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He squeezes my hand "Not as pretty as you"

I roll my eyes, but still ser side I love that he still does this Even six months into our relationship, he makes me feel special Like every day is a first date

Before I can get in the car, he stopshis hands on either side of the car, he traps me between the vehicle and his body My heart speeds up I sain But he doesn’t His vivid green eyes drill into me with unusual intensity

"Davy You knohat you do to me, how youainst him "You make me happy, too"

"Good Because that’s all I ever want, Davy To make you happy"

"You do," I assure him

He nods but he still doesn’t le oes around declaring himself all the time "Zac?"

"I love you," he htens He’s never said those words before

My heart clenches and the ache there is so sweet It’s a perfect kind of agony I suck in a sharp breath and then release it in a rush Words are iaze darts around and he al to say that here Right now In the parking lot I meanI’ve known for weeks that I love you You’re all I think about--" He grins down at "

"I noticed that"

He kisseslike this Zac loves ainst e to tell you that Sorry it wasn’t someplace more special"

I swat him on the shoulder "Why would you be afraid to tell me that?" Probably the same reason I’ve been afraid to say the words, too

His expression sobers and his arhten aroundainst his jaw It’s a little bristly My fingersin the texture "Well, that’s not possible I think I loved you before you ever even asked me out"

Relief washes over his face He kisses et inside the car

It’s a short drive tothe sensation of his hand holdingit means Me Zac Forever That’s what it feels like I know I’m just seventeen, but why not? Why not forever?

We’re at my house in ten minutes In this instance, I wish I didn’t live so close to campus Wish we could stay in our little world for a few hours more

Two extra cars sit in the circular driveway I don’t knoho they belong to, but e Rover Hoht That never happens

Zac gets out with me He quickly reclai to the double front doors when one of thes opens

Mom steps out and I stop

She looks pale, her nor young is to never get in the sun As in--never She only swiht now, even those efforts see atway that makes me want to touch my face and check that I haven’t broken out in a rash suddenly

Her gaze skitters to Zac She nods at hi her off" The translation is clear: leave My parents adore Zac If I didn’t already know soives reen eyes on me The concern is there--the love I’d seen it before but now it has a name Now I know "Call me"

I nod

With one last look, he walks back to his car

Then it’s just Mom and me She looks over her shoulder and I can hear the voices drifting out fronize Dad’s baritone and not just because it’s fa on?"

She motions me inside

I drop my backpack inside the foyer We walk across the dark wood floor into the living roo

I His arh My gaze sweeps the cavernous roonize my headmaster, Mr Grayson He rises e enter He’s never been to our house before, and it’s strange seeing his is at Everton

And there’s another man I’ve never seen him before He’s dressed in a cheap suit The cuffs stop well before his hairy wrists and the fit is all wrong, too loose at the shoulders I’ve been taught to appreciate good suits Dad wears Caraceni and Gucci The stranger stays sitting, looking almost bored

Mr Grayson tucks one hand inside his suit pocket He addresses Dad in a placating voice, "Patrick, listen to me My hands are tied There’s protocol--"

"Wasn’t there protocol with Mitchell, too?"

Mitchell graduated three years ago He’s always been in trouble Drugs Failing grades Nothing really ie, either He cauesthouse Dad keeps pushing him to work at the bank An "internship" he calls it It sounds better than saying, "My son’s a teller at the bank I own"

Harandfather founded it It looks like that legacy would die with Dad Mitchell’s not cut out for it, and I have other plans