19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
ZACK
I ascended the top stair of the private area of the Crescent Moon where Izzy and Logan’s party was being held, and scanned the space, seeking out Mia.
Almost a week had passed since that night at my house with the kittens.
Having her curled up next to me was torture, but also oh so wonderful.
The way she relaxed and softened like a well-loved feline as I played with her hair made me incredibly happy.
It also gave me hope. She talked about avoiding love and relationships, but from where I sat, she was screaming for connection and intimacy.
My gaze landed on her standing in front of a long table filled with food, talking to the manager. Her back was to me, but I could tell the little black dress she wore was going to be my undoing. It dipped so low in the back, I was surprised her ass wasn’t showing.
She turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder, and our eyes locked. The openness there almost knocked me off my feet. For the first time since I’d known her, I didn’t sense the guarded expression she relied on to keep people at a distance.
She turned away too soon, leaving me feeling disappointed, and focused back on her conversation with the manager.
I waited patiently for them to finish talking, and for the manager to excuse herself and head back downstairs, then started toward Mia.
Before I could get more than a foot closer, Nicole stepped up next to her, garnering her attention.
Dammit. I frowned, an odd expression for me, but one I was definitely feeling. I had hoped I would be there before anyone else, desperately wanting a few private moments alone with my Raven. But that plan had now officially gone out the window.
I stepped up behind the girls after a few moments and cleared my throat. “Need help with anything?”
Mia turned slowly to me, and her gaze lowered from my face down my dress shirt and linen blazer before coming back up to meet my eyes. Heat blazed in her irises, and I puffed my chest out a little further, loving that she liked what she was seeing.
Finally, she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Do you have a drink yet?”
“Not yet.” Her teeth pressed seductively into her bottom lip, and I stifled a groan.
“Long Island iced tea?” I asked with a knowing grin, hoping I called it right.
“Yes, please.” The words came out breathy, and I couldn’t stop myself from imagining them on her lips as I drilled into her.
Movement caught my eye, pulling my attention over to Nicole.
I had honestly forgotten she was even there.
Guilt overcame me. I knew she liked me. Sometimes she made it entirely too obvious.
And I really didn’t want to hurt her. She was a nice girl, and she was part of the group of friends Mia spent the most time with.
But she wasn’t the one I wanted more than my next fucking breath. The one I wasn’t allowed to have.
“What can I get you, Nicole?”
She smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “A Coke, please. I have clinicals tomorrow, so no drinking for me tonight.”
I gave her a quick nod and looked back at Mia. “I’ll be right back.”
Her lips turned up into a wry grin. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Don’t be sassy.”
“You know you love it.”
I couldn’t deny it, because I did love her sass. “It’s better than your bite.”
She made a hissing sound, and I laughed, glancing over just as Adam and Lyla appeared at the top of the steps. There were a few others behind them I didn’t recognize. Maybe from Izzy’s job at the hospital? I tipped my chin in their direction and headed over to the small bar set up in one corner.
It was a shame Jay and Sarah couldn’t make it. But Sarah had been having some Braxton-Hicks contractions on and off for the last few days, and with the baby’s due date coming up fast, they decided to stay home and be ready to head to the hospital.
Adam stepped up next to me once I ordered the drinks. “How’d it go?”
“She was talking with the manager and then Nicole, so I haven’t even gotten a moment with her.”
“Patience.” He slapped my back and then stepped up to order his drinks.
It was probably for the best. Nothing good could come of us being alone together. It didn’t stop me from wanting it though.
Drinks in hand, I made my way back, delivering Nicole her Coke first. She was talking with someone I didn’t recognize, and she gave me a smile and a soft thank you.
I found Mia sitting next to Lyla on one of the couches and headed that way.
I handed her the Long Island iced tea and sat in the chair to her right.
“Thank you.” Her voice was low, rich, and slightly sultry. The smile she sent me had my pulse picking up. It was seductive and beautiful, with so much desire it was killing me.
“Of course.”
More people started showing up, crowding into the upstairs space. Seth and Violet grabbed a nearby high-top while Owen and Cece pulled up some chairs, rounding out our little group. We just needed Logan and Izzy. I glanced at my watch. They should be here any minute.
As if I conjured them, they appeared at the top of the steps. Nicole jumped up, squealing in delight and making Izzy smile even bigger. She doted on Izzy, getting her and Logan settled into special chairs in the middle of the space, then dropping funny hats that said Mr. and Mrs. on their heads.
Mia, of course, stayed put, letting Nicole take over.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was okay with that.
She was the one who did most, if not all, of the planning.
As usual, her expression gave away nothing.
It was definitely a talent of hers, masking all those feelings I knew she buried to keep herself safe.
I pulled out my phone and shot her a text.
Her phone vibrated on the table and she bent forward, revealing a nice glimpse of her cleavage in that killer black dress.
Just like the back, it was cut low in the front, and I curled my hands into fists to keep me from reaching for where it tied around her neck.
Me: You okay with Nicole taking the lead when you did all the planning?
Raven: Totally. I see it as teamwork. I’m better with the behind-the-scenes stuff and she’s better with…well, this crap.
I smiled. The funny thing was, I could hear the exact way she would say this crap.
Me: You mean the fun part of hosting an event?
Raven: Fun for you maybe.
Me: You look beautiful tonight by the way.
Raven: Thank you. But if you don’t stop staring at me like that you’re going to make everyone think we’re fucking.
Me: Dance with me later?
Raven: That’s a bad idea.
Me: Maybe.
Raven: I love bad ideas.
Me: I know you do, Trouble.
Raven: Didn’t you name one of the kittens that?
Me: Yep. The black one. She reminds me of you.
Me: *video of Trouble dumping the water bowl over with her paw*
“Is that Billy?” Lyla asked as she leaned closer to Mia, trying to read her screen.
Mia sat the phone down in her lap and looked at Lyla with furrowed brows. “Who?”
I choked back a laugh. I even remembered the douche canoe the sexy purple dress was for. But I wanted to punch my fist into the air knowing he was no longer even a blimp on Mia’s radar.
Lyla stared at her with concern. “The guy you were seeing?”
“Oh.” Mia shook her head. “No. I never went back out with that guy.”
“Really?” Lyla nodded to Mia’s lap. “So then who were you all smiles about just now?”
Mia glanced at me, hesitation in her eyes. “That was just Zack sending me one of his crazy kitten videos. The little black one likes to cause mischief.” Her lips twitched as she said the last word.
Lyla’s eyes widened as she glanced back and forth between Mia and me. Her expression morphed from surprised to curious. “What are you guys… friends now or something?”
“Yeah.” She smiled at me. “We’re friends.”
Or something was more accurate, but I kept that tidbit to myself.
“I knew Adam was way off base,” Lyla said with an almost relieved tone.
I stiffened and gripped my drink tighter, unsure where she was going with this and hoping it wasn’t going to cause issues. My gaze darted around our group, just now realizing Adam had gotten up and walked over to the food table.
“With what?” Mia tilted her head, looking back at Lyla.
“He thinks you two actually like each other and want to be together, but are worried if things go south it would be uncomfortable since we’re all friends. He was encouraging me to tell you I was okay with it. But I told him there was no way you’re into Zack like that. He’s so not your type.”
She did realize I was sitting right here and could hear her, right?
I sensed more than saw Mia’s body language go rigid. “He’s not?” she asked.
Lyla glanced at me apologetically. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. But like, you two are so different. Zack’s so fun and carefree.” She looked back at Mia. “And you always go for the more grumpy, broody type. Ones who are more like you.”
I couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of my mouth. “Mia’s fun and carefree too, she just hides it well because she’s learned it’s safer to be closed off with people.”
I cursed under my breath as Mia turned her I’m gonna punch you glare on me. Fuck. I wanted to punch myself in the face for blurting it out like that. But I couldn’t really regret it, because it was the truth. She was scared to truly let someone in.
Feeling the shift in the air as Mia continued to stare at me like she hoped I would spontaneously combust, I held up my glass and stood. “Going to get another one,” I said, forcing a smile, and turned toward the bar.
But once I was across the space and glancing back at them, I found myself dying to know what was being said now. They looked deep in conversation. I could only hope it was about what a great idea opposites attract was, and not how bad we would be together.
I grabbed my new drink and went over to grab a plate of food, stepping up beside Adam.
“You were trying to get Lyla to give Mia the okay to…what exactly?”