Forever Glamorous

Chapter 22

He moved over to her pants, where the worst of the stains stared back at them. She bit down on her lip at how terrible it all looked. He soaked it with the mixture, and she watched as it faded away slowly.

Once the stains seemed to be mostly gone, Zachary loaded the washing machine and placed her clothes inside.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said, after finishing up.

Aura nodded as he picked up the detergent and hydrogen peroxide and placed it to the side. He turned to her, studying her face before reaching a hand to her.

Without a moment's thought, she met his hand with hers, interlacing their fingers together. They stood there for a second, just basking in each other's presence as the washing machine continued its cycle.

"I'm sorry for Millie," Zachary said. "She can be a bit much sometimes." He shrugged, as if he had seen that type of behavior many times before.

"It's whatever." Aura sighed. It wasn't like she could do anything about it. At least her clothes weren't ruined and they were getting cleaned.

"It's not," he argued. "I invited you to dinner so we can all have a good time together, and she's acting like a kid." He huffed and let go of her fingers. Leaning onto the drying machine and staring at the blank wall in front of him, he ran a hand through his blond hair as she stepped closer to him.

"Thank you for dinner, by the way," she said.

He looked down at her and opened his arms for her. She stepped in obediently. She was careful not to press her face on his white shirt, but let her forehead lightly graze his shoulder.

His closest arm wrapped around her waist, bringing her closer to his body. Her heart raced as she looked up at the clouded, stormy sky that was his eyes.

"From the moment I met you, you have been something like a dream. I fear that if I reach out to you, you might disappear."

Aura blushed, not knowing what to say. After such a long time being the one tiptoeing around the other person, she never knew what it was like to have a guy do the same around her. She wondered if he would end up like most of them: wanting an actual relationship. She didn't even live there, so that would end in a disaster. But gazing up at those eyes, she realized she didn't mind being swept up by the storm.

"Poetic much?" She managed to say.

He smiled, and it was like lightning. Maybe not physically, but that's what it felt like in her heart. She anticipated thunder.

"You caught my eye, Aura Chandler." He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to stare directly into the storm. "What do you suppose we do about it?"

She placed a hand over his heart, feeling every rise and fall of his chest. With his other arm, he tightened his grip on her.

She resisted the urge to smirk, seeing as he was the one making all the moves. She didn't want to throw him off. Moreover, after the red wine incident, she wasn't in the mood to set it all up to knock it down. She was more than fine to let him lead her to wherever refuge he found.

"You tell me," she breathed out.

His lips tilted upwards as he leaned down to meet hers.

That's when the thunder rumbled all around. She felt like she was flying away in the winds of the storm.

It was that cheesy. It had been so long since she had felt that thrill. Since that one guy who literally fell to his knees, pleading for a relationship.

She smiled into the kiss, and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer.

"Whoa," he breathed out. His voice had gone an octave lower. He brought a hand to cup her cheek as she stared at his inviting smile.

"Agreed," she giggled.

They were about to connect again when the washing machine beeped, ending its cycle.

Zachary frowned and turned to her once more. "Eh, it can spare five minutes."

She laughed as he picked her up and placed her on top of the drying machine. She hooked her legs around his waist and sent a mental thank you to Millie. Her plan to ruin Aura had truly blown up in her face.