Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 62

PREVIOUSLY: "You're so perfect," he muttered, kissing her cheek before opening the bathroom door and gesturing for her to walk out first. 

~

"Did you ever love her?" Ellody asked, licking the side of her cone as chocolate dribbled into the napkin.

"Starting with the big questions," Zach smiled, shuffling closer to her. Ellody stared up at the stars over their head, most of which were obscured from view by large tree branches. "I guess I did love her at one point. But..." he paused to take a bite of the cone before continuing, "I know I didn't love her when she told the world that I cheated. And I didn't love her when she was giving you a hard time." Zach stopped again, and Ellody wondered if he was going to keep talking.

I wish he never loved her. He deserves so much more than Kay, and I'm so glad that he moved on.

But... I also wish I'd told him my feelings sooner. Maybe I could've been happy this whole time, and not had feelings for Jonah and not feel so insecure and mixed up.

"I don't think there was a defining moment when I stopped loving her. I guess it happened over time," he finished, pulling his hoodie sleeves down as a breeze swept through the small park across the road from Ellody's house. Ellody leaned into Zach for body warmth, and he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Well... how long have you liked me for?" she muttered, licking her ice cream as casually as possible, but her mind and heart were both racing. What if he has only liked me for a few days? What if he doesn't like me as much as I like him?

"I've liked you for a while. At least, I think so. I started to realise I Iiked you when Jonah made his move on you, and I got super jealous. And Jack kept asking me if I liked you, and telling me that I needed to end it with Kay if I did," Zach answered slowly, glancing at Ellody. He kissed her forehead, sending chills down Ellody's spine.

"I don't know what I was thinking when I got with Jonah. I think I was just... desperate," Ellody explained, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Well, I'm glad it happened, because I don't think we'd be sitting here right now if it didn't," Zach shrugged, finishing his cone and wiping his fingers on his napkin.

"OK, enough talking. It is way too cold to be sitting out here," Ellody decided, standing up. A loud rumble of thunder reached their ears, and Zach laughed.

"Sounds like we need to be quick," he grinned. The pair started to roll up the picnic rug as fast as they could in the dark, and Zach balanced it on his shoulder as they ran across the road. As Ellody opened the front door, the first droplets fell from the sky, and Zach slammed the door behind them. Breathing loudly, they ditched the rug in the garage and stopped to catch their breath at the foot of the stairs.

She caught his eye, and the pair began to laugh.

"That was too close," Ellody mumbled, running her hands through her hair. Zach nodded, beginning to walk up the stairs slowly.

"What are you guys going to do before bed?" Ellody's mum called, walking out of the kitchen and dusting her hands on her pants.

"Um, not sure. Probably just chill with Sienna," Ellody replied, glancing at Zach, who shrugged. Her mum paused to look at them both before smiling.

"The Scrabble board and Uno cards are in Sienna's closet," she suggested. Ellody tried not to roll her eyes as she followed Zach upstairs.

"OK, sure," Ellody replied quickly. They reached the top of the stairs and walked straight into Ellody's room, bursting into laughter once the door was shut.