Page 150 of Dirty Like Zane
Zane was sitting on the floor in front of the fire, his back against an armchair, legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles. His bare toes twitched with excited energy and there was a definite sparkle in his eyes. He had a pen in his hand and one of his writing notebooks in his lap, open to a page where he appeared to be jotting notes or writing song lyrics orsomething.
How many times had I seen him writing in one of his notebooks likethat?
It always made mehappy.
“You’re in a great mood,” I remarked, somewhatwarily.
He justgrinned.
“Please tell me you’re not onsomething.”
I was teasing; I didn’t really think he was. But I was feeling pretty anxiousmyself.
He gave me a look that was somehow reproachful while still smiling. “Can’t a guy behappy?”
“And you’re happybecause…?”
“Because we’re finally gonna tell everyone aboutus.”
“Oh, yeah…” I whispered, my voice fading. “That.”
Last night, before and after all the hot sex, we’d definitely come to an agreement that we were both in this for keeps—and we were telling everyone exactly that. I’d told him I was finally ready. And I was. Kinda.Mentally.
But I still didn’t totallyfeelready.
I definitely didn’t feel as twinkly about it as he clearlydid.
His eyes narrowed at me a fraction. “Yeah,that. Which means I can officially start groping you in public now. And telling dudes who get in your face to fuck the hell off, instead of having Jude do it forme.”
“Oh. Well…congratulations?”
“Thank you. There’s champagne if you want it.” He gestured at the table, where there was indeed a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice, as well as a large bottle of sparkling mineral water and two champagne flutes. Then he returned his attention to his notebook, jotting something down. “Been waiting a long time for this day, Maggs…” hemuttered.
Well, that was incrediblysweet.
I melted all over just watching him there by the fire. His hair had dried and pieces of it were drifting over his face. And I wanted to touchhim.
But somehow I felt all stiff and strange and couldn’t seem to move my feet, either to go over to him and cuddle into his lap, or to go getdressed.
“Yeah,” I said quietly, just standing in the middle of the room. “Me,too.”
I had been waiting for this day. Maybe not in the same way that he had, but in my own way. It still hadn’t quite sunk in, though, that this day had actually come. It still feltsurreal.
Andscary.
“I mean, I’m glad this is happening,” I told him, my voice barely above a whisper as he glanced up at me. “With you. I mean… you and me.” I cleared my throat, which suddenly felttight.
The grin spread across Zane’s beautiful face, and I almost had to look away. In the past, I would have. I would’ve avoided his joy because it made me uncomfortable, for so manyreasons.
Now, I just looked athim.
Myhusband.
My dearfriend.
The love of mylife.
I swallowed, and before he could say anything to make me do something stupid like cry, I said, “Just let me tell my dad first, okay? I made a big deal about it being a secret and telling him he broke my trust. It’s only fair I tell him what’s going on. I’ll call him thismorning.”
