When Destiny Hesitates [ZARRY]

Chapter 27

Harry's POV

I slide into Luke's passenger seat on our morning ride to school, ignoring his raised eyebrows at my breach of usual routine. Whatever, desperate times call for breaking traditions.

Can't have my boyfriend sitting shotgun pressed cozily beside Saint Luke the Ever-Adored for 15 uninterrupted minutes now can I? Who knows what nostalgic reminiscing my absence might stir up...

Luke gives me amused side eye pulling up outside Zayn's house but doesn't comment on my tactical position swap. I monitor them carefully as Zayn crosses the lawn looking criminally gorgeous even pre-caffeine.

My vigilant stare pays off instantly when Zayn leans through Luke's open window for their customary friendly morning peck. Oh no no no, those perfect lips belong to ME now!

I pointedly snake an arm across the console turning Luke's face towards me instead. "Morning babe!" I chirp brightly, placing an emphatic smooch near his mouth.

Luke blinks surprised, eyes dancing with mirth. Meanwhile Zayn stands there dumbly with pursed lips comically paused mid-air. Ha! Foiled your attempts at 'flirting' with my man, Lucas.

"Um good morning..." Zayn says slowly. I swivel back around beaming mega-watt innocence.

"Oh hey babe! Here, you can just hop in back now since I already claimed shotgun today." I pat the seat behind me glancing coyly through my lashes.

Zayn narrows his eyes suspiciously but obliges as Luke bites his grinning mouth hard clearly holding back laughter. Hmph if he knows what's good, Luke will keep his flirty hands and thoughts to himself from now on!

We ride to school exchanging idle chatter but I monitor them closely in the visor mirror, ready to intercept anymore sneaky intimacy. Surprisingly though, Luke keeps things PG while Zayn contents himself tracing random patterns over my shoulder squeezing suggestively.

Guess staking my claim firmly finally worked putting Luke in his purely platonic place! Now I can relax enjoying my smoking hot boyfriend without worrying about certain natural blond temptations distracting him...

Zayn's POV

I stir my watery cafeteria soup, failing to restrain a fond grin watching Harry almost vibrate out of his seat with hypervigilance two tables over. Ever since he staked shotgun territory this morning kissing Luke aggressively, Haz has been glued to my side guarding like a suspicious meerkat.

It's ridiculous how endearing I find his jealous pouting and narrowed side-eye glaring anytime Luke leans even remotely into my space. Which as lifetime best friends with countless inside jokes happens pretty constantly honestly.

But each time Harry materializes breathlessly to distract me usually by shoving his tempting mouth onto mine or exaggeratedly fawning over how "sexy" I look doing mundane things. And each transparent interception effort sparks another helpless swell of adoration for this boy bent on protecting our blossoming intimacy from non-existent outside threats.

Case in point, as Luke reaches absently trying to spear a bite of my salad, quick as a rattlesnake strike Harry is there hip checking him audibly away.

"Whoops sorry Luke!" Harry chirps brightly with aggressive emphasis on his name. He holds my stare batting pretty doe eyes while swiping the forkful of greens smugly into his own pink mouth instead. "Mmm babe your salad is amazing, want some of mine?"

Luke meets my strained laugh barely masking hilarity with twinkling sky eyes over Harry's shoulder. I school my expression into neutrality with effort. No need encouraging Harry's wild insecurity or Luke's shameless delight goading him on.