I was running late to meet Zach. Mom and I stayed up to watch a movie together, and I had to wait until I knew for sure her and Dad were both asleep before leaving the house. I ran through the woods and smiled widely when I saw Zach waiting for me.

I climbed over the fence and set the flashlight down. I hugged him tightly and rested my head against his chest. I took in his smell and sighed contently.

“I thought you had forgotten. I was about to leave.” He kissed the top of my head. “I got you something today.”

“I was going to text you, but my phone was dead. My mom stayed up late with me.” I moved back from him and smiled. “Is it fluffy?”

“Possibly.” He moved and grabbed a Build-a-Bear box from behind the tree. He smiled as he handed it to me. I opened it and saw a bear in a Braves baseball uniform. I looked at it more closely and saw it had on Zach’s Brave’s hat. His dad’s baseball hat.

“Zach… I can’t keep that hat. It’s yours. It’s special.” I took the bear out of the box and smiled.

“So are you.” He kissed me. “And yes, you can.”

“What does this mean, Zach?” I looked at him.

He shrugged.

“You’re giving me your dad’s baseball hat; you really are serious about this whole thing, aren’t you?” At first I wanted an explanation, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that by him giving me his dad’s hat, that said way more than words ever could. I set the bear back in the box.

He nodded. “Yes, I’m serious.”

I stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you so much.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. He kissed my forehead before putting his forehead against mine. “There’s something in my pocket for you too.” He grinned down at me. “My right back pocket.”

I chewed on my lip as I reached down in his pocket, fully appreciating his amazing ass, and pulled out a phone.

I burst out laughing. “Really? Damn, Zach, you really do got it bad!”

He grinned. “Now that you’re hanging out with Sadie, we need another method. Plus, I hate having to edit myself in text. I wrote you five texts today and had to delete them.”

“And what did those five texts say?” I asked as my hands found the button on his jeans. I slowly unbuttoned them, keeping my eyes on his.

He cleared his throat a little. “I sent them to that phone.” He kept his eyes locked on mine. “I would tell ya, but I’m having trouble concentrating right now.”

“Really?” I unzipped his jeans. “Why’s that?” I grinned at him.

“You know why.” He cupped the back of my neck and leaned down to kiss me.

I laughed against his mouth. “No one will come out here, right?”

“No, but if they do, I’ll make them go missing.” His hands worked their way up the back of my shirt. “I love your skin.” He nibbled at my neck. “It’s so soft.”

I raised my arms so he could pull the shirt over my head. I was so much more confident about this than I was two nights ago. I was scared, but Zach was so careful to make sure I was comfortable. He promised each time would get better. I never imagined I could fall for someone so quickly or I could be ready to fully give my heart away, but there I was, falling and handing my heart over without hesitation.

He sat and pulled me down so my legs were on either side of him. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.

“Not true.”

He moved my hair from my shoulder. “It’s very true, Hales.” He kissed my bare shoulder as he unhooked my bra.

“I disagree, Zach.” When he looked at me, I kissed him. One of his hands wrapped itself in my hair while the other started unbuttoning my jeans. I swear, it felt like my clothes couldn’t leave my body soon enough. “It’s crazy how much I feel like I need you. I don’t think I could ever explain it.”

“I can’t either. I’ve never felt this before,” he said as I sat back from him, taking the rest of my clothes off.