Page 68 of Zack

The heat spread fast, down my throat, into my chest, and for a moment I wasn’t sure if the warmth was from the drink or from the way Mark was watching me.

He took a sip from his own cup and frowned. “Your bowtie’s crooked.”

I glanced down immediately. “It is not.”

He tilted his head, unimpressed. “It is.”

“Yours is just as—” I stopped when I actually looked at him.

His bowtie sat perfectly against his collar, neat and symmetrical. Of course it was. I scowled and took another sip of the drink.

Mark smiled and set his cup down on a nearby case. “Hold still.”

“I am holding still,” I muttered, as I turned slightly toward him and lifted my chin a fraction.

He stepped closer, fingers brushing my collar as he adjusted my bowtie with careful precision.

I let him fuss. Didn’t even pretend otherwise.

“There,” he said quietly. “Perfect.”

I swallowed, heat blooming again, and took another sip just to have something to do with my hands.

“Wow,” a familiar voice drawled from behind us. “Look at you two.”

I startled slightly. “Ethan?”

Ethan stood a few steps away, grinning, hands tucked into his coat pockets. “You’re both so… shiny. Very festive. Very shiny.”

“You said shiny twice,” I said, rolling my eyes. “What are you doing here? I thought you were swamped at the clinic.”

Ethan shrugged. “I took a break. This was important.”

“Mm-hmm,” I said, crossing my arms.

“Hey!” Ethan said, mock-offended. “I’m still the head healer. I can take an hour off on New Year’s Eve to watch one of my best friends perform.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Okay,” he amended, holding up a finger. “More like half an hour. I still have to drive back to the pack clinic. But still.” His gaze softened. “I know how much this means to you. And I didn’t want to miss this.”

Before I could respond, he lifted his phone.

“Oh no,” I said immediately.

“You know I have to get a picture of this,” Ethan replied, already framing the shot.

“Don’t you dare send it to Noah.”

“Mmm-hmm,” he said absently, eyes still on the screen, thumbs moving. “I won’t.”

The message sent sound chimed a split second later.

I sighed and shook my head, but I stepped forward and pulled him into a hug anyway. “Thanks for coming.”

He hugged me back, then gave my shoulder a quick pat as we separated. “So,” he said, eyeing both of us. “Aren’t you two freezing or something?”

Mark shook his head. “We’re wearing three layers of thermals under this.”