“Best, and I’m only laughing because you’re kind of adorable when you’re all flustered. Do you literally pull at your hair? It’s a mess.”
He strides farther into the apartment, setting Marshmallow’s cage down and carefully placing a drink carrier full of coffee on the table.
Smiling, he reaches out and brushes a stray hair out of my face. “I’ll buy you a new couch.”
“You will not.”
“I will too. Don’t argue. I should have warned you not to leave him alone.”
“Zach.”
“Delia.”
Then he’s kissing me, and I’m letting him.
I want to fall into his touch, want to let myself go under his spell.
But there is a cute little goat currently running around my apartment, and I need to focus on that before he eats everything in sight.
Pulling away, I sigh. “I don’t want to stop kissing you, but I also don’t want you to have to refurnish my entire apartment.”
“Oh crap.” He hurriedly grabs Marshmallow and puts him in his cage before he can do any more damage. “Take a nap, little buddy. I know you’re tired from that car ride.”
I point down at the coffee. “For me?”
“Yes. I brought you your favorite.”
“You’re too good to me.”
I grab the coffee and take a sip before reaching for the food again. This time I’m patient enough to rifle through the bag and separate the two orders of nuggets and fries.
“Thank you again. You have no idea how much I needed this.”
“It’s no problem. Besides, I kind of missed you.”
“You did?”
He steals a fry from my carton. “Yes.”
My toes tingle at his confession. I love the way he makes me feel so special with such a simple declaration.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, watching Marshmallow fight sleep.
“I can’t believe you brought him.”
“He wanted to meet you.”
“He’s so cute—way cuter in person than the photos.” I bump his shoulder with mine. “You are too.”
“You’re not too bad yourself.” He finishes off his last nugget, chews, and swallows. “So, what are you studying?”
I huff and throw myself back on the couch, amping up the drama. “Economics. That shit is no joke. I don’t understand half of it.”
“I do.”
“You do not.”
He levels me with a stare. “Hi, owned my own business and sold it for way more than it was worth. I can help with economics.” He stands, extending his hand to me. “Come on, let’s get to work.”
