Page 10 of Honey Sunshine

I pick up my phone, navigating to Zach’s contact. For a moment, I struggle to type out a decent message that doesn’t come off too friendly and playful but isn’t overly serious or creepy either. After deleting and rewriting it multiple times, I finally settle on something simple.

Yet I can’t make myself send it either.

I stare at the message for a few seconds, reading it a few times.

The hell am I doing? It’s just a text!

I chuckle in amusement before deciding to bite the bullet and click send.

Morning, Honey! I hope you don’t mind if I swing by today?

Zach

?

I mean, I don’t mind. But what for?

Sunny boo, missed me already?

Cute.

How can someone be this cute?

His texting style is not what I expected. Then again, this is the same person who left the most humorous voicemail I’ve ever heard, with the most colorful language and a desperate plea.

I figured we could run over our storylines in prep for this weekend? Mom just called me and asked a bunch of questions, so I want to make sure our answers match, just in case.

Zach

Oh, that’s true! Yeah, sure!

I have a meeting in five minutes that will end at 1pm. When you arrive, just wait for me in my office. I’ll let my secretary know.

Great,I’ll see you in two hours.

See you soon, Sunshine.

Something stirs within me as I read the last text over and over.

Did you know he’s the one as soon as your eyes met?

Mom’s question rings at the back of my head, and I quickly dismiss it.

I arrive at Zach’s secretary’s desk just as a set of double doors on my left swings open from what I think is a conference room. Out strides Zach, accompanied by three other men, deeply engrossed in whatever they were discussing. My eyes latch onto him instantly, taking in every detail—the way the crisp white shirt and gray pants cling to his small athletic frame, the animated hand gestures as he speaks, the confident way he moves...

Just then, Zach looks up, and our eyes meet. He pauses mid-sentence, his companions still talking beside him, and smiles a small, knowing smile that makes my chest tighten. He turns and says something to the men then starts walking toward me.

“Hey,” he chirps. “Welcome to BrightAds!”

I manage a smile and nod.

“Come, come, my office is this way.”

I can’t look away from him. Maybe it’s because the restaurant’s dim lighting made it hard to see, but he looks more dazzling than when I last saw him. Every little feature, from the glow of his soft, dark brown eyes to his smile ... stunning.

Following him into his office, I find it surprisingly neat and organized, with a large mahogany desk in the center. The walls are adorned with framed degrees and certificates, showcasing his credentials. A plush leather chair sits behind the desk, facing a bookshelf.

“Nice office,” I say, taking everything in. “You even have a K-pod machine.”

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