Shadow

Chapter 13

I run my hand through Zach's hair as I read my book. Nyx and Tilly left to go get something and Zach ended up coming over, complaining about a headache. I was doing something my mom had taught me and he fell asleep so now I am playing with his hair as I read my book.

When I finish my book I get my phone and go back to looking for apartments. I still run my fingers through Zach's hair as he sleeps with his head on my lap. A message from Tilly pops up, letting me know that they are on their way and traffic is worse than they thought it was going to be. I look out the window to see snow falling, at least Zach got a fire in the fireplace to help it stay warm in here.

After not finding anything that looks nice I turn my phone off and grab another book nearby to read. I stop running my fingers through Zach's hair when I yawn before going back to it. He hasn't moved much but it is fine with me. He needs sleep, he has been running around to do some things and hasn't been getting much rest.

I end up falling asleep before I can close my book and put it somewhere so it doesn't fall. I guess I can pick it up when I wake up. I am sure it will be way before Tilly and Nyx get back. It is snowing and tonight is Christmas Eve, all last-minute errands are being done so traffic is going to be horrible.

I wake up to the sound of a camera clicking, Zach does too. We look over to see Tilly standing there with her phone out. She quickly runs off, not wanting to be here where we could take her phone and delete the photo. I stretch a bit while Zach gets up. He bends down and hands me the book I was reading. I grab it and quickly flip through it to find the page I was on before putting it on the table.

Our phones buzz and we look at the message. Tilly sent the picture to us, saying that she promised to not send it to anyone else. I smile a little before saving it. We do look pretty cute in the picture.

"Zach, Zillah, Tilly! Get in here!"

We walk into the kitchen and stop in the doorway to see what Nyx wanted. Both her and Tilly are smiling, "look at that. Now Zach has to kiss Leyla."

We both look at each other before looking up to see mistletoe hanging above us. I should have known something like this was going to happen. She didn't have any hanging in their usual places. Both Zach and I would avoid the usual places and when we saw that they weren't there we just thought that she forgot to put it up this year.

We both look back at each other, "we-"

"Really shouldn't." Zach looks at Tilly.

"Come on you two, keep the tradition alive will you."

Zach looks at me and kisses me on my cheek. Tilly frowns before walking out, "we tried mom..."

Once she is gone I look at Nyx who has a smile on her face. I turn back to tell Zach something but before I can he dips me as he kisses me. I grab onto his shirt even though I know he won't drop me. When he pulls away he looks down at me with a smile.

"Gotta keep the tradition alive."

I smile up at him before we stand back up. I fix my shirt before walking back to the couch, "yup."

It doesn't take long before we are all sitting in the living room, near the fire with a cup of hot chocolate in our hands as we talk about the plans for tomorrow. The only time we will have a mission until next year is if it is an emergency. I guess you can say that we are off until then, you never really get any days off though. There is always something that you are doing for the leagues. No matter what day it is.

Zach leans over towards me, "have you found an apartment yet?"

"No... have any recommendations?"