Five #2
Before Zac can answer, I respond, “We’re friends.
” Looking up at Zac, I can tell he doesn’t look like he likes my response.
He looks me up and down before giving his own, “Good friends.” Zac then turns to me.
“Are you ready to get out of here? The night is young, sunshine,” he hints, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
I laugh a little and nod my head. Zac leads me towards his car as I glance over my shoulder and give a brief goodbye to Dr. Allen; I do have to work with him.
Zac opens my door for me again. He either thinks I don’t know how to open my own doors, or he’s the last true gentlemen on this place called Earth. Once I’m sitting in the seat, I expect him to close my door, but he shocks me once again when he pulls the seat belt over me and buckles me in.
Smirking, he says, “Need to make sure you’re securely in place.
” I’m assaulted with his mix of woodsy citrus scent that seems to be unique to him alone; his scent travels through my nose and straight to my core.
I’m still wondering if it’s normal to be so turned on from the way someone smells when Zac jumps into the driver’s side.
He reaches over the back of my seat, pulling out a take-away bag from my favourite Thai restaurant.
He looks at me a moment then, placing the bag on my lap, says, “I figured you probably haven’t eaten properly today, so I picked you up something.
It’s chicken Pad Thai. There’s a fork in the bag; you can eat while we drive. ”
I’m stunned speechless and left wondering if maybe he has some weird food fetish.
“That’s twice today you’ve brought me food.
I don’t know if you have some kind of weird food fetish or not, but right now I’m starving so I don’t really care.
” Taking the take-away container out and pulling the lid off, I inhale the smell of the Thai dish.
“Thank you, this is my favourite Thai food,” I add before digging in, not even caring if I’m making a mess of myself.
“I know it is.” He smirks at me.
“Wait, how do you know this is my favourite? You don’t even know me.” I turn to look at him, secretly praying that he’s not some secret, crazy, murdery stalker I didn’t know I had.
He laughs at my obvious distress. “Relax, I swear I’m not a stalker. I sent Sarah a message before I picked you up and asked her what you would eat. She told me the restaurant and meal to order, so really all credit should be pointed at her.”
He sent Sarah a message. This is what my brain focuses on from his response.
“How do you know Sarah? And how do you have her number?” It comes out sounding much harsher than I intended, but something irrational happened when I heard: I sent Sarah a message.
I got jealous—well, at least I think it’s jealousy.
I’ve never been jealous before so it’s hard to tell.
Zac stops at a red light, and turns to look at me.
I don’t know what he sees on my face because he doesn’t say anything for a good minute.
Suddenly, he smiles, picks up my hand and kisses me on the inside of my wrist before resting our joined hands on his thigh.
Well, okay then, if that hasn’t put the green-eyed monster to bed a little, I don’t know what would.
I’m so focused on trying to breathe, and not show just how much that simple gesture has affected me, I startle a little when he talks again.
“Sunshine, you can put the claws away. I have Sarah’s number, because I asked her for it this morning when you were in the shower.
” At this, I try to tug my hand away from him.
It doesn’t work; he just holds on tighter.
“I asked her for her number, because I knew your phone was dead this morning and I didn’t know if you would have had the chance to charge it while at work.
I didn’t have your number, and I wanted a way of reaching you, so I asked for Sarah’s. ”
I can still feel the green-eyed monster wanting to come out a little.
“Okay, well, thank you for the ride and the meal,” I lamely get out.
I use my free hand to pick the fork back up and start eating.
I let out a little moan around a mouthful of noodles, and the hand that Zac is holding gets a little tighter.
I look over at him to see his jaw tensed and his eyes hyper-focused on the road.
I have no idea whatever storm has rolled up within him again. I really can’t keep up with this man’s intense moods. I try for some light conversation.
“So, no Batmobile tonight?” I question.
He looks over and smiles slightly, his eyes lighting
up. “No, it’s at the detailers; someone left muffin crumbs all through it.”
I audibly gasp and drop my fork. The fork drops to the floor of the car with a pile of noodles on it.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I can pay for the detailing of the Batmobile and this one, but to be fair, I did prewarn you I’m a messy eater.
Oh god, who’s car is this? Now I’ve messed someone else’s car too.
That has to be a record, two cars ruined in one day. ”
He’s full on laughing by the time I finish my little freak-out. I turn and glare at him. “It’s not funny. That Batmobile obviously isn’t a cheap car and I ruined it.”
“Sunshine, I was joking about the muffin crumbs.
It’s fine. You didn’t ruin any car, and this car is one of mine, so don’t worry about putting noodles everywhere.” He raises my hand back to his lips and kisses the inside of my wrist again. It’s confusing how much this move both calms me and makes me hot and bothered at the same time.
Placing the lid on the Pad Thai and leaning down to pick up the fork, I put it all back in the plastic bag. Zac looks over; he’s not impressed. “You need to eat, Alyssa, so eat.”