Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

LUNA

" I got it!"

A small victory as I smash another nail into the floorboard and it goes in straight for the first time. Standing, I punch the air like I've just discovered the secret to eternal happiness. "Yes!"

"You're a pro." Zach strolls over from where he's been fixing the hallway wall and gives me a high five.

He's on edge, I can tell. But I've tried to move past it and keep the air easy between us. Since I told myself that nothing would or could happen with him, as much as it hurt, I've been able to relax into our friendship more. Sure, him walking around in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts and sneakers, his ripped, tattooed chest on full display and flexing as he works on the house, has about killed me at times. But I've surprised myself with how much I've enjoyed knuckling down and powering through the renovations.

It's nine in the evening when we finally put down our tools, and Zach turns to me. "We were supposed to paint my bedroom today, but I think it can wait. I'm not about to start moving the bed at this hour."

I yawn as the back of my hand covers my mouth. "Yeah, I guess I should get going."

He looks over his shoulder toward the kitchen. "I've got some left-over chili Mom brought over yesterday if you want to stay. I can reheat us some."

I cock my head to side, "Aww. Such a mommy's boy."

Something flashes in his eyes as he takes a step closer. I can smell his woodsy cologne, making my knees weak. He leans down until our foreheads are only centimeters apart. "I might be many things, but I'm definitely no mommy's boy, Rocket."

A delicious shiver shoots straight to my core. I've never heard him speak like that before, his voice is deep and oh-so sexy. Reaching up on my tiptoes, I close the space between us a little more. "No?"

He shakes his head, his pupils blown slightly. "No. I'm not a very good boy."

Oh. Holy. Hell.

He pins me with a shit eating, definitely-made-you-wet grin and stalks off toward the kitchen.

What the fuck just happened, and where did that Zach Evans come from?

For a change, the stars are bright in the clear night sky; it's been overcast the past few days. So when I commented that Ursa Major is visible tonight, and it's one of my favorites, Zach pulled the small couch out onto the veranda so we could watch the constellation.

"I think you could do with some permanent furniture out here," I say, leaning back and tucking my feet under myself.

"Yeah, I'll put some on order." He leans back too, staring up at the sky. "Where's Orion's Belt?"

I chuckle. "That's only visible during the winter months, typically from January through April. Some say it's possible to see it during the summer in the southern hemisphere and others claim they've seen it across the globe all year round, but I haven't. Especially with my telescope. That thing's seen better days."

He stays quiet for a few beats as the soft evening breeze and sound of ocean waves cast a peaceful feeling across me.

"I haven't seen many barbecues since that first one we went to when I arrived back."

I shrug. "They're few and far between. It's normally Luke who arranges them, but he hasn't been around as much."

I feel Zach tense a little, his arm pressed up against mine. "Yeah, he's busy with Dad, I think."

"I'm not a massive fan of them anyway. I only went to the last one because I heard you'd be there." The words tumble from my mouth before I can stop them, and my entire body heats at how much I've revealed. Even though I kissed him, somehow telling him I was only showing up to see him feels more intimate.

He turns and pokes me lightly in the ribs. "Yeah? I didn't know I was that special to you."

I shrug nonchalantly, trying to backpedal as best I can. "Must've got you confused with another Zach, but I'm kind of stuck with you now."

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his chiseled body. I feel the heat radiating from him through his thin, fitted, black shirt, and I lean so my back is flat to his chest. One of his arms comes around me, and before I can register what I'm doing, my fingers lightly trace the tattoos decorating his tanned skin.

"What does this one mean?" I point to an intricate illustration of a tiger just above his elbow.

He looks down and straightens his arm out in my lap, his chin resting on my shoulder. "That's a Sumatran Tiger. One of the rarest and most endangered species."

"Does this one have a meaning?" I remember that not all his tattoos do; some he got because he simply loved how they looked.

"That one? Yeah. Mom always said I was a Sumatran. A rarity and a fighter."

"I can see that. On the ice for sure."

"Yeah. Too many fights to count."

I turn to face him, his sparkling turquoise eyes framed by thick, dark lashes as they search mine. "I know you've always defended everyone out there, but CTE is a real thing you know. There are only so many blows your head can take. I know…" I pause and consider my next words carefully, I don't want to upset him. "I know you're fully recovered from the spinal concussion from the hit in December, but it's the fights I worry about. It's the long-term damage they might be causing."

He draws in a huge breath, sucking me back into him further. "Yeah, I know. But it's what my game is built around. The fear factor. People are answerable to me. Plus, if I can rile them up enough to get a penalty, we get a power play. It's all tactical. I'm there to protect the smaller guys like Jessie."

I press my lips together. "So, who's looking after you? Who's got your back out there?"

His brows raise at that, like he wasn't expecting me to push hard on this, but I do. Because I care. "Don't worry about me, Luna. I can take care of myself."

I pick at the purple nail polish on my fingers, deep in thought at the way he's just brushed it off. But I decide not to push it further and instead lighten the mood.

Turning to him, I plaster on my trademark bratty grin. "Aww, mommy's boy can definitely look after himself."

He wiggles his fingers in front of him, mimicking my smile. "Don't push it, Rocket."

I roll my eyes and lean back into him. "Ugh, I'm way too tired to be tickled right now."

He shifts behind my weight, as I feel his palm move over my hair. It's soothing, and my eyelids flutter shut in response, not only because I'm exhausted but also because of the way his touch makes me feel.

"What about your mom? How are things?"

I pinch my lips together as the easiness I felt a moment ago disappears. "There's not much to say. Not much has changed. She's still the same serial dater."

"Do you see your dad?" He continues smoothing my hair, but I'm not sure he's aware he's doing it. Normally, Zach is hesitant with the way he touches me, but tonight... tonight he's different. Like his inhibitions have lifted, or maybe a switch has flicked, who knows. I just know I can't afford to let my mind read too much into anything with him.

"No. We speak every now and then. You know he has younger children and a new wife now though, so I guess his priorities are elsewhere."

"I'm sorry they aren't more present in your life."

Me too.

"I've gotten used to dealing with things alone."

"I guess we're both kind of used to fighting our own battles."

I shift further into him, relaxing even more. "Yeah, I guess we are."

My eyelids are heavy as I drift in and out of a semi-conscious state when Zach startles me, both his arms now wrapped around my waist. "Shit, it's past one in the morning. We must've fallen asleep."

I bolt right up as the blankets pool at my waist. "Oh, shit. I better get going." I stretch up, but my body is exhausted, like a lead weight, having spent all day and most of the night working hard.

"You shouldn't drive when you're this tired, Luna. It's kind of dangerous. I can take you back."

I arch a brow at his dazed and heavy eyes. "Pot." I point at him. "Meet the kettle." I point at myself.

Looking around, he scratches his chest, clearly contemplating. "You can stay here if you want. I can take the couch."

"You're joking, right? You can barely get one leg on this thing. I can take the couch."

He frowns. "Like hell."

"Well, I don't see many more options." I get up to grab my keys and bag. Yawning and stumbling slightly on my way over to the kitchen.

"Just stay here. I have a king-size bed. We can make it work, as long as you promise not to steal the blankets in the night."

Share a bed? Oh shit. This is not part of Operation Get Over Wanting Zach Evans .

So that's why my next words make complete sense. "Yeah, okay. No harm, I guess."

ZACH

Luna steps out of the bathroom across the hall, my eyes laser focused on her as she makes her way down in one of my Scorpions shirts. I lent it to her since she had no sleepwear, and I figured sleeping in just underwear or naked probably wasn't the right way to go. Even if my dick argues it absolutely, one hundred percent is.

She looks fucking sensational wrapped in my old training shirt, and for a brief moment, I imagine what she'd look like in my jersey.

Like a fucking dream.

My cock hardens further.

Not fucking now.

I watch as she slips under the comforter and turns to face me, her auburn hair cascading across the crisp white pillow. She's fucking breathtaking. Inside and out. It's like there's an aura around her that radiates light and happiness and makes everything, even the most mundane parts of life, shine with wonderment.

"You don't snore, do you?" she asks, shifting the covers under her chin and staring at me with a slight tinge of nervousness in her coffee-brown eyes.

I pin her with a playful glare, trying to relax her, and perhaps myself , as best I can. "Not that I'm aware of. Do you?"

"No."

"So, you don't snore, but do you snuggle?" Fuck, do I want to snuggle her. My heart thumps against my ribcage as I wait for her answer. I've never been this nervous around any woman before.But then Luna isn't just any woman to me, and the way my body responds to her tells me my head isn't playing any tricks.

"I mean, I haven't shared a bed with anyone in a long while, but I guess. I'm definitely a touchy-feely person."

My heart thumps harder at the thought of touching her, but still, the fear of ruining our friendship holds me back. I feel like I'm standing at a crossroads, my heart screaming to take a left and dive headfirst into whatever this is, just like I've always done with women. I trust Luna more than I've ever trusted anyone before, and I know she's nothing like Amie. But despite that, my head keeps slamming the breaks, reminding me of all the complications I'll potentially invite into my life, and after this past six months, fuck knows I can't deal with anymore.

Jon's words continue to ring in my head. The bombshell he dropped about me wanting her, even if I wasn't prepared to admit it myself. It's like that ten-minute conversation has opened the floodgates to my feelings. I was questioning everything before he said it all out loud. But now it's out in the open, and it's harder to ignore or even deny.

I want Luna Johnson in my bed, and not just because it's the only one available to her tonight.