“But it was a mistake. Something I should have never done. It wasn’t fair to you or to Isaac.” His voice hitched in his throat as emotions rose up inside of him.
She tensed as his words settled around them. As if he’d said the wrong thing. Which confused him. How could saying the truth be wrong? From the shocked expression on her face when he pulled away, she was not happy with the fact that he’d kissed her. Right?
“Yeah, Isaac,” she whispered as she extended out her hands and studied them.
He studied her, not sure what he was supposed to say or how he was supposed to interpret her words. Did that kiss mean something to her? Did he dare ask?
She must have felt his gaze because she turned her face until she met his gaze. Then she held it there. Zach’s heart felt as if it were going to explode from his chest. His breathing slowed as the entire world around him came to a standstill.
“Zach,” she whispered as she leaned closer to him. She moved her hand until it was resting on his. The warmth of her skin crept up his arm, causing his mind to swim.
He couldn’t create a coherent sentence much less tell himself to pull away. Warning bells were sounding, but he didn’t care. This was exactly what he wanted. Danielle.
Just as he leaned in to press his lips to hers, water began to sprinkle onto his face. At first, he wasn’t sure what was happening or where it was coming from. But they came faster as the clouds above them parted and rain began to pour down on them. Danielle hunched over as she pulled away to stare up at the sky.
The ride operator’s voice boomed through the speakers, informing everyone that they were shutting the ride down until the rain passed. The ride began to move and Zach could see people disembarking as their buckets came to the platform.
If he didn’t hurry now, he’d lose his nerve. How was he ever going to recreate this moment again?
So he sucked in his breath and said “Danielle…”
When she raised her eyes to his, the pain in her face was almost palpable. As if she were telling him not to say the things that were weighing on his mind. Why?
“Danielle I—”
“Zach, please. I can’t. I’m sorry. I keep sending you the wrong signals and it’s confusing you. Please, we can’t ever be whatever you’re about to ask.”
Zach pinched his lips together as he studied her. It was pouring now. Both of them were soaked. He pushed his hand through his hair, spraying droplets of water everywhere. Hecleared his throat as the feelings he wanted to express were still stuck on the tip of his tongue. As if his body was physically rejecting her words.
She didn’t feel that way. There was no way he was making up the intensity in her gaze. She was pulling away and he wasn’t sure why.
Their bucket got to the bottom before Zach could ask. The ride operator wasn’t patient as he pulled the door open and ushered them out. Danielle didn’t hesitate as she stepped out onto the platform and down the stairs to the ground.
Zach followed after her, refusing to accept the fact that these were their final words to each other. That yet again, she was walking away before he could even say what he wanted to say.
He was soaking wet as he kept a few feet away from her. Maybe it was because he needed to gather his thoughts. That being around her stunned him speechless, but if he was going to confront this confusing and vexing woman, he needed his wits about him.
Courage built in his chest as he quickened his pace until she was within reach. He wrapped his hand around her arm and tugged, hoping to convince her to stop.
“Zach, I—” Danielle started as she whipped around, bringing her body inches from his.
In one swift moment, Zach bent down and pressed his lips to hers. At first, she didn’t move and Zach began to regret ever taking this chance. And then, just as all feelings of self-doubt and pain surrounded him, she ran her hands up his arms and entangled them in his hair at the nape of his neck.
He growled as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her forward. Rain fell down on Zach but he didn’t care. His clothes were soaked but all his body was focused on was the sensation of her pressed against him. There was a piece of himthat he didn’t know was missing, but with her here, suddenly he was whole.
But just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Danielle pulled back, her eyes wide as she stared at him. As if she’d suddenly realized what she’d just done.
Not letting her response ruin their moment, Zach looked fiercely into her eyes so she could feel the weight of his words. “I let you walk away once, I’m not going to do it again. I need you to know…”
Danielle held up her fingers and pressed them against his lips. “No. Stop. Zach, I…” her voice broke causing her to swallow. “Please. I can’t deal with that right now.”
Zach studied her as frustration rose up inside of him. Why couldn’t she hear this? She had to feel the same. He could see it in her eyes and feel it in her kiss. The heat from their passion was still warming his lips.
“But Danielle…” He started but then stopped when he saw the pained look in her eyes. There was something that was tearing her apart and it wasn’t their kiss or the fact that Isaac was dead.
So, despite the fact that it was ripping him up inside, Zach nodded as he pulled back. “Okay,” he said, the depth of his voice surprising even him.
Danielle dropped her hand and then wrapped her arms around her chest as she glanced around.
