Page 153 of Nemesync
Nikolai, laughing, chimed in, “Oh, but Elijah, you wanted to in the past.”
True.
The way her eyes made me feel, the way her very existence kickstarted the beat of a dead organ, my fucking heart. I loathed it, craved for it to end.
I looked at him before calmly stating, “I may murder you.”
Zanae got up and gave me a little kiss, it was enough to make me feel this fucking thing in my chest, I couldn’t help but smile.
June went back on her lap as soon as she sat back.
Little shit.
Nikolai and Ben decided to tease me, of course they would. “Eli, I think June has a crush on Little Z.”
“Yeah, and he’s cuter than you so, he may win,” Niko added, grinning.
I shook my head, astonished that these two are my friends. Sometimes I forget their ages—Niko is 32 and Ben 31—yet they still acted like teenagers in high school.
And I honestly enjoyed watching Zanae with June. It felt good to see her happy around this little boy, her smile and the way she behaved toward him was just making me softer for her.
Even if sometimes I wanted to throw him somewhere, until he’s old enough to punch the shit out of him when I see him on her lap or hugging her.
I took a place beside her, pulling her closer to me. “I have her all day long and all night long. I think I can handle a child hugging her.”
My girl laughed and hugged June even more, “Guess I have a fan club now. What do you think, baby?”
Baby? Baby my fucking ass.
Calm down Eli, he’s a kid.
June simply giggled.
“Well, Eli, you better step up your game if you don’t want to lose Little Z to the youngest member of the team.”
“I really want to murder you, Niko. You make it difficult to resist this desire sometimes,” I added, before sliding my hand down Zanae’s shirt, resting it on her back.
Heaven.
Zanae
“I love that look of joy on you; you deserve it more than anyone you know,” Miranda said, looking between Eli and me.
I glanced over at the man who brought me life again into my veins. He was engaged in conversation with Ben and Nikolai. And without even knowing, a smile formed on my lips. “Yeah, it’s a lot of fun.”
“Have you noticed the way his eyes soften around you?”
“What do you mean?”
Miranda leaned in, whispering, “He’s not the same with you. He’s more relaxed, more…human.”
I looked back at him, my heart pulsing faster and faster.
Breathe Z, breathe.
He was the quiet to my perpetual cacophony.
It’s a crazy thing, no matter where we are in a room, it’s as if an invisible thread draws our gazes together. I always find his eyes, and every time, I catch him looking at me before I have a chance to reciprocate.
