16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
ZACK
I itched to close the space between us and pull Mia into my arms. Claim her as mine in front of all of our friends.
But I had to respect her wishes. That was why I’d forced myself to walk away from her in the laser tag area.
Although, so far, I was an asshole who was doing a shit job of staying away from her to begin with.
Why did I find it so fucking hard? She seemed to have this magnetic pull on me.
I cursed my impulsiveness when I had to take my time coming out of the game, needing to give myself an extra minute to get myself situated.
I didn’t think sporting a hard-on around a bunch of kids would go over well.
If this was a couple of years ago, I would’ve had no issue with pursuing a casual sexual relationship with Mia.
But now, I wasn’t so sure. I think, deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be enough.
Glancing around at all the couples and kids, it just cemented what I wanted.
And I could admit I would want that with Mia.
My gaze stopped on Owen and Cece with their two-year-old daughter, Grace.
I remembered when Owen first started at the firehouse.
We were all a bunch of single guys. Then he was the first domino to fall.
I chuckled under my breath, thinking back on how he knocked up the chief’s daughter and the craziness that followed.
My gaze moved back to Mia, and my body immediately came alive, my fingers aching to touch her. It wasn’t just about the fact that I wanted more than a casual temporary thing with any woman at this point. I knew without a shadow of a doubt it was her that I wanted more with.
I went to take a step toward her, and Adam’s hand darted out. “Let her come to you, man.”
I stiffened. Could I do that? Because so far I hadn’t had any luck.
“I know it’s hard. But give her the chance to realize she actually wants to be with you.”
Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I was afraid that left to her own devices—and whatever thoughts were causing her to continually push back and push me away—she wouldn’t ever come to that realization.
But maybe Adam was right. I needed to rein it in and keep my distance until she showed me she was on the same page I was. Otherwise, I was just another cocky asshole who thought I could change her.
I crossed my arms over my chest and pulled my gaze away, but it didn’t take long before it sought her out once again. I could spend hours watching her. Her beauty. The way she moved. The sound of her voice, her laugh. Everything about her constantly pulled me in.
It wasn’t just a physical attraction, either.
It was the strength she exuded. Her quiet observation of everyone around her.
The way she jumped in to help anyone who needed it, including the kids.
Kids she didn’t even know. Her kindness and patience with them gave me the impression she would be an amazing mother…
if she ever allowed herself to embrace that kind of future.
And was I just setting myself up for heartbreak by hoping if she did, it would be with me?