Chapter 6 Zander #2
Her cheeks flare to a neon red as she bites her lower lip and winces.
“As tempting as that was, I felt like it was way too stalkerish, so I wouldn’t let Olivia show me, even when she offered.
I instead stuck to only public stalking…
like your football practices and scanning any public venue I was ever in. ”
My laughter comes out soft and husky. She’s adorable.
“So, are we going the right way? To Chesterfield?”
Hitching my shoulder, I glance at her. “Well, we’re going a way. A pretty long way, but…” Pausing at the lights, I turn and smile at her. “I don’t mind so much.”
Her teeth skim over her bottom lip as she grins at me.
So damn beautiful.
“Tell me something about yourself,” I murmur. “Anything.”
“Anything?” She tips her head, fighting a smile as she narrows her eyes in thought. “Um… well… I love spicy food.”
“What kind of spicy?”
“Thai spicy. I spent six months living in Thailand when I was seven, and I really loved the food.”
“You lived in Thailand?” My voice pitches. I’ve never even left the States.
“I’ve lived all over.” Her smile grows, and there goes the rest of my night, driving the streets of Everett, listening to Sienna’s travel stories and picturing her in places all over the world.
She’s seen so much, experienced so many cultures. I sit there feeling out of my depth, like how can I ever be enough for this girl?
But when we finally pull up outside her house, she runs her hand down my arm.
“To be honest, though, I really love being in the States. Traveling is fun, it really is, but after a while, you just want somewhere to call home, you know?” Her expression crumples.
“I mean, my family is my home, but I’m talking about a house that’s yours.
There’s something very comforting about having my own room that I can decorate.
I used to sometimes wish we lived in just one place so I could carve my initials into a tree trunk or chart my height in a doorway, you know? ”
“I’ve done both those things,” I rasp. “It is pretty cool, but man… you’ve seen so much. That’s epic.”
Her blushing smile makes my chest warm.
“You’re epic,” she whispers. “Meeting you is epic.”
I shake my head with an abashed smile. She can’t go comparing me to the Eiffel Tower or Colosseum. No way am I as cool as Angkor Wat.
“It’s true. Being here, starting this school…
it’s been the best year so far. And you’re a big part of that.
I didn’t want to move to Everett, but then we got here, and I saw you…
and I was suddenly cool with it. If anything, I was practically forcing my parents to sign some kind of declaration stating that we wouldn’t be moving again until after I graduate.
” Her cheeks flush, and she covers them with shaking fingers.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I just said all that.
I’m not even drunk and I can’t hold my tongue. ”
“I don’t want you to hold your tongue. I like your honesty.”
Her perfect nose wrinkles. “It’s just so forward, and… and what if you don’t feel the same way! I mean, I admitted before that I totally stalked you! How creepy is that? And now I’ve just confessed to my major uber-crush, and talk about pressure on you, and—”
“I do.”
“What?”
“I feel the same way.” I smile at her, resisting the urge to cup her cheek or run my thumb over her lower lip. “You can’t tell by the fact that I’m always finding excuses to walk past you and smile at you any chance I get?”
She swivels in her seat to face me. “So, why haven’t you asked me out already?”
“Because, I—” My eyes bulge, ice running through my veins as a man walks out of Sienna’s front door. “Oh shit, is that your dad?”
Sienna glances over her shoulder. “Yes.” Then she turns back to me with a quizzical frown. “Now, what were you saying?”
I squirm in my seat, waiting for the man to start yelling at me, demanding to know what the hell I’m doing with his daughter. I prep for the shouting, reminding myself to remain calm and assure him that my intentions are pure. I’d never do anything to disrespect his baby girl.
“Zander, are you okay?” Sienna gives me a worried frown, then turns when there’s a tap on the glass. Lowering her window with a grin, she greets her father with an innocent smile while I break out in a cold sweat. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, Blue. You guys okay out here?” Her old man crouches down. Shit, he’s huge. Big, broad shoulders, and he’s taller than my dad and me. I mean, I could take him if I had to, but—
“Yeah, we’re just getting to know each other. This is Zander.” Sienna leans back so her father can get a decent look at me.
“Hi there.” He smiles, extending his hand toward me. “I’m Albin, but people just call me Al.” He laughs. “You know, like the song.”
I force a smile, taking his hand and wondering when he’s going to start yelling at me. “Good evening, sir. We were honestly just talking.”
“I know.” He nods. “We’ve been watching you from inside the house. We were just worried you might be getting cold out here. You guys want to come in for a hot chocolate or something? It’s nice and warm by the fireplace. And we can leave you alone to chat if you want.”
What is happening right now?
I stare at him, not sure what I’m supposed to say.
The few times my sister ever had a guy drop her off at our place, my dad raged at him, yelling him away from the house in a torrent of threats and abuse.
Monica would get so pissed off. And the argument would continue into the house, Mom trying to break it up while I stood at the edge of the room trying to blend into the wallpaper.
“That’s uh…” I clear my throat. “Thanks for the offer, sir, but I should probably be getting home soon.”
“Okay, no problem.” His smile is just like Sienna’s—broad and friendly. “Just know you’re welcome anytime. And please, call me Al.” He lets out a soft chuckle and stands, strolling back into the house singing “Call Me Al” by that dude Paul something, loud enough for us to hear.
“My gosh.” Sienna giggles, shaking her head. “He’s so embarrassing.”
But it’s obvious how much she adores him.
Wow.
Who are these people?
This girl is…
I stare at her in wonder, my mouth going dry when she smiles and says again, “So… back to our conversation. Why haven’t you asked me out already?”