Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Nikki

Keller’s house is only a few blocks from The Grind. As we pull up, Zack hops out with Keller. The two exchange a few words I can’t hear, and then Zack opens the door to the back seat, offering his hand for me to get out. The other hand reaches forward and opens the front passenger door. He waits until I’m inside to close it, then jogs around to the other side.

His right hand on the gear shifter, for a second it looks like he’s going to drive, but then he changes his mind. Leaving the car in park, he turns to face me. Lifting one knee up onto the seat and twisting his body toward me, he slings one arm casually around the back of the seat. It’s just the two of us in the car now and suddenly the inside of the spacious car seems smaller. Maybe even a little warmer.

He looks at me and arches an eyebrow with a grin. Although fully aware I need to give him my aunt’s address, I play along. Grinning back, I arch an eyebrow in return and fold my arms stubbornly over my chest.

Throwing his head back, Zack laughs. The deep, raspy sound echoes through me, the sound warming me. It befits his handsome face. Together we have a good chuckle and then he extends his hand to me and through a sexy half smile, I finally hear his voice, “Zack Martin.”

I oblige. “Nikki Fallon.”

“Nice to finally meet you, Nikki Fallon.” He doesn’t let go of my hand as he speaks.

“You too.” I feel the warmth from his hand spread through me.

“I was beginning to think you were mute.”

My eyes widen. “Me? You’re the one who started this.”

“I haven’t been much of a talker lately, I guess.” He opens his mouth as if to say something else, then shuts it.

I shrug, completely understanding how he feels, although I’m sure for different reasons. “I get it. Sometimes you just don’t feel like talking. Lately I feel like every word I say is analyzed for a hidden meaning.”

Zack releases my hand and instantly I feel the warmth that had spread through my whole body start to cool. As he turns back to face the road, I shiver from the sudden temperature change.

“Cold, in this weather?” he asks with surprise as he shifts the car into gear.

I’m not going to tell him that my body temperature dropped drastically when he let go of my hand. I blush just thinking about how hot my body had become just from the feeling of his hand in mine.

“Not cold, just a little shiver, it happens to me sometimes.” As if I have a medical condition and it’s not the result of hormones surging through my seventeen-year-old body.

“Yeah, women always have that problem around me,” Zack teases, glancing my way. I see a flicker in his eyes. It’s there. There’s some spark that neither of us are quite comfortable with. But we also can’t seem to stop fanning the fire.

“On second thought, I think I’m cold.” A little smirk appears between his two delicious dimples.

“Where to?” Zack asks, looking straight ahead at the road. Is he trying to avoid another meeting of our eyes?

“Uhm. I don’t know. I, uh…” Nervously, I try to respond with coherent words but fail. He wants to take me somewhere?

“You don’t know where you live, silly?” Zack mocks with a now broad smile, which splatters warmth across the cool bucket seats and stirs some embarrassing sensations throughout my body.

I try to will away the redness I know is glowing in my otherwise pale cheeks. “I thought you could figure that out without any words, Zack Martin, the Wordless Wonder.”

“I knew you thought I was a wonder.” He’s unquestionably enjoying our banter.

Before I can respond, Zack turns onto my street and is slowing right before Aunt Claire’s house.

“Stalk people much?” I exclaim, genuinely surprised he already knows where I live.

“You always have to wonder about the quiet ones, Nikki. Always.” Zack sneaks in one last dazzling smile before he turns to open his door.

When he appears at the passenger door and reaches in to help me out of the car, my legs instantly turn to Jell-O. Zack grabs my hand to help me out, and the combination of my unsteady legs and the heady feeling his touch brings me causes me to miss my step. I stumble and fall right into his arms.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Zack laughs but keeps his arms around me as he looks down to make sure I really am okay.

Thank god it’s dark, because I have never felt this flushed in my life. I’m taken aback by my body’s reaction to the feel of his arms wrapped around me. Does he sense it too? Surely, he must know what his nearness is doing to me.

I look up to profess my clumsiness and our eyes meet…closer…much closer than before. Zack suddenly straightens and steadies me on my feet. “Do you need me to walk you to the front door?” There’s a sudden and severe change in his body language and a flatness in his voice. He may as well be asking an old lady if she needs help crossing the street.

“I’m fine. Just a little clumsy. You can go.” My hurt feelings are evident in my words and surely on my face. I’ve never been good at hiding my hurt.

Zack doesn’t seem to notice though. He’s already disappeared mentally, if not physically. “See you in school,” His voice is mechanical, without any hint of the playful guy who was flirting with me just moments ago. He doesn’t even look back as he walks away.

Zack, his well-bred manners intact, sits in the car watching to assure I make it into Aunt Claire’s house safely. As soon I close the door behind me, he pulls away from the curb. Watching out the window, I’m reminded of the way his demeanor changed at the track. What is it that enters Zack’s head and robs that flicker from his beautiful eyes?

Later that night, I toss and turn, unable to sleep, remembering the surge of heat that flushed through my body at Zack’s touch. I don’t ever remember feeling anything like it before. As much as I know I need to stay focused on why I came to Long Beach to begin with, it’s pretty impossible to erase the feeling from my mind. Or body.

As I fall asleep, I start thinking about my sister. Until I met Ashley, I never had anyone to share my most personal thoughts with. Mom and I didn’t have that kind of relationship. I wouldn’t have told her about Zack. At least I don’t think so. But, a sister… a sister is exactly who you would share this stuff with. Perhaps mine is popular and has had boyfriends— she’ll have all the right advice .