Even four thousand kilometres away, he can read me like his favourite book.
“I hate him.”
“What happened?”
“Just more of his controlling demands,” I grit out. “It doesn’t matter. In seventy-two hours, his power over me will be obsolete, and I’ll be on my way back to you.”
“I don’t want you to blow up your life for me, Noah. You don’t have to do it this weekend. We can take some time to figure out a plan?—”
“I’m not blowing up my life for you, Romeo,” I assure him. “I’m doing it for me.”
He sighs. “I wish I were there with you.”
My heart tugs. “Me, too. I miss you.”
His laughter vibrates through me, setting my body ablaze at the sound. “It hasn’t even been twelve hours. Have we officially become one ofthosecouples?”
“Oh, no,” I tease, chuckling. “Not one of them.”
“Where’s Hannah?”
“Helping our housekeeper clean up after morning tea.”
He chuckles. “I’m sure your dad loves that.”
I sigh. “I owe her big time for everything she’s done for me these past three months.”
“Yeah, you do.”
A comfortable silence settles over us, and I pick at a piece of bark.
“Is Milly excited for the formal tomorrow night?”
He laughs again. “That’s an understatement. She and Jade have taken over our bathroom all this week trialling hairstyles and make-up palettes.” I imagine him rolling his eyes. “She’s got it in her head that I should let her drive my car because it’s a special occasion.”
“Are you going to let her?”
“Hell no,” he exclaims. “I said I’ll drop off her, Jonathon, Jade, and Jade’s date, and pick them up, but she’s never getting behind the wheel of my car again. No one will be, but me.”
“What about me?”
“Sorry, Shadow, but you caught me at a weak moment. It’ll never happen again.”
“We’ll see,” I tease.
“No chance.” Someone calls Zac’s name in the background. “I should go. Call me if you need me.”
“Thanks. Good luck tonight. I—It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too. Bye, Noah.”
He has no idea how close I’m getting to saying those three terrifying words, but I refuse to tell him over the phone.
When I tell Zac I love him for the first time, it will be face-to-face, and I’ll be free to claim him as mine.
Chapter 31
Zac
