Page 65 of Calling a Cease-Fire

Bringing up my texts with Zack, I noticed I had an unread one from him.

Zack: Still coming out tonight?

Me: Yes. Remember your promise.

Zack: I remember. I’ll do my best to tease and torment you like I usually do so no one thinks anything’s amiss.

Me: Perfect. Shouldn’t be hard to act like I want to smack you then.

Zack: I’ll just snatch your fries. That works every time. You’re really not good at sharing.

Me: Shut up. I like my food. Nothing wrong with that

I chuckled and put my phone in the center console before pulling out onto the main road.

Driving through town, I tried to ignore the anticipation that coursed through me at the thought of seeing him. That feeling mixed with nerves as I made my way through the bar, searching out our group of friends. Adam was still home on concussion protocol restrictions, and Lyla wasn’t leaving his side, so it was just Zack, Seth, Logan, and Izzy. Violet was working overtime on the arsonist case and Nicole had a shift at the hospital. I couldn’t help but wonder what everyone thought of me coming out tonight.

Zack glanced over his shoulder, a huge grin on his face as he watched me approach. I held his gaze, feeling the heat of it on my skin like a featherlight caress. I swallowed, trying to ignore the urge to be touched and kissed by him until I couldn’t breathe.

“No Jay?” I asked as I climbed up on the stool next to Zack, trying not to look at him.

Logan shook his head. “Nope. He’s probably passed out on the floor of labor and delivery.”

I smiled. “Sarah having the baby?”

“Yeah, he texted us all an hour ago telling us he couldn’t make it out,” Zack offered.

I looked around for our waitress, suddenly needing a drink.

“Ordered you a Long Island.”

This time I turned to him with a glare. “I can order my own drinks.”

His lips lifted into that cocky, playful grin of his, and damn it if it didn’t do crazy things to my lady bits. But I didn’t back down from my glare. The last thing we needed was our friends questioning why he was doing something like that.

“I’m well aware, Raven.” His tone was mostly teasing, but I could hear a hint of annoyance. “Waitress is new and seems flustered. Thought it was best to get all of our drinks in sooner rather than later.”

“Oh.” I turned my focus toward the bar—it did seem a bit more crowded than usual, especially for a weeknight— and wondered if they’d ordered any food yet.

“Thank you so much for thinking of me, Zack,” he said in a more feminine, mocking tone.

My lips twitched as I turned my attention back to him, a flirty quip on the tip of my tongue. I had no problem thanking him. Later. On my knees as I took him in my mouth. His gaze flared as he read my thoughts.

Izzy sighed. “Are you guys going to bicker the whole time?”

“Probably,” Zack and I said in unison.

“At least they agree on that.” Seth chuckled and took a swig of his beer.

The waitress came and delivered our drinks, taking our food orders before disappearing again. She got our drinks correct, so I had hope the food orders wouldn’t be any different.

“Is there a full moon tonight or something?” I stiffened in my seat as Zack’s hand found my bare thigh under the table. I was glad I’d picked out a skirt and boots for work today, hoping I would get to see him after shift.

His hand stayed put just above my knee as he looked at me. “This weekend.”

My brows shot up. Was he serious? “Really?”

“Zack likes to track that shit,” Logan offered. “I don’t really believe in all that, but I have to admit, he usually gets it right.”