Three Months and You're Mine (In Too Deep) (7 page)

"We had no idea you guys were out here," Rachel said guiltily. They got situated in their seats and Collin looked up at us, taking us in for the first time. He knew there was ultimately nothing he could say or do, especially when we'd only been sitting there talking to eac
h other.

Collin smiled at us. It was slightly reluctant, but he was smiling nonetheless. "Have fun little sister?" Meredith sprang up and crossed five feet of ivory leather to reach out and put her arms around his neck.
"The best," she said. Apparently, she was excited about him not giving us a hard time. She put a quick kiss on his cheek and then slid down the seat back in my direction.

At that point, the door opened, and more people started
piling into the limo. I was glad for the distraction because when Meredith came back to sit next to me, she left no space between us whatsoever.

Chapter 7

Meredith

My brother totally surprised me by not freaking out at the sight of Zack and I in the limo together.
There was nothing for him to react to anyway since there was at least a foot of space separating us when he and Rachel came in. I got up and hugged my brother for deciding to be a rational human being and not flip out on us. I really just wanted the excuse to readjust my position next to Zack.

Just as I hugged Collin, people started to pour into the car, and I quickly went back to my seat, conveniently sitting much closer to Zack than I
had been before.

I turned to him and spoke softly so no one could hear. "So much for me getting kissed," I said. I twisted my face into a disgruntled frown.

"The night's not over," he said. He flashed me a gorgeous, sly grin before shifting his focus to whoever had just come in the limo. It was a guy I didn't recognize. In fact, Zack seemed to be the only person there who knew who the guy was. "What's up Logan?" he asked, crossing over to the door to slap hands with the newcomer.

"Dude, Big Mike told me this was your ride, but I didn't b
elieve him. What's going on, Bro? It's yo birthday, or what?"

"Yeah it's my birthday," Zack said.

"What you doin' leavin then? We're just getting started."

"
Naa, we already checked it out for a couple hours."

"Anybody up in there?"

"Natalie and that whole crew."

"She got Dawn with her?"

"I didn't see her, but I was hanging with Celeste, so I coulda missed her."

Logan held a fist over his hand and made a whistling noise. "I know you
were
hanging out with Celeste, son. That girl's loco about you."

He and Zack both laughed.
I just sat there feeling like I'd like to get in a catfight with someone named Celeste. I didn't know why I was letting it bother me so much. After all, Zack didn't owe me anything. I knew he'd been talking to a girl earlier that evening, it just kind of sucked to put a name to the face. What was even worse was that according to this guy, Celeste and Zack were old pals.

"Y'all have to head home?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, I think the rest of our group are on their way out here and we'll be taking off."

Logan made a noise of disap
proval. "Why don't you stay, Bro?
I'll
get you home."

"I'm good," Zack said. "These are my people anyway. They're the ones who hooked me up with the ride for my birthday." Logan, who was apparently oblivious to the fact that
several of Zack's friends were sitting right there while he urged Zack to ditch us, ducked and left the limo with just a smile and nod in Zack's direction.

I made eye contact with my brother as Zack was settling back into his seat
next to me, and his facial expression said it all. He thought a guy like Zack would break my heart, and hell, he was probably right for thinking that. I chose to act like I hadn't even noticed Collin's warning, and turned to look at Zack as he sat next to me.

"How kind of you to stay with us when you had such a tempting offer," I said. I was smiling
playfully, trying to remain aloof.

Zack looked down at me with those ice blue eyes. "It wasn't really that tempting," he said. "The last time I hung out with Logan, I ended up taking a nap next to a couple of homeless guys on the street because their spot looked so comfortable
, and another time, I slept half the night in some bushes."

I
giggled. "What's the guy do? Give you sleeping pills or something?"

Zack breathed a laugh and shook his head. "No, he just goes all night. I like to party, but that dude's crazy."

"I'm glad you didn't stay," I said. "And not just because you're way too good for that girl Celeste."

"What's that mean?" Zack asked.

I shrugged. "You're out of her league, obviously."

"Oh yeah? And just what league am I in?"

"The bigs, baby. And there's an element of
natural beauty
that one has to possess to make it here." I paused dramatically. "I'm sorry, but Celeste just doesn't have it." I'd been swirling my finger in front of my own face when I was talking about natural beauty. I loved to smack talk, which left Zack looking at me perplexed, like he didn't quite know how to take my confidence. "Just so you know," I continued, "there was only one other girl in that club who was pretty enough for you, and she's not in this limo, so it looks like I'm your only choice."

Zack
smiled at me and settled back into his seat looking all cozy as if there was nowhere else in the world he'd rather be. He and I talked a good bit on the way back to Gretchen's house, but Zack was the life of the party and was busy making conversation with not just me, but everyone else in the limo.

We didn't make any physical contact aside from our thighs rubbing against each other when the vehicle bounced and turned. Every time we
touched, I felt a fizzy sensation in my whole lower body. Even though it was through layers of fabric, just the act of brushing against him caused waves of anxious anticipation to wash over me. I urgently wanted to be closer to him, and it took everything I had to sit there not touching him. I had to rely on the shifting of the car to help my body bump into his, and the waiting in between contact was no fun at all.

It was after two by the time we made it back to our cars, so everyone just decided to call it a night.
We stood around in the courtyard for a few minutes before the group had dwindled to Brit, Josh, Zack and I. Brit lived in the guesthouse out back, so she and Josh were home for the night.

"I guess we need to get inside," Brit said to Josh, pinching at his side. "I'm surprised
Arlo's not already going crazy."

Josh turned to follow Brit to the guesthouse. "You heading home?" Josh asked. The question was directed at Zack, but he quickly looked at me like he was interested in my answer too.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go home and check out my loot." Zack held up the bag full of birthday goodies he was carrying.

Josh and Brit both looked at me.

"Are you okay to make it home?" Josh asked.

I rolled my eyes. "My brother already asked me that twenty times."

"Well, are you?" he pressed.

"Of course I am. I've driven in much worse condition. Plus, you're just assuming I'm going home. You never asked me that. I was thinking about staying out a little bit longer."

"
Who are you going out with? By yourself?" Zack seemed a little angry at the thought, which made me feel all fizzy inside again.

"Bailey said Caleb and Cali were going somewhere. She
told me to text if I wanted to meet them."

"Are you going?" Zack asked.

They all stood silent and stock-still, waiting for my answer. I felt like they all expected me to do something stupid just like everyone else in my life.

I shrugged and made a face that told them they didn't need to worry about me. "I'm good. I haven't decided if I'm meeting them or not, but if I do, I'll find my way. You're never lost with Google maps, right?"

"I'll make sure she gets home," Zack said. He gave a wave to Josh and Brit, and turned me by the shoulder to lead me to the place where we'd parked. Josh and Brit yelled goodbye to us, and walked off in the direction of Brit's place.

I shrugged out of Zack's arm. "I never said I was going home."

"Well you're definitely not going out alone."

I gave him a confused look. "Did you miss that whole exchange when I said I was going to meet Caleb and Cali?
"

"No, but you'll still be going out alone even if you're meeting them once you get there."

"Is it because you think I can't handle myself in a dark parking lot? Don't worry about me. I carry an open pocket knife in my hand whenever I'm by myself at night."

"I'm sure you can take care
of yourself just fine," he said. "I just feel a little responsible since I told Josh and them I'd see you home."

"Here's
a key piece of information. The same little piece my brother, mother, and everyone else in my life seems to be missing." I stared into his eyes begging him to understand as I carefully pronounced every word. "I am twenty years old and I'm perfectly capable of being responsible for
myself.
"

"It's because you look like an elf."

"What?"

"Maybe not an elf. Fairy might be more like it. But you look like a cute little mythical pixie-girl who couldn't possibly function in a harsh world. That's why everyone wants to take care of you I guess. Plus, you're fucking crazy and we're all scared you're
gonna overdose on coke."

I gasped and clapped my hand over my mouth. "
I really hope you're kidding about that, Zack Larson. And who are
you
to talk? You go out all the time."

He shrugged and offered me a half smile. "
I'm just playing with you, but seriously, be careful," he said. "This town's full of professional partiers, and it's really easy to get into all sorts of shit you're not ready for."

"So you're worried about me. Get in line."
The frustration was obvious in my tone.

"Better to have people to worry about you than no one who cares."

I shrugged, still a bit perturbed. "I guess you're right."

We were approaching our cars by that point.

"You know what?" I said, "I think I'm just gonna head home after all." I was lying like a rug, but I was just mad enough about the whole
responsible
comment to want to try to ditch Zack and find someone else to kiss that night just to spite him.

"
Quit lying. You're not going home." He said. He was wearing an easy smile that nearly had me undone.

I looked at him, slack-jawed. "I just said
that's where I was going. You need to get your hearing checked."

"My hearing's fine, but you keep glancing at your phone and you broke eye contact with me when you told me you were going home. I know you're lying."

"This isn't poker. And I don't know why you're so concerned. I've been living in this town for six nights and you're
suddenly
interested in my whereabouts. Why is that?"

"I already told you. I don't want you going out alone. I feel
respons—I'd like to know where you end up tonight since I was the last person with you, that's all."

I laughed. "
Whatevs, Zack. I'm fine."

Before I knew what was going on, Zack had run headlong into me, pinning me against my car. He p
ushed against me so tightly that I wasn't able to escape his pressure despite my attempts to wriggle and jerk. "Where's your knife? Why don't you pull it out and use it on me Meredith?"

He was just being an asshole because it was impossible to move with the strategic pressure he was using on me. I let out a defeated breath that ended with a frustrated moan. "Okay, you got me tough guy. You're a foot taller than me and probably a hundred pounds or so
heavier. You should really be
proud
of your skills."

"I'm not trying to show you my skills. Believe me, if I were, you'd know it. I was only trying to prove a point. A girl who looks like you shouldn't be going out alone."

"I'm not going out alone, I'm meeting people, and I didn’t have my knife in my hand because I was in a private driveway and
I freaking trusted you
, stupid."

He
was no longer putting pressure on me like he had been before, but he was still standing close. "You shouldn't trust me, Meredith. Didn't I tell you that already?"

"You know what I mean, Zack. I trusted you not to
take advantage
of me. Or, duh, what am I saying? I've already asked you to take advantage of me. Either way, I was pretty sure I didn't need my knife." 

He pushed against me once again. Not with any force this time, but enough to make my breath catch at the contact. He towered over me, and lowered his face to where it was only inches above mine. We
were breathing in unison, and for a few long seconds, we just looked at each other. The silence seemed to make time stand still.

He bent the remaining three inches and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.
I met the kiss, being careful to remain cautious since he told me I needed to work on being patient. After a few closed-mouth kisses, Zack used his tongue to tease my bottom lip. My mouth opened to his, and he ever so gently sucked and nipped at my lips. It felt so good that I let a tiny moan escape.