Luckless Lover

chapter 4

Zake's p.o.v.

Aly woke just as they pulled up to Zake's house. They all got out and helped Steff unload. They brought her stuff to the guest room upstairs. The one downstairs is sill a mess from the previous nanny.

"Dance, daddy, dance!" Aly piped.

"Okay." He said giving a teasing look to Steff.

She shook her head and mouthed. 'No!' He laughed and went out to the game room. Aly came in dragging Steff by her tank. That scene was perfect.

Aly wore a red dress today. She liked dresses because they make her feel like a princess and she doesn't have to match with a shirt. Steff wore a blue tank with lace straps and jeans that were a dark Levi. She looked like she could be Aly's mom. 

When Steff saw the picture of his family hanging above the mantle she stopped.

"She's beautiful." She mumbled.

"My mommy?" Aly piped. "She's in heaven. Daddy says she's an angel."

Steff looked and him with an apologetic look. Aly broke the silence by hopping up and down saying. "Dance, dance, dance."

Steff and Zake laughed. Zake set up the wii and put the game in. "Now," he said giving a paddle to Steff. "All you have to do is follow the little man that is your color." Their hands grazed and his fingers tingled.

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Steff's p.o.v.

When their hands touched she couldn't stand the feeling in her stomach. She began to make excuses. "Uh, I have to unpack." She said looking  innocent.

"Oh, no you don't." He stepped in front of the door.  She looked at him still in his work cloths. His hair looked a bit better than this morning. He looked nice. She thought then cursed herself. He's your boss. You don't want a mess again do you. She told herself. "I'll help you tomorrow. Its my free day. I don't have work."

She sighed. "Fine." She turned around to look at Aly who sat on the couch waiting for them. "I guess."

They played till Aly fell asleep then sat on the couch opposite of her. "Sorry I  forced you." He whispered.

"It's okay." She looked at him. His caramel colored hair looked, once again, uncombed. It made him look younger. "Hey, how old are you?" She wondered.

"Thirty." He said quietly. "And you?"

"Twenty-seven." She shrugged. "Just wondering."

"Wait." He looked surprised. "I thought you were closer to my age."

"It's only three years." She said laughing. They sat in silence for a small moment.

"I'm gonna put her in her bed." Zake said breaking the peace. She nodded and stood. They went up to Aly's room and worked together to get her PJ's on. Steff stood in the doorway as he tucked Aly in.

Her heart leaped when he kissed Aly's cheek. He's a great father. She thought. They went into the hall she noticed that their rooms were right next to each other.

"Night, Steff." He whispered.

"Night." Steff continued to curse inwardly. She shouldn't feel like this. He's her boss, he's going through alot trying to raise Aly.

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Steff woke to sobs coming from the hallway. Thinking it was Aly she jumped out of bed as quiet as she can.

She opened the door about to whisper Aly's name when she heard the crying better. "Zake?" She spoke.

He sniffed and wiped his face. He sat against the wall, his knees against his chest. He held a small box in his hands. "Sorry. I came out here cause I thought you wouldn't be able to hear me. The walls are really thin." He said between  hiccups.

Steff knelt in front of him. "Want to talk about it?" She asked careful not to wake Aly. He put the box down and she took his hands to settle the shaking. She ignored the tingling and listened.

"I met Rian on this day. Fifteen years ago." He said entwining his fingers with hers. "Every year we went out the night before-" he paused. "On this night almost two years ago she was on her way home. A drunk driver passed a red light."

"Oh." She felt tears fill her eyes. Not now. She thought stubbornly. Be strong for him.

"This day is ruined for me now." He let out a sob.

"Well, lets change that then." She smiled. "Let's do something fun in this morning. Like go to a movie. Something to celebrate." He nodded.

"But you have to unpack."

"The movies doesn't open till the afternoon really. So we can unpack and clean up the kitchen, I noticed the dishes in the sink. When did you clean last."

He let out a laugh. "Friday." He said shyly.

"A whole week?!" She laughed at him. "Wow, you must be super busy."

They both laughed. She powered up her phone to check the time. 2:30 a.m. She laughed. "You woke up right as the day started."

"No I never went to sleep." He shrugged.

"Let's go." She stood up and tried to pull him up. He didn't budge and she fell back down. He laughed and she folded her arms and pouted like a child.

"Fine." He stood and lifted her a foot of the ground. Her breath caught and she pinched his arms. "Wow. You weigh less than Aly." He joked.

She hit his arm. "Do not." And they laughed. She pushed him to his door and opened it. "Go to bed." She ordered.

He laughed more. "You just went from a child to an adult. Impressive."

"Shut up!" She hit him again, this time on his chest. Damn, he's fit. She thought. "Just go. And if you don't sleep then no movies."

"You won't know if I slept or not." He argued.

"Yeah I will. Now go!" She pointed.

"Fine."

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Zake's p.o.v.

Steff held his hand like it was nothing, but to Zake it felt like fire. They talked. She teased him, he noticed, to make him laugh.

When she fell back down it was graceful. Her chocolate colored hair fell around her face. And he noticed ringlets forming. She pouted and looked just like Aly. He sighed and gave in. He lifted her up and she panicked, pinching him. When she finally got him to go in his room he felt even more restless. He took a sleeping pill and was out like a light.

He dreamt of Steff. He dreamt of holding hands with her and walking along a beach. He never wanted to wake up.