Page 53 of Set the Moment
“Together, but we’re not talking about that right now. Right now, we’re getting number 10 crossed off that pretty little list of yours.”
Number 10? Did he memorize the order of the list? No—that’s silly…He wouldn't, right? Wait, fuck that—
Together?!
Did he just say we’re together? Like as in man with woman who kiss and talk and date…together?!
Gaping at him like a fish out of water, I allow my body to be dragged and pulled by him. Jace tugs me all over until we reach a point where we get wristbands to enter the actual zoo. He gives me a green one and tugs a purple one onto his wrist before continuing with his pulling, and I allow it.
My mind is still grappling with what he’d just said that I don’t realize we’re standing right in front of a pride of peacocks. A rainbow of feathers and long necked birds stalk past us, completely indifferent towards the two idiot humans standing just a few feet away.
Peacocks have the most divine feathers and features. As a kid, I always thought that the female of the species was the flashier animal with blue and green tones, only to find out it was the male.
“Wow.” I hear from the side of me, feeling Jace’s body heat. Lifting my head to look at him, I gulp as our eyes clash with one another's.
My breath lodges in my throat, keeping me preserved in this moment as his hand squeezes my waist in a possessive yet gentle grip.
“Careful, Heart…Your feathers are showing.” I smirk up at him, making the worst “bird” joke known to man, his lip quirks.
“Good, gotta let those ganders know whose hen you are. That little small one over there was about to try to make you their mate.”
I roll my eyes, fighting my laugh off as the small wide-eyed peacock at the back of the group locks eyes with me.
Minutes later, I find myself standing outside of the monkey enclosure with Jace and one of the primate keepers, Janice. Janice is a taller woman with arms the size of tanks. She grins, looking down at me with the warmest brown eyes as Jace drones on and on about me wanting to pet a monkey.
“It’s been her dream to pet one, you can just see it in her little hazel eyes—the excitement,” he gushes as Janiceawwsaudibly, her hand clutching her heart.
I roll my eyes, shaking my head with a smile as Jace turns to inspect the enclosure for “threats”, also known as the 300 pound gorilla named Bessie, who shares the enclosure with the other primates.
“You are a lucky girl, I wish my boyfriend would drone on about my interests like yours…” Janice sighs, patting my shoulder lovingly.
Boyfriend?My body warms at the thought. Do we seem like a couple? Can other people see this?
“Who—”
“Babe, look at this one! He’s small and doesn’t look like he’d rip your finger off!”
I cringe at the loud man in the near empty petting zoo. It’s now apparent to me why my parents never indulged in a “bring your kid to work" day. After spending more time with Jace, Icompletelyunderstand.
Jace points at a tiny black and white Capuchin, and the monkey stares back at him with a glimmer of mischief in his large brown eyes. I think that this may be the cutest freaking animal that I’ve ever seen—don’t tell Oscar.
The tiny Capuchin monkey is held in another large enclosure a few paces away from the biggest one in the center of the room with a bunch more smaller primates.
“Oh! That’s Maurice, he’s a sweet little guy. If you want to pet him, you can as long as you wash your hands before and after!”
Jace grins deviously.
“My girlfriend is obsessed with these guys, Thank you!” his tone doesn’t waver as his focus remains locked on Janice. My eyes snap to him, head tilting in confusion as the infuriatingly handsome man grins.
Girlfriend?
“Of course! The cleaning station is just around that corner.” Janice grins, pointing away, but I’m not paying her any mind as Jace wraps a protective arm around my waist, guiding me to the station.
“Girlfriend?”
He rolls his eyes at me, ever the sassy man he is. “Would you rather me say ‘girl who’s using me to complete her fantasies’?”
Pursing my lips, I remain quiet and wash my hands.
