Madeline POV
Six months later
A knock on the door made me lift my head.
"Come in." I said as I looked back down at my shoes.
The door opened, and someone stepped inside my room.
"Are you ready, May?" I heard Zack’s voice,
My heart skipped a beat. I lifted my head, and I had to hold back a gasp. He was so beautiful.
"Almost." I mumbled. "I’m just tying my shoes."
I looked back down. My fingers were shaking, and tying my shoes was now a bit harder.
I liked Zack. Well, I was probably in love with Zack, but I was too afraid and awkward to do anything about it. I wouldn't even know what to do. I’ve never liked anyone before. I’ve never even thought about boys before. Everyone scared me.
But Zack was different. He was so kind and patient. He made me laugh. He made me feel safe.
I had no one to talk to about liking him. My brothers would lose it if they found out. They were overprotective, and they kept everyone away from me.
Well, except Zack and Blake. They trusted them.
I lifted my head and stood up. Zack smiled at me, making my knees buckle.
"Are you nervous?" he asked.
"A little." I said, giving him a small nod.
I had to go back to school, and it scared me. Max, Milo, and I finished our last year at home. I was recovering from surgery, and they didn’t want to leave me alone. The principal allowed us to finish the year at home, but now we were going back, and I was nervous.
"Don’t be, beautiful." Zack said, giving me another small smile. "Your brothers will be there. Blake will be there. I will be there."
Zack approached me. Shivers went up and down my spine. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers touched my neck gently, and I had to force myself to stay up. I almost crumbled to the floor.
He kept his eyes on mine the entire time. I wasn’t sure if I was breathing.
"Do you trust me, Madeline?" Zack mumbled quietly.
I nodded slowly.
He looked at my lips. My muscles clenched.
"I like you, Maddie." he said, making my heart stop beating. "Well, no, that’s not true. I love you, Maddie. I’ve been in love with you for a while now."
My eyes widened. My heart raced. I could hear it in my ears. It was banging against my ribcage.
He looked back up and smiled. I was going to pass out.
"Breathe, Mads." he said as he chuckled and caressed my cheek.
I wasn’t breathing? I forced myself to take a deep breath.
"You are an amazing girl, Madeline." Zack continued. "I am head over heels in love with you. I know that you’ve been through a lot, and I am not forcing anything. I will be patient. I will wait as long as I have to wait. I will be here for you, Maddie. I will be here as a friend, hoping that some day we could be more than that."
My heart was in my throat. I couldn't speak.
Zack smiled at me and caressed my cheek again. He furrowed his eyebrows when I didn’t say anything.
"Did I scare you?" he asked worriedly.
I forced myself to shake my head.
"No." I mumbled, my voice raspy. "I’ve never thought that you would like me too. I’ve never thought that you would…"
His eyes widened, and a huge smile spread across his face. I stopped talking. What did I say?
"Too?" he asked, grinning. "As in, you like me too?"
My eyes widened. I felt heat rush to my cheeks. Did I really say that?! Oh, God, I did, didn’t I?
Zack cupped my cheeks gently and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
"I kind of knew it, but I didn’t want to say anything." he said, chuckling. "I didn’t want you to think that I was full of myself."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "How?"
"You blush a lot when you are around me." he chuckled, caressing my cheeks softly. "You don’t do that around Blake."
Oh, shit. Great.
Zack laughed at my expression.
"Don’t worry, beautiful." he said. "I am so freaking honored and incredibly happy. And it’s nice to know that I’m not full of myself. I was right. You do like me."
I rolled my eyes at him. "You could still be full of yourself."
"Yes, but you would still like me." he said, grinning at me.
I chuckled and rolled my eyes again.
"Maddie?" he called me softly. "Can I kiss you?"
My heart raced. I’ve never kissed anybody. I didn’t know how.
But I wanted to. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me.
I nodded, making him smile at me.
He leaned in, and I was sure that I was going to pass out.
His soft lips pressed against mine. I felt heat rush to my cheeks.
The kiss was short and sweet. It was perfect. It was a perfect first kiss. I felt tears in the corners of my eyes.
Zack pulled back and leaned his forehead on mine. He sighed contently.
"This is enough." he mumbled. "I would be happy if I just got to kiss you like this for the rest of my life."
I chuckled, making him lift his head and smile at me.
"We have to go." he mumbled. "We will be late."
I took a deep breath and nodded. He took my hand in his and pulled me out of the room.
My mind was in a haze. I’ve never been happy like this before.
"I swear to God, Max, I will kick your ass." I heard Sam’s voice. "Stop annoying your brother."
"I can arrest him if you want me to." I heard Will’s voice, and a huge smile spread across my face.
Zack let my hand go and chuckled. I rushed toward the kitchen.
"Will!" I exclaimed as soon as I entered the kitchen.
"Sweetheart!" he exclaimed as I ran into his open arms. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." I said, smiling brightly.
He was out of town for a few days, and I missed him terribly.
"He missed her more than his own boyfriend." Ryan scoffed, making me chuckle.
"Well, you aren’t as cute as Maddie is." Will said, pinching my cheek gently.
Ryan rolled his eyes. Will winked at me, making me smile.
"Are you ready, love?" Milo asked, and I felt his arms wrap around me from behind.
I looked up at him and nodded.
"Are you nervous?" Sam asked.
"A little." I sighed. "But Zack made me feel better about it."
I looked at him and smiled. He smirked and winked at me. I saw Max roll his eyes. Did he know something?
"Go eat your breakfast, Addie." Ryan said. "You will be late."
I nodded and sat down on the bar stool next to Max. He immediately put his arm around my waist.
"We still need to pick Blake up." Zack said.
Max nodded, pointing at my plate. "Eat, Mads."
I smiled and started eating my breakfast.
Milo sat next to me and kissed my temple. I turned my head and smiled at him.
I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I couldn't believe how my life had turned around. Only a year ago, I was tied up in a basement, waiting for my foster father to come punish me. Only six months ago, I was sleeping in my old tent, worrying about what I would eat the next day.
I couldn't believe that I was sitting in my kitchen, surrounded by the best people on this planet. I couldn't believe that they loved and wanted me. I couldn't believe that I was a part of this amazing family.
I couldn't believe that I wasn’t abandoned anymore.
I had people who loved me, and I loved them back so much.
I leaned my head on Milo’s shoulder and took a deep breath. Max tightened his arm around my waist.
I was finally back with my brothers, and no one would ever take me away from them.