Strut the Mall (Love at Westbrook Mall #4)

44. Valued

44

Valued

We couldn’t spend all day in bed. As much as I enjoyed cuddling with Zack, we were on a time limit, so after about five minutes, I rolled out of our cocoon.

He groaned and grappled at my backside. “Where are you going?”

“I need to make the video, and you need to get back,” I said.

His normally loud voice was half-muffled by a pillow. “Do you need any help?”

“I have a tripod.” I grabbed a pair of Theo’s old boxers as part of my costume. Would it be weird to put them on after having sex with Zack? As much as I loved the idea of petty revenge, I didn’t want to disrespect my new relationship, so I put my undies on for a protective layer, then wiped off my sticky foot.

Zack furrowed his brow. “What kind of video is this?”

“Inspirational outfit creation. Don’t worry about it. Now, hit the showers.” I smacked his ass.

His disbelieving laugh shot through the room. “Are you kicking me out after sex?”

“No, I’m being efficient. Wouldn’t want you to get sacked over…rolling in the sack with me.” I huffed. Okay, I didn’t exactly know football terms, but he got the idea.

My beefcake smirked and stretched out. “I still wish I could stay. Talk. Cuddle. Whatever.”

I propped my hands on my hips. “I don’t know if you’re capable of ditching work. You’re too responsible.”

He shrugged. “I ditched math class. What genius scheduled that at eight a.m.?”

I giggled and fluffed out one of Theo’s old shirts. “Something had to be first, I guess.”

“If I ever go back to school for fireman stuff, I’m gonna fix my schedule. I need to ease into the day with music or wake up at the gym.” He grunted and rocked himself into enough momentum to get off the bed.

I eyed his soft but still prominent member. “We could work out in the mornings.”

He grinned and flexed his chest. “Is that an invitation to breakfast?”

“No. It’s a general suggestion.” All these fuzzy feelings were tangled in a heap of uncertainty. When would the other shoe drop? After the orgasm wore off, would he still want a relationship with me?

“I’ll take it.” He squeezed my hip, then kissed me deeply.

Warmth flooded my cheeks. I sucked on his lips, biting gently.

He muffled an indignant groan, then slid his hand into my tangled hair. It had to be half-dry by now.

Oh, god. With my red face and sex-hair, I was going to be a mess on camera.

The blissed-out smile on Zack’s face was worth it, though. Love looked good on everyone.

A few minutes later, I finally managed to set up the camera while Zack rinsed off. It was an easy video. I showed off Theo’s wardrobe, then twirled or jumped into each transition to add another piece.

Brand. Cost. Pose.

The shower streamed steady in the background. Of course, I wouldn’t use the audio in real-time. I’d overlay a song or something. Maybe if Zack’s band needed promo…

I shook my head and laced up the Zeezy’s. This was about me.

I spun and danced in the shoes as if they were red-bottom designer heels. My high-kick at the end sent the too-big shoe flying through the open door.

I covered my mouth with both hands. Shit. I couldn’t ruin those shoes. Zack vouched for me with that warehouse guy, and these were way too expensive to replace for one short video. The sneaker smacked hard against the hallway wall, then thumped to the floor.

Zack cackled. “Did you just throw a shoe at me?”

“No, it was loose.” I dashed out to grab it and caught a glimpse of the grinning, half-dressed quarterback through the door crack. Heat flashed through my cheeks. Was it weird my heart still raced when I saw him? I sprinted into my bedroom.

“What were you doing?” His heavy footsteps sounded behind me.

“Dancing.” I jumped just in case I needed one more shot of Theo’s outfit for editing, then peeled the clothes off.

“Whoa, I thought you said this wasn’t that kind of video.” Zack’s smile twitched. He propped his arm on the doorframe, his bicep flexed. Thankfully, he didn’t seem mad.

I hurried over to my closet. “This part will be cut. I change into my clothes at the end.”

“Normal clothes? Or are you gonna wear something like that sexy red dress? The one you got on our lunch break?”

“You remember? It must’ve made quite an impression.” I smirked and ran the silky fabric through my fingers. As fabulous as this dress was, it didn’t sit right with me for this final shot. I slipped into my robe. “I’m saving it for a date.”

“With me?”

I flipped my hair out of the collar of my robe for a moment of flirty, comfortable, nakedness a la a shampoo ad. “Are you asking me out?”

He wrinkled his brow in adorable puzzlement. “Yes?”

Was it still a question?

“That wasn’t exactly romantic.” I grabbed Theo’s stuff, collecting a little ball of chaos in my arms with the Zeezy’s as the cherry on top. “You know, it’s fine if you need more time to figure stuff out.”

“More time for what? Going back to work or coming up with a game plan?”

“To start a relationship again," I said.

“We just had sex,” he said. “I think it’s already started.”

I hugged Theo’s crap tighter. “Yes, but you might not have been thinking with the right head. Once the orgasm wears off, you might regret moving so fast.”

He frowned and edged closer. “Do you regret it?”

“No.” I loved having sex with him. I loved cuddling even more. And his laugh? Our banter? It was better than anything I could manufacture for a camera.

“So, we can do this again,” he clarified.

I shrugged and let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. Our values don’t align. That’s what you said.”

He cupped my face between his hands. “I value you. All of you.”

Well, damn. Finally . I grinned, my cheeks hot against his palms. “You have good taste.”

“My cool girlfriend must have rubbed off on me.” He squeezed his eyes shut and flushed. “Um, sorry, I meant—”

“I know what you meant.” I chuckled, then leaned in for a kiss.

We squashed the clothes between us in a firm embrace. My fingertips grazed his chest. Perfect.

He rubbed his thumbs across my cheekbones. “I’m going to work on myself, Nic. I’m gonna figure out how to get my confidence back, what path I want to take beyond getting health insurance. You make me feel like I’m that invincible quarterback again, like I can have dreams and enjoy my life without worrying about what people think.”

“You will. It’ll take time. But I’ll be here for it. Just show me you’re really in this.” I squeezed his hands.

“I will, Nic.”

We sealed his declaration with a kiss. Part of our dream was a happily-ever-after, and I knew we’d keep working at it.

While he got dressed, I finished the video.

So far, it’d been straightforward. The captions would read things like:

Armando and Hitch T-shirt: $25

For the last shot, I smiled at the camera and tossed the armfuls of stuff into a box.

I already had the caption planned:

Finding your self-worth? Priceless.