“Do you like that?” I ask, before biting down on the sensitive skin. Her hips raise off of the bed and she moans my name. I set her leg back down beside me, before running a finger down her panty covered pussy. She’s so wet that its coating the fabric of her tiny pink thong. I move the material to the side and teasingly run a finger through her folds.
