Summer: Day 31

Zach's POV:

"Zachariah! Where's your hoodie?" Mackenzie asks, frantically running around in her bra and blue-washed jeans. She had woken up later than she wanted to and was ten minutes later than usual.

I chuckle at her desperate state and cross my arms over my chest as I lean back against the counter. "Kenz, you've looked everywhere but one place."

She glares at me, her eyes forming small slits. "Well I'm positive I saw it around here last night."

I tug on the drawstrings of my hoodie and flip the hood over my head. "I wonder where it is," I say with a cough.

She walks over to me and lifts it halfway up my stomach, causing my insides to turn. "Stupid idiot, I told you I wanted to wear it to work today," she grumbles, her five-foot-two figure looking incredibly tempting and sexy. "Off," she demands.

"Okay okay." I laugh and pull the sweatshirt over my head, groaning as I stretch my limbs. With a lazy smile on my lips, I hand her the hoodie and she gives me a grin in return.

"Thanks babe," she says with a tiny wink. God this little flirt.

"Do I get a kiss?" I close my eyes and lean down to her level.

I hear her let out a small giggle before ruffling up my hair and walking away. "Ready to go? I should've left like—"

"So it's a no on the kiss then?" I ask, opening my eyes and raising a brow at her.

She leans up and pecks my lips. "Happy?"

"I'll work with it," I shrug.

Pulling her to my chest when she doesn't expect it, I capture her lips onto mine to show her what a real kiss is supposed to be like. She instantly moans against my mouth and tries to push herself away, only making me wrap my arms around her tighter.

"Zach," she gasps, her body still flush against my own. "We really gotta go—I'm gonna be late."

"But—" I sigh.

"Just come visit me at work today," she offers, running a hand through her hair as she collects herself and walks towards the door.

I follow her down the hallway of the apartment complex after she locks the front door, and I can't help the dumb grin stretched out across my face while I watch her walk in front of me, her hips moving innocently from left to right. Just the plain image of her in my hoodie has me feeling things I never thought I'd let myself feel. An emotion I thought I closed off forever.

My mind suddenly drifts off to last night; the way she held me, touched me, trusted me; the way she let me in, in ways she hadn't ever let anyone in before. I knew I was deeply entrenched in her spell, and I couldn't help the twist in my stomach when I realized she was affected by me in the same way.

Because I saw it in her eyes, and eyes never lie. Mackenzie Lemay was an easy book to read, yet so deep, so enthralling, and above all else—she had me hooked in so many ways. I was completely absorbed in her, only her.

Simp.

That's all I could repeat in my mind.

So what, we're all simps in one way or another.

Mackenzie drops me off at my house on her way to work, and I walk into my house—a place I feel like I haven't been at for ages. When I told Corey I wasn't moving in with Mackenzie, I really meant it because that's a big step in a relationship; but it sort of kinda feels like we're living together despite what I thought.

But hey, I'm not complaining in any way. I think I have horrible attachment issues now. Going to LA proved that.

I seriously couldn't believe I was dying without her being around. Without knowing if she was okay, without holding her for a whole day, kissing her—I don't even know how I was able to resist her for so long. Her lips, her smile, her laugh, her voice, those beautiful green eyes that light up when I say her name.

And that's when I realized what I was feeling.

I love Mackenzie.

With all my heart and mind and soul. Completely head over heels for her with every bone in my body, and every breath that I take. No one will ever make me feel like she does. No one. And that's when I realized I've found my forever. The girl I'd do anything for.

I finally let myself feel it, a heavy weight from my shoulder lifting. The very thought of admitting it made me feel like the king of the world.

I love Mackenzie.

I'll never get tired of that thought.

My brother comes walking down the hall as I sit slack against the couch, his hair messy and eyes droopy with bags under them. "Well you look like shit," I remark, giving him a once over. His shirt is wrinkled, and his stubble is fresh as if he didn't shave.

"Way to point out the obvious," he grumbles, walking into the kitchen. He makes himself a cup of coffee and chooses to sit down next to me on the couch.

"What's got you in such a mess?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing," he deadpans. "I've just been crunched on time recently."

Oh yeah, he's working on that case for dad. "I know about the report you're working on, I met with dad a couple days ago."

"Oh really?" he asks, surprised. "I thought you've been hanging out with Mackenzie too much to realize there are other things in life."

"Other than Mackenzie?" I say, laughing a bit. "You're one to talk, claiming she's your world and shit. Like god help me please, you're the world's biggest simp." I come in a close second, perhaps first. But Kylar, he takes his 'loving' Mackenzie to a different level.

"At least I see her worth," he explains, shrugging his shoulders.

"You don't, that's the thing," I tell him, gesturing at his current state. "You've done a lot of shit over the last month. You fought with Mackenzie for a week, started dating her enemy, got in touch with dad again and hid it from her, and above everything else, you're planning to put her dad in jail without even letting her know. That's one hell of a friend you are." I sarcastically clap my hands and stand up from my spot on the couch.

He stands up to follow me. "Well you've done a lot of crap over the last few years—"

"You walk right over her and then claim you love her," I say, trying to keep my calm. "I know I hurt her, but at least I didn't say something while I was doing another. When I cut her out back then, I cut her out completely and didn't lead her on."

"But she forgave you so easily," he adds, glaring at me. "Who says she won't forgive me too?"

"Stop acting like you know us, we're as complicated as it gets. You're just mad I call you out on all your bullshit when I'm around. I show her who you really are," I say, the blood in my veins growing hotter.

"That's fucking insane," he seethes. "You two are the most readable people in the books. The bad boy turns good for the good girl, and she loses her innocence to him while the guy she should be going after is left as an afterthought. You guys aren't complicated at all, it's all so simple." My brother is such a nerd.

"There's a reason the girl goes after the quote-on-quote 'bad boy,'" I say, chuckling at him. "He's not afraid to break the rules, he helps her live a little, shows her the world, and brings her to hell and back."

"She shouldn't have to know what hell is," he argues, his brown eyes fueling with red.

"Yeah, well all relationships go to hell, but only real relationships get through it."

And as if he couldn't get more angry, his glare deepens. "So you admit it, you two are going behind my back and sleeping with each other?"

"So what? We kiss, we hold hands, we eat breakfast together," I say, listing off all the PG-13 things Mackenzie and I have done together. "She plays with my hair, I tell her how pretty she is, and I let her make me feel things. So fucking what? What are you gonna do about it?"

"So she lied to me?" he asks, anger still written on his face.

"No, she never lied, we just gave you half of the truth." I take a step towards him, lifting my chin in the air with a nod. "Mackenzie and I are friends, but I guess we just forgot to specify what kind of friends we are."

Kylar scoffs. "So you did this to deliberately hurt me?"

"I did this because I love her and didn't want her losing your guys' friendship," I say through gritted teeth. "So you better stop being a pussy and just own up to the fact that I have her—because you can be sure as hell that I'm not letting go any time soon."

When he's heard enough, he clenches his jaw so hard, I think he's gonna break his teeth. And instead of spitting useless venom out of his mouth, his fist finds my cheek and lightly grazes my nose in a punch.

I take the hit and stand still, unfazed and undazed. "Hit me again," I challenge. "I dare you."

Kylar looks at his hand one more time before diving it into my face again, and I can almost instantly feel a cut gushing through the bridge of my nose.

I glare at him with devil eyes and nod. "Are you done?"

He chuckles evilly, reclining his arm back again. "Far from it."

But before he can punch me again, I grab his wrist and yank it down, growling. "I let you hit me twice, but I will not let you hit me again. Ever."

"You love her," he says slowly, his face red with anger and pale-white in worry. "You love her, you liar! You've always loved her and that's why you told me to go after her, to hurt me and to let me get my hopes up. That's why you strung her along all these years, why you pulled at her heart. You never really cut her off. Once she'd start to get over you—you'd do these stupid things that would make her love you all over again!" he accuses, steam fuming through his ears. "You bastard! You sick, disgusting, horrible bitch. You did it again this summer, and when it's over, are you gonna go back to hating her guts again? After all, you can't stand being around her."

"Do not use my fucking words against me," I say, balling my hands into fists. "Make up whatever story you want to for yourself, whatever helps you sleep at night. But for you to insult me, I would first have to value your opinion."

"And I wonder what she sees in you," he says, confused and mystified with so much hate in his eyes.

"She sees the real me, not the fucked up version of me in your head."

And I don't want to hear his response, because I've heard far too many words from him to care about what else he had to say about me. I gallantly walk out of the house with my car keys, swinging them nonchalantly around my index finger. I need Mackenzie.

She is my willpower. She is my strength. The drug I need.

I pick Corey up on my way to the coffee shop Mackenzie works at, take it that he was bored as always and I needed a friend to keep me company. Corey can always sense when I'm stressed, uneasy, apprehensive, but he would've never thought it'd be over a girl. And sadly, I couldn't tell him why I was acting like this because the person he thinks is dating his sister loves a different girl.

When we get to the cafe, Corey and I walk up towards the glass doors and I feel the anger boiling throughout my body.

He was touching her shoulder as he said something. And then she laughed. She laughed. And then she glared at him with her death stare and made a comment that caused him to laugh. He laughed.

Okay, what the hell is going on here?

Corey is so absorbed in reading something on his phone that he doesn't see me tear open the door to the coffee shop and walk right up to the counter. "I'll take a pour over," I say, breaking up Mackenzie and the tall guy's conversation—the guy I don't recognize at all.

When Mackenzie turns her face towards me, she blushes and her face lights up. Instantly, her smile drops. "Oh my god, what happened to your face?"

"Had an encounter with the devil," I reply, shrugging. "My coffee?"

Her eyes gloss over with worry before she gulps. "Okay." Mackenzie pulls out a coffee mug and pours a cup for me.

"No room for cream?" the guys asks behind her. "You're supposed to ask him that, Mackenzie."

Mackenzie? And who the hell does he think he is calling her Mackenzie?

This entitled asshole.

"He drinks his coffee black," she says with a toothy grin. That's right baby, tell him.

"How'd you know?" he asks, furrowing the dark eyebrows above his gray eyes. And then, as if a light bulb went off in his mind, he says, "Zachariah Montgomery? Quarterback of UCLA—" Here we go again.

"Monty," I introduce myself.

"So he's really your friend?" the man asks, looking down at her.

She nods nervously, doing that lip biting thing that she does. "Yep."

"I'm the boyfriend," I announce, raising a challenging eyebrow at him.

He chuckles, nodding. "She never mentioned a boyfriend." Of course she didn't.

"What's going on?" Corey asks, joining my side and sticking his phone in his pocket. "What kinda tea is brewing here?"

Mackenzie smiles. "We have Earl Gray, chai, sweet black tea—"

"He means drama, Kenz." I let out a small laugh when her cheeks turn a slight shade of light pink.

"Oh." She hands me my cup of coffee and tucks a piece of her brown hair behind her ear.

I pay for the coffee and take a sip. "Missed you," I murmur, leaning against the counter as Corey excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

"You saw me this morning," she retorts, keeping her voice low as the guy behind her examines me.

"What's your problem?" I ask him.

"The name's Deacon," he deadpans.

I feel anger, see anger, I am anger. This is who's been trying to get in my freaking Mackenzie's pants? No thanks. His looks might be inviting for some, but Mackenzie is mine.

"So you're the guy who likes to hit on girls who are way out of your league?" I ask in a taunting way.

"Don't make a scene," Mackenzie whispers, pleading with her eyes.

"I won't," I promise her, looking back at Deacon with a cold-stone face. "Can you do us both a favor and stop flirting with my girlfriend? You make her uncomfortable."

"She hasn't said anything about being uncomfortable," he says, unamused.

I catch Mackenzie ball up her fists and inhale sharply. Taking that as my cue, I say, "I'm sure she's dropped you many hints. I'd appreciate it if you acted more civilized around her, and stopped harassing her."

"It isn't harassment when the other person leads you on," he explains.

"Tough," I scoff. "Mackenzie doesn't lead people on. If she wants something, she gets it—no questions asked. I'm sorry that she doesn't fall at your feet." I take another drag of my coffee, and Corey comes back.

"Dammit, what did I miss this time?" he asks, a frown on his face. "I always miss the drama."

"Shut up, Corey," Mackenzie snaps, her fiery side finally coming out. "Can you just grow a pair of balls Deacon and listen to Zachariah? He's telling you what I've been trying to engrave in your mind all week. This isn't happening between us. You're my boss for Pete's sake!"

That's my girl!

Corey whistles. "Damn your girl's got some fire in her system to talk to her boss like that."

Deacon surrenders. "Alright, have it your way."

She lets out huff and visibly relaxes. "Thank god," she mutters.

I lean forward and tilt her chin up so that she looks at me. She flutters her eyelashes and I can't resist her, so I say, "Kiss me."

"I'm at work—"

"Does it look like I care?" I ask, getting lost in her field of green, evergreen eyes.

She leans over the counter to kiss my lips and I sigh. "No more," she scolds, blushing. "Never again, not at work."

Pleased, I smile. "I'll be over there if you need me," I say, nodding to the table in the back.

"Okay," she says, running a hand through her hair.

And as I walked to the table, I couldn't believe that of all the places to work, she had to choose one with a prick of a boss. We are definitely gonna have to talk about this.

Author's Note:

AWHHH who missed Zachariah's POV, hehe? And omg he admitted his love for her to himself <3

Happy surprise update again! Make sure to vote and comment! A lot went down...