Page 86 of The Puckable Playbook

I grin. “No offense.”

“None taken because you’re cute.”

My face heats. I search his gaze and say, “I want to help. Call it the Robertson in me, but we can figure this out.”

He slows us to a stop, pulling me in, his hot breath fanning over my lips. “You’d really help me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

His arms band around me tighter. “You keep surprising me.”

“It’s nothing,” I assure him.

His low expectations are due to Trish. Thankfully, she’s no longer in either of our lives. Maybe her temporary appearance wasn’t as much of a curse as I originally thought. Her manipulations taught me that I needed to be stronger. That there’s a difference between having a backbone and being a bitch. Most importantly, her exit from my life taught me that people need to accept me for who I am.

Zaiah helped with that, too, except his influences were positive ones. When I asked him for help, he never changed me. He never told me to act like a different person. He never told me to wear clothes I would’ve been embarrassed in. He guided me toward better decisions to take ownership of myself.

Maybe I can repay the favor by doing the same thing? If anyone deserves to have his dreams fulfilled, it’s Zaiah.

He peers down, staring at my skates. “I think you passed the test, by the way.”

“There was a test? I’m always good at those, but I usually know I’m taking them.”

“Let’s see…” He traces his thumb over my cheekbone, leaning down ever so slowly. My gaze moves to his lips, my mouth opening slightly, and then my lids flutter closed as we connect.

His kiss is a promise, a new beginning, a balm. All gifts I need, and he gives it to me with his whole self.

He pulls away, squeezing my hips. “Definitely passed.”

I swallow at his attention, my throat suddenly dry, and a thought rings true. He’s said it before, but I didn’t actuallybelieve it until this very moment, wrapped in his arms on his turf.

He sees me.

There are so many words on the tip of my tongue but sometimes, it’s just as potent to communicate in other ways. I pull him back down, sealing my lips to his this time, letting my mouth tell him what I feel because I’m scared to do it any other way.

I never take chances, always calculated decisions, but I will for him. I’m all in.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Zaiah

My dad’srumbly RV pulls to a stop in front of Knightley Hall. He honks the horn in rapid succession, the sound echoing through the air, and Len laughs, her dancing eyes finding mine as I squeeze her hand.

The RV door flies open, and Izzy jumps down the steps. She runs forward, arms open, and envelops Lenore in a big hug. I stare, wide-eyed at the way Izzy giggles and bounces on her toes.

“Hey, hey,” I tease. “You’re smothering my girl.”

Izzy whispers so loud I’m sure my parents hear her in the RV, “You bitch, I knew you liked him.”

Len hides a smile with closed lips.

I elbow her, the corner of my mouth twitching. “What’s this about telling her you didn’t like me?”

Mom saves her from answering. She’s half hanging out of the RV, waving at us. No, that’s not right. She’s waving at my girlfriend. “Lenore, I made you chicken and dumplings. Just like you wanted.”

The way Len’s eyes light up… “I thought that face was for me?”

Izzy’s nose scrunches up. “Ew.”

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