Luckless Lover

chapter 12

Zake's p.o.v.

Steff hugged him and he wanted to kiss her so bad. When Addy told him to kiss her she looked at him like she knew he would so he teased her.

"I don't think a kiss could heal the rest of you." He whispered to her, remembering the first few weeks.

When he left the bakery he went home and had the worst time trying to sleep. He tossed and turned all night thinking about Steff.

How, when she hugged him her arms slid around his neck, even though she had to tiptoe. How, her kisses felt like kissing the clouds. How, happy she seemed around Aly and him.

Grace, he thought, I hate you for driving us apart.

When the sun came up he got dressed and went out into the hallway. When he got to Aly's door he heard giggles. He went in to see Aly and Grace playing dolls.

"Oh!" GG stood and took an envelope that was on the bed. "NYU let me in. Orientation is this morning." They hugged for a small moment then the nanny came in.

"I got a better job with a better pay so I am quitting." She said in her bored voice. She turned and left.

"I have to go." GG said and left as well.

Zake looked at Aly and sighed. "What do you think we should do today?"

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Steff's p.o.v.

Just like every morning Steff got up dressed and went down to open shop. When she went to the window to turn the sign she saw Zake sitting at one of her outdoor tables with Aly. She smiled, went to the door, and unlocked it. When she went out Aly jumped up and ran to her.

"Steff!" She hugged her smiling. "I get to stay with you today!" Taken aback she looked at Zake confused.

"Please?" He begged. "GG has school, the nanny quit, and I'm hopeless. I have a big meeting today and I can't have her there. I'll pay you." He gave his cutest puppy eyes.

"Fine." She sighed. "But stop doing that with your eyes."

"oh." He pouted. "This?" They both laughed making her heart hurt.  "Also, you still have my number, right?" 

She nodded. "Yeah. Hey did you eat breakfast?" He shrugged. "Come on." she took his hand and took them inside to the counter. Putting Aly on the stool he laughed at her. "What?"

"You are always taking care of people, but you hardly care for yourself." He motioned to her outfit. She wore a pale pink tank and black Bahama shorts. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun and had curly flyways hanging out. "Not saying you're not pretty or anything. I just noticed that. I mean, really, did you eat?" She shook her head. "Exactly. Now sit." He patted the seat by him.

Hesitantly she made her way over with three plates of eggs toast and bacon on their's. "Where's you're bacon?" Aly asked.

"I don't like bacon." Zake coughed. "It makes me sick."

"Are you even american?" She laughed her evil laugh. "Nope."

 They ate and talked witch took longer than they expected. When Addy came he left so he could keep his head. Addy took over for the day  and Steff took Aly out to the movies. They went to the park after and she got Aly ice cream. They walked down the path and talked. 

"You know, daddy still loves you" Aly said taking a bite of her ice cream. "And so do I."

Steff chuckled. "Yeah? And how do you know that?" 

"He has a picture of you in his room and he says that the pictures in your room are always the ones we love." She smiled. "And we talk about you a lot."

"Oh." she teased. "Are you a love expert or something?"

"No, but my friends are." They both laughed.

They went back to the bakery and waited for her dad to come back. When it got late she took Aly up to her room and let her sleep there. Aly fell asleep instantly. Steff locked up the bakery and went back up to her living room. Her phone buzzed and she checked to see who it was.

Zake: Hey how's my girl???

Steff: She's asleep.

Zake: Okay, sorry it's so late I'm gonna be another hour. Is that okay?

Steff: Yeah, just come right up from the back. Just go down the west alley and up to the deck doors. I'll leave them unlocked for you.

Zake: Great! Thanks Steff. I owe you one.

Steff: Sure thing. 

She fell asleep and was woken up by Zake trying not to make noise. 

"Oh, hey" he whispered. "Thanks." He hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight."

"Hey," She held his shirt. She couldn't find the words so she just stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."

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Zake's pov

He thought she was going to say something emotional. "Goodnight" Was all she said. Hhe took Aly out to his car and Steff took her backpack. she kissed Aly and told her goodnight. She was about to leave but Zake took her arm and pulled her to him. 

"I'm so sorry Steff." He said into her hair.

"No." She looked up at him tears had formed in her eyes. "I'm sorry. You didn't do anything I'm the one that hurt you. I pushed you away, and you did nothing to deserve that. GG said things that made me think, and when I think bad things happen or good things don't happen. I got scared and-"  He kissed her lips hard to get her to stop talking.

"I love you, Steff." He said when they pulled apart. "I liked you from day one. Your laugh made me fall in love even more." 

"Yeah, I know." She coughed, a laugh and  a sob. "Aly said that you have a picture of me in your room and that you talk about me a lot. She told me you still love me." He laughed, nervously. "And I love you too." She sobbed. "Just a few months ago, I couldn't even say it. But now I can't stop. I love you." She hugged him and kissed his neck. He felt tears on his cheeks now. 

He kissed her head and let her go. She gave him a quick kiss and went down the alley way. He went home and put Aly in her bed. When he went to his own room and sat on his bed. He picked the picture of Steff up. She wore a white dress and her hair fell down her back in curls. probably the most beautiful picture of her that he had. "Goodnight." He whispered and fell asleep.