“Sorry, but no. I’ve got a ritual I need to stick to.”
“Right, right. Your prequalifier ritual,” Zac said with a nod. He was excited to see her wipe the floor with the competition the next morning. No doubt she’d come out on top and be poised for a great final season of competing.
She looped her purse over her shoulder and stepped out of Zac’s van. He followed, grabbing her hand to pull her back so she pressed against him.
“You’re going to kick ass and I’ll be front and center cheering you on.” He dipped down and grazed his lips over hers.
“Nothing too embarrassing. I have to focus.” She twined her fingers into the hair at the base of his scalp and tugged. A rumble of pleasure coursed through Zac.
“Only the appropriate amount of embarrassment, deal?”
“Deal.”
They kissed again, a tangle of lips and arms and hot breath. Zac almost proposed another round in the van, until Tabitha placed a hand on his chest.
“I have to go.”
He conceded with a nod, twirling a lock of hair around his fingers.
“I love you, tabby cat.”
They popped out of Zac’s mouth, words he’d never said to anyone. Not since he was a child and parroted them back to his parents with zero understanding of what love meant.
Tabitha’s smile lit up the dark summer evening. The glow of joy was all the light he’d ever need. She didn’t say it back, only leaned in for one more, shatteringly deep kiss before pulling away to walk to her car.
Zac wasn’t upset.
He could wait as long as she needed him to. And while he knew how she felt about him, he only wanted her to say it when she was absolutely ready.
He watched her car pull away and returned to his van to straighten up a little.
Then his heart leaped as a knock sounded at the slider door.
Tabby cat.
But when Zac slid open the door a different set of blue eyes greeted him.
“Beefy.” Wrong twin. “What’s up, man?”
“Can we talk?”
Chapter forty-six
Present day, Leavenworth: Tabitha
“Whydidyouleave?No, that’s not what I’m trying to ask. Why,” Tabitha tugged on the end of her French braid then tucked loose strands behind her ears. Her eyes darted everywhere but to him. She scolded herself for being so squeamish about finally asking him. Not that the answer would make a difference. He’d left. A very, very long time ago. But still . . . “Why did you leave without saying goodbye? Or saying anything?”
Zac hung his head. Either he hadn’t anticipated the question or he hoped she’d never bring it up. It was clearhehadn’t planned to. But if she didn’t ask before returning home, she’d regret it.
“Please. Will you be honest and tell me why?”
Finally, he nodded and retrieved the lens cap to stow the camera back in her pack. Then he turned and faced Tabitha. “You’re going to hate me.”
“Never,” she said with a dry chuckle. Her imagination ran wild. Was it worse than him growing tired of her? Had he been arrested? Cheated? Was it a freak case of temporary amnesia? Tabitha could almost laugh if it weren’t for his ominous expression.
“It was the night before your final day of qualifiers—you know the one I’m talking about.”
I love you, tabby cat.
