Chapter 56 Zeke
fifty-six
Zeke
May
When I was little, my mom told me that someday, I’d find a love that would consume me. I always thought she was just saying that because that’s what every mom tells you. That someday you’ll meet the right person, and that will be it.
Little did I know she was telling the truth. I just never thought it was going to be because of her.
That she was going to put the right person in my life at the right time because I was going to lose her. I pushed everyone away for years because I didn’t think they’d understand. I thought they’d run.
But not Avalon.
I tried pushing her away. I showed her my worst. But she didn’t leave.
She came back and stood by me as I said my final goodbye to the most important person in my life.
My mom knew I’d need someone to help get me through this, and she knew after meeting Avalon, after learning I had shared things with her I never thought I’d share with anyone… that I found that person.
And that she could go.
“What are you thinking about?” Avalon looks up at me, her fingers dancing circles around my bare chest. There’s a sparkle in her eye. The same sparkle I see whenever we’re together.
“How lucky I am.” I lean down and press my lips to hers. It’s short, but it’s perfect.
“That makes two of us,” she responds, biting the top of my shoulder before crawling over me and out of bed.
I admire her naked body as she walks over to my dresser and pulls out one of my Rockford hockey shirts. She pulls it over her head, and it falls perfectly over her curves, landing roughly halfway down her thighs.
I know she’s going to steal it, but I don’t care. They all look better on her, anyway.
I pull myself out of bed and drag on a pair of boxers before meeting her at the dresser. I watch her smile in the mirror as I reach her from behind, wrapping my arms low around her waist and kissing her neck.
I feel the chills travel down her body as she blushes.
“You’re in a good mood this morning,” she continues as I pull her hair out from underneath the shirt she’s wearing.
“I woke up next to you,” I run my hands down her arms and squeeze her hands, “that’s always cause for a good morning.”
“Who would’ve thought that Zeke Harris was such a sap.”
“Only for you,” I whisper against her skin.
She turns around, throwing her arms around my neck and pushing up on her tiptoes to kiss me. I deepen the kiss, lifting her up onto my dresser. My hands slide up her thighs, slipping under her shirt, but she pushes me back.
“Don’t get me started.” Avalon laughs. “I’m meeting the girls in half an hour.”
“You could always just skip it,” I suggest. “Spend the rest of the day in bed with me.”
“I would, but we already promised Brinley we’d go to Home Depot with her.”
“Home Depot?” My forehead wrinkles.
“Yeah, she needs to find a replacement for—”
“The door,” I cut her off.
“The door.” Avalon pokes my stomach. “She’s still pissed at Declan and Jax for not fixing the door that caused her black eye.”
“I don’t blame her,” I respond. “If it’s any consolation, Declan feels horrible for hitting her with the door.”
“He also made her miss her biggest exam before finals,” she continues. “We’re lucky the professor believed her story about being locked in the bathroom due to a jammed door.”
“Yeah, if I was her professor, I’d call bullshit.”
“We’re also going to talk about Brinley’s mom and Jay,” Avalon continues. “I guess they looked awfully chummy after your mom’s funeral.”
“Mrs. Sanderson and Jay?” She nods. “Looks like my mom’s still bringing people together, even in death.”
“I guess so.”
She pats my chest, telling me to move, and she jumps off the dresser.
“Move in with me.” I walk up behind her, running my hands down her hips. She turns around to face me, her eyes full of surprise. “For the summer.” I clarify. “It’ll be a good test run.”
“You want me to stay here?” Her hands travel up and down my arms.
“The house gets kind of quiet during the summer. Everyone’s off doing their own things until we come back for training. Declan’s gonna be away with Ember for a couple of weeks. And Jaxon usually goes home for a bit to see his mom.”
“Okay, so two of the guys will barely be here, but—”
“Brooks spends most of his time at Liv’s anyway; I doubt he’d even know you were always here. And Jere loves having you around because you’re the only person who understands all his nonsense.”
“I don’t know.” Her hands stop moving. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
“I’ll go ask Fletcher right now. I heard him come in like an hour ago. And then when the other guys get home, I’ll ask them, but I’m telling you, no one will care.” I kiss her forehead and make my way to Fletcher’s room.
Without even thinking, I swing the door open.
“Hey, Fletch, is it o—” I freeze when I see the bareback of a very naked woman, who’s sitting on Fletcher’s lap.
The guys have walked in on me having sex plenty of times, and now I finally understand what they mean when they say it’s totally awkward. I want to turn around and run the other way, but I’m frozen.
The girl stops moving on his lap, and his head peaks out from around her. Eyes wide, mouth open.
“Sorry man, I had no idea,” I back up, “don’t let me stop you.”
I laugh as I start to shut the door, but then I see it. In the corner of Fletcher’s room, sitting on his desk chair. A backpack. A very distinct backpack.
“Holy shit.” My mouth hits the floor as Fletcher’s head falls back onto the pillow. He groans as the girl pulls the sheet up around her body and falls back in bed next to him. “Tate?”