Luckless Lover

chapter 8

Zake's p.o.v.

He had to say it. He cursed himself for falling so fast, but still, he loved the heck out of Steff. He knew she would run. But he had to. She had to know. Zake stood outside her door. "Steff." He turned and slid to the ground. "I want you to know. Aly, she isn't the only one who loves you." He heard sniffling come from the other side of the door. "I love you too, okay? I love you." He stood up. "Good night." He turned to go when the door clicked and opened.

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Steff's p.o.v.

She unlocked her door and went out into the hallway. Zake stood there with a tear on his cheek. "I-I love you too, Zake." She said. He didn't move. She took a step towards him.

He pulled her close. "I love you, Stefanie Heart." He kissed her hair. "I can't even say how much I love you." He kissed her forehead. "So m-" she pinched his collar and kissed him hard on the lips.

"Don't teas me." She whispered and kissed him softer. He laughed against her lips.

"Maybe." He said. They rested their foreheads together. "Movie?" She nodded.

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Steff, for the third time, woke up right next to him. This time she woke to a small warmth on her lips. "M-morning." She said to his kiss.

Her hand was on his whiskery cheek. His hand on her waist lighting her on fire. "Good morning." He kissed her again. She slid her fingers to his hair. It felt like a silky liquid spilling through her fingers.

Her phone rang at that moment. They sat up and she grabbed it and answered.

Steff: Yeah.

Addy: Are you just waking up? Its like one. p.m. I mean really?

Steff: Wait, one? Really?

She looked at Zake, he shrugged.

Addy: Anyway I want to go shopping. Wanna come.

Steff: Yeah I got the week off.

Addy: Sweet I'll come at three.

Steff: Mkay. Bye.

She hung up and looked at Zake. "Don't you have work?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "But I managed to get the day off.  Well I quit."

"Oh. Wait what?"

"I got the company." He shrugged.

"Oh my gosh that's great!" She leaped into a hug. "How?"

"He forfeited." He placed a hand on her back. "So what did Addy want?"

"She wants to take me shopping." She said snuggling her face into his neck.

"Awe." He teased. "You're leaving me alone?"

She laughed. "Yep!" That earned her a tackle. She lay on the couch, her arms pinned by his hands and her legs pinned by his ankles. She squealed and squirmed.

"Fine." He pouted. "I hate you."

"No you don't."

He kissed her neck. "True. I love you." Steff pressed her mouth shut. He let her go and she tackled him. She was too short to pin him so she sat on his stomach.

She gave an evil laugh. As if she were a child he lifted her up, stood up and dropped her on the couch.  Then lifted her again. "I'll put you down when you say it."

"Fine. Fine." She panted. "I love you too. Now put me down."

He slowly set her on the couch and went to the door. "I have a meeting this afternoon so you can go to your play date."

"What?!" She ran to him. "I can?" She hit him. "It's not like you're my mother."

He pressed her up to the wall. "Yeah?"

"Yeah!" She stomped on his foot and ran down the stairs. He was fast and slid a hand over her stomach. "Fine! Fine!"

He laughed. "I'm just teasing." He said and went to the kitchen.

At three the doorbell rang. They were both in the kitchen, Steff sat on the counter eating fruit, Zake stood by the fridge eating a cookie.

"M-" she swallowed the piece in her mouth. "Bye." She set the fork in the sink and put the lid on the container of fruit. "Love ya." She turned to go but he grabbed her arm. The bell rang once more. He kissed her then let her go.

"Love ya too." He said as she went to the door.

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Zake's p.o.v.

When she left he went up to change then left to his meeting. The meeting felt like he was there for days. They talked on and on about what needs to be done and how to do it. On the way home he thought of Aly and Steff. Both of my girls. He thought. When he got there Scott's car drove in. They both parked and got out. Steff took out four bags from the trunk.

He held the door for her. "Thanks." She smiled at him and mouthed. 'Don't tell. Not yet.' He nodded.

Addy said goodbye then left. Steff and Zake plopped on the couch. "I'm beat" They both said then laughed.

"Oh!" Zake stood up and got his laptop. "Aly!" He called and his mother-in-law answered. "Hey. where's Aly?" She didn't even have to answer.

"Daddy!" Aly ran to the computer. "Steff!"

"Hey girl." Steff smiled.

"Hey baby." He said. "How are you?"

"I'm good." Aly piped. "We went to the pool. And I met a boy named Josh. And we went to the park. And guess what. JoJo was there! And it was so fun!"

They both laughed. "Sounds like it." Zake said smiling. "I miss you too."

"Yeah. I miss you too." Steff smiled.

"Yeah. Well grandma says its time to sleep." She smiled. "Bye bye. I love you both."

"Love you too." They both said.

"Good night, Aly." Steff said.

"Be good." He said.

"Okay. G'night." The screen said call ended.

Zake closed the laptop and turned to Steff. "See. It's not so hard to say after a while."

"I know." She smiled. "So how was your meeting?"

"Oh. It was a big bore." He shrugged. "Mostly just planning. How was shopping?"

"Hard." She looked at her lap. "I wanted to tell Addy. About us." She sighed. "I just don't know how."

"Let's wait till a good time." He took her hands. "If you want."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

They sat there close just listening. To heart beats that seemed too fast. The ticktock of the clock. The whoosh of passing cars. I love you's whispered to the other. They listened till sleep overcame them.