“I’m not sure if you saw that text, but it’s a weird inside joke,” I explain. “Leo was acting strange, so Tess and I convinced him that more had happened on our first date. I don’t even know why we just went along with it. I’m sorry. This must be really weird.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Zane laughs. “I definitely had a few questions when I saw it, but Leo’s been acting weird around me, too. He really sees you like family, did you know that?”
Zane’s question makes me pause for a moment.
Leo and I have always teased each other like that. It’s actually how I got on the ice and met Zane in the first place.
“Speaking of family,” I say, quickly shifting the conversation, “did your sister arrive safely?”
“She did. Thanks for asking,” Zane smiles as he raises his beer. “Cheers to pizza deliveries.”
“Cheers,” I laugh as our bottles meet.
“You do have to promise me one thing,” Zane says after taking a sip. Only then do I notice how warm my body feels. I always get like this when I’m nervous, and the way the beer goes down only makes it worse. I feel like I’m overheating.
“Promise what?”
“Promise me we’ll try the Sweet Home Alabama and food night again sometime soon. I really love the idea,” Zane says, setting his beer down.
“Only if you warn the fire department before I step into the kitchen,” I laugh.
We chat a bit more about movies we both enjoy. Apparently, we both like Alfred Hitchcock and action films. I also learn that Zane is a huge Pixar fan, and his favorite is The Good Dinosaur, which I find absolutely adorable.
We’re in the middle of debating who played a better Batman when the buzzer rings and the pizza arrives.
We put on Date Night in the background while we eat, since we’ve both seen it enough times to talk through it.
We’re about halfway through the movie when Zane clears his throat.
“You know,” he begins. “I find it strange how I feel extremely comfortable around you, and at the same time, you make me nervous,” he admits with a shy laugh.
“I think I know exactly what you mean. I never burn meals… and look at me,” I say, gesturing toward the kitchen.
“Maybe that’s how you know someone’s good for you,” Zane smiles.
He shifts a little closer on the couch, his hand reaching for my cheek.
“You had a little tomato sauce right there,” he chuckles, gently wiping it away.
“Oh, sorry,” I say, half embarrassed.
“You still looked pretty to me,” Zane adds with a soft laugh as he leans in closer.
From the way he moves, I can tell he’s waiting, giving me space to pull away if I want to. It’s his quiet way of asking permission.
I don’t move.
I don’t pull away.
I want to pull him closer, but instead, I let him come to me.
Slowly, he does.
Zane’s lips brush mine, and a soft sound escapes me before I can stop it.
“We should definitely have pizza more often,” Zane says with a smile as he leans back against the couch.
I don’t want the kiss to end, but I think, just like him, I don’t want to rush this either.
