Derailed

Chapter 11

"So tell me miss Olivia, what is your favorite movie?" We're cuddled up on the couch with several blankets covering us and an endless list of movies to stream.

"That's such a hard question. How can you pick just one?" I ask.

"Well that's easy. My favorite movie is To Kill a Mockingbird but of course the book was better."

"Black and white... I should've known you were that type of guy. I respect your taste in films Mr. Bennett."

"Oh lord, please don't call me that outside of class." We both laugh.

"I'm a Singin in the Rain type of girl."

"Always a good choice!" He exclaims and we start binging our favorite old movies. We make small talk through some of the films and it's really crazy how much we do actually have in common. We have totally different backgrounds but we both love to write, love all the same books and movies, and overall just want the same things. I'm starting to feel like this could really work. Though fun, it's a pretty uneventful day. We wrap up our night with Chinese takeout.

"I really like you Zane."

"I really like you too Liv. A lot."

"This is all so crazy that it took me a minute to get my bearings but I think I made the right choice by giving us a chance. I felt the connection too but the easy answer was to run. I'm happy I didn't." I share.

"I want to make sure you know that when I like someone, I'm all in. You will never be alone and I will do everything I have to do to make you feel safe and cared about. You deserve that." He bites his lip and looks down for a moment before regaining eye contact, "Honestly Liv, it's more than a like for me. I love you." I can't believe he's so confident in me already but it gives me the confidence to feel the same way.

"I love you too Zane." My feelings for him are so intensified in this moment. I take initiative and swing my leg over him to sit straddling his lap. I place my hands on his cheeks and stare into his eyes then let things flow as we kiss. He wraps both arms around my waist and embraces me tightly. I feel him harden under me and start to forget everything I said about going slow. Those three little words were enough to send me over the edge, I want him and I want him now.

"Baby let's do it, I want you."

"You're making this so hard on me." He says in between kisses, "I want you too but we need to wait. Don't forget what you want."

"I don't want that anymore." He stops kissing me after I say that.

"We can wait a little bit longer. I don't want you to regret anything." I know he's right and I appreciate him keeping me in check. I swing my leg back over him to get off. "Egg roll?" He grabs one off the coffee table and laughs.

"I think I'm ready for bed." I start cleaning up the card board boxes of food, "you done with this?" I hold a box of fried rice towards him.

"Um, yeah. Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, just tired." I say but it's only half true.

"Liv don't get the wrong idea, I want to take this far too. I'm sorry if stopping it upset you but I need you to be 110% positive. I'm so willing to wait for you so it's no rush." I don't want to make this anymore awkward so I kiss him and take the leftovers into the kitchen. We get ready for bed the same way we did yesterday, already falling into a routine, and go to sleep.

When I wake up the next morning Zane isn't in bed. Normally I take a few minutes to wake up but since he's nowhere in my eyesight I get up and walk around the apartment, only to find he's not here. I check my phone to see if he texted me and I'm flooded with texts from Tyler but nothing from Zane. I don't know how much longer I can keep this going with Tyler.

"Been super busy I'm so sorry. I love you Ty!" I text him without even reading all of his messages. It's getting draining trying to keep up with him. I text Zane just to ask where he is then head to the bathroom to take a shower. I wash my hair and shave my legs to get refreshed then wrap a towel around me to go find something I can wear in his dresser. If I'm going to be staying here then I should really take one of these drawers for my own clothes. As I pull out a shirt Zane walks through the door with a two bags in his right hand and flowers in the other.

"Good morning beautiful." He says, shutting the door behind him with his foot. "These are for you." He hands me a dozen of fresh white roses wrapped in brown paper and tied with a bow.

"What's this for?" I blush and kiss him while I take the flowers.

"Well as much as I love cuddling up in the apartment everyday, I want to take you on a real date."

"A real date? I thought we couldn't do that?"

"As long as we are extra careful we can make it work. I don't want to keep you here forever like you're my secret, so I planned a day out for us. Put this on." He hands me the and I take it to the bathroom with no questions. I pull out a float, blush pink dress with a B neck and tiny straps. It reminds me of the dress Sasha made me wear to the party but the color suits me much better. I slip it on and zip up the back. I look in the mirror and I love it but I am still slightly insecure wearing something so cute and small that doesn't hide my body at all. That fact that he picked it out because he thought I would look good in it is so adorable so there's no way I'm not going to wear it. I step out of the bathroom with my arms crossed over my chest.

"Wow. It's even more stunning on you." He compliments me.

"Thank you." I bite my lip insecurely. He walks up to me and takes a box out of the other bag.

"One last thing," he opens the box and takes out a pair of black heels with a small strap across the toes and one across the ankle, "Put these on." He bends down to place the shoes in front of me as I step into them one at a time.

"They're beautiful Zane, the dress too."

"I'm glad you like it," he looks at the clock on the oven, "It's time to go!" He says in a rushed tone.

"Okay one second!" I put on some mascara, concealer and lipgloss then throw my hair up as fast as I physically can. He guides me out the door by my hand, "Where are we going?" I ask

"It's a surprise."