The Struggles of Growing Up-Completed

Chapter 3

I take a minute to add some lip gloss and when I walk in the living room, I find Zach chatting with my mom on the couch. He stands up and his mouth is wide open.

Yes!

He's wearing a navy blue blazer jacket with a gray button up shirt and black pants. He is handsome.

"Bye sweetie." My mom says as she leaves the room. I walk over to Zach. His eyes are beaming behind his black glasses, and gives me a charming half smile. 

"Wow, you look amazing. You know I love that dress." He says, smiling at me. I blush.

"I know. You look handsome too."

"Don't I always?" He says while giving me another movie star smile. I roll my eyes at him.

"Let's go 'hot shot.'" He takes my hand and leads me to the car.

The steakhouse is beyond nice. White table cloths and gold accents decorate the whole room. People are eating, smiling and having a great time. I quickly glance at Zach and he has a sad face. I frown, and am about to ask 'what's wrong' when the host asks our names. There was a fifteen minute wait, but once he hears the name "Zach Taylor", a table magically appears. Yes, our history has certainly won us some perks. 

We sit down and Zach orders a bottle of champagne. 

"This is so nice Zach, but we could have gone somewhere else." I assure. He shrugs.

"I'm the new CFO of the biggest environmental technology company in the U.S. It's my treat." He brags. I smile pops up on my face, and I forget all about his sour look from before. 

"You took the job! I'm so happy for you." I take his hand from across the table.

"Thanks to you. You helped me get over my... fear."

"You helped me with mine years ago." He smiles at me. "Well, I have something to tell you." I begin to tell him about my mom, New York, the house and about Maia. By the time the whole story was finished, our food had arrived.

"So that means we won't really be able to go out the whole summer?" He says, mildly dissappointed.

"Yeah, but I mean I haven't done anything for my mom lately, and she really needs this job. Plus, I get a house out of this."

"True. And how are things, with your mom now?" 

Things are really looking up for us, aren't they?" He looks at me with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Yeah, they are. When do you start your job?"

"Tomorrow. Bright and early on a Monday morning." He gives me a fake enthusiastic smile.

"Well, I'm going to sleep in and marvel at the fact that I finally have a day with no work or school. Although, I am going to need a job soon." I ponder.

"I will need an assistant." He jokes.

"Hmm... assistant to the Zach Taylor... I might take you up on that. You might have to watch out though, they might want to give your job to me." I joke. He scoffs.

"Oh really? Cocky, are we Emmaline?" I blush. My boldness just expired. "And I'm not that famous."

"No, of course not." say sarcastically. "Even though people know we're dating, you are still one of the, and I quote, 'hottest and most prestigious business man in the country"'. I raise my eyebrow at him. He tries to hide his amusement.

"If Im not mistaken, I think I hear a hint of jealousy." He challenges. Now it's my turn to scoff. Oh really?

"Merely just stating the facts, Zachary." I take a sip of my champagne. This is fun.