Love Boat (Tom, Ben, Zac and Joel story)

Counting his winnings

*Zac*
I wake up with Zoe clutched against my chest. I look at her, feeling my heart swell. I don't deserve this beautiful, strong woman, but I know she is mine. For some fucked up reason, she has chosen me, giving me the privilege of loving her.

As I am slowly drawing pictures on her back with the tips on my fingers, I hear her breathing change. An shortly after her voice sounds softly. "What happened yesterday babe ? What let the demons out ?"

"I needed you. I needed my sunshine to calm me after the fight. I couldn't come down on my own. But then she showed up.. Mariana.. she.. she is pregnant. I couldn't stop, I needed to stop the demons, but I promised you not to jump and I remembered the drugs drowning them out last time, soo.. I am sorry". I can't believe I did that.

She gasps. "She is pregnant ? What is she going to do ? Is she going to keep it ? And are you sure she isn't just lying to get more money ?"

"She.. she had a paper from the doctor saying she is indeed pregnant. I don't know what she plans to do". Just thinking of it is tearing at me.

She is snuggling into me. "I am so sorry I wasn't there when you needed me the most. What will you do, if she decides to keep it ?"

"Well first and foremost get a paternity test, it could just as well be Ben's or maybe some strangers. If it's my kid I need to take care of it. I hope you understand ?" I say, feeling lost.

She looks up at me. "Of course I understand Zac. I would never ask you to abandon your kid. I would support you completely".

"Thank you my sunshine. You are the best, you know that right ?" I tell her, sending her a soft smile.

She giggles softly, reaching up to run her fingers down along my jaw, making me shudder. "Sounds like you want to be my friend".

"I do want to be your friend. I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend. The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips as you say them. I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body. I want to know where to touch you. I want to know how to touch you. I want to know how to convince you to design a smile just for me. Yes. I do want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend in the entire world. I want so many things. I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time. I want to feel your skin on fire. I want to feel your heart racing next to mine and I want to know it's racing because of me, because you want me. Because you never, never want me to stop. I want every second. Every inch of you. I want all of it, all of you". I open my heart completely, telling her the truth.

She has a hand clamped over her mouth and tears in her eyes. "Oh Zac that was so beautiful, in that case I would love to be your friend".

I lean in kissing her softly, feeling her melt into my arms. Making me deepen the kiss, really tasting her, feeling my head swim. This is much more of a high than any drug.

There is a knock on the door and I reluctantly let her go, rolling out of bed and going to open. Seeing some japanese guy outside. He hands me a briefcase. "Your winning from last night sir". Before disappearing again.

I close the door and go to throw the suitcase on the bed. Zoe looks at it. "What is that Zac ?"

"Well apparently those japanese guys is really big on honour and such. That is the money I won last night before you come for me".

Zoe opens the briefcase and gasp. "Zac how much did you play for ? I mean this is a shitload of money, like a seriously huge amount".

"It was cash no limit, that much I do remember, but how much was on the table, honestly I have no idea, neither how much I had". I tell her honestly.

She starts pulling out stack after stack of money, quickly counting them. Honestly I don't care much for the money. She looks up at me. "Zac there are 972 thousand dollars in here.. there are almost a freaking million dollars here".

"Oh.. well that is a lot I guess". I actually don't really know what to do with all that money. "Shit where do I even put all that money ?"

She bite her lip, looking at the money. "Uhm, well what about your safe ? That would kind of be my first idea".

"Well, that would kind of be a bit of a problem". I go to open the safe, showing her that it is stuffed to the brim with money already.

She looks at me wide eyed. "Holy fuck Zac, how much have you won in total ?"

"I have no fucking idea, honestly I didn't care much about the money, it was the thrill I needed". I tell her. That money is going to some good cause, I don't need them.

She start pulling out the money, putting them on the bed too. "Well them let's count them and see".

"Okay if that makes you happy. Oh just a moment". I get up and go to the bathroom, bringing back the rest from the drawer there, making her roll her eyes.

I lay down on the bed, watching her count the money. Deciding than I am done with playing and even more done with drugs. It's just not worth it.

After what feels like a long time she looks up at me, shaking her head. "How much did you start out with Zac ? I mean how much have you used from your own pocket to play for ?"

"Uhm Five grand". I say, that was the first night. From then on I have just played for my winnings.

She rubs her face. "Well that leaves you with a winning of 3 million 234 thousand dollars and that is after that bitch got her money.. well you could do this for a living if you wanted".

"Not if I want to keep my sanity, I am done with this". I tell her. To be honest it don't really hold any appeal to me any longer.

She smile at me and I know she is happy about my decision. "I think that is a very wise decision. So what to do with all this money ?"

"We could.. roll in it.. bathe in it". I say, filling my hands throwing the money up in the air to fall on her like snow. "Or we could give them to someone in need".