“We never really talked about what you’ve been up to,” Zoe mentions, keeping her gaze directed forward as we walk along with the lunchtime crush of pedestrians. “Are you married?”

I hold in the smile twitching my lips. If she’s asking me this question, then she must be interested. Or at the very least - curious. “No, I’ve never been married or even come close.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve been waiting for the right woman, I guess. I’ve never felt the need to settle for spending my life with someone just for the sake of companionship. And this job isn’t conducive to relationships, unless the other person works in a similar field.”

“Yeah, I understand what you mean. My parents were happily married. I’d like to have a relationship like theirs.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?” Her head flips in my direction.

“I know you’re not married.”

“Wait.” She holds up a hand, cutting me off. “How do you know I’m not?”

“No ring.” I smirk.

“Maybe I just don’t wear it to work?” She smiles.

“Turning my own words on me, huh?” The corner of my mouth quirks up teasingly.

“You remember that conversation we had?”

“I told you, I remember everything about you. Did you think I was lying?”

Her head snaps forward and her chin lowers to disguise the pink tinge sweeping over her cheeks. “I wasn’t sure what your motive for saying it was.”

“Zoe.” Placing my hand on her arm, I draw her to the inner edge of the sidewalk, pausing in front of a comic book store. My hands slide up to rest on her shoulders. “I know a lot of time has passed, but I’m still the same guy I was back then. I’ll never lie to you. If I say something, I mean it. I don’t waste words. You’ll never have to search for hidden messages with me. This isn’t a game - you’re not a game for me, or some challenge I want to conquer.”

Her sky colored eyes stare up into mine flicking back and forth between them. “What are you thinking?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t understand where all this is coming from. Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

She throws her hands up in the air. “Whatever this is.”

“You need to be more specific.” I push her. I want her to say the words. She needs to deal with the fact I still have feelings for her and I’m almost positive she reciprocates them.

“I’m not sure what to call it. Are you pursuing me, or just fucking with me for the fun of it?”

My hands tighten on her shoulders. “I told you I won’t say things I don’t mean. If you need one hundred percent clarity on what I’m doing, let me lay it out for you. I have feelings for you. I always have, but you were too young to act on them before.”

“That’s your take on it. I wasn’t too young, but you just made that decision for me.”

“Well, you’re not too young now, so it really doesn’t matter.”

“The hell it doesn’t. Don’t I get a voice in this?”

“Can you honestly say you don’t have feelings for me?” I edge closer until there’s barely an inch separating us. “You don’t feel this energy sparking between us?” My fingers trail down, flexing into the lean muscles of her upper arms. “I want to kiss your lips and taste every inch of your mouth until you’re breathless and begging for more.” Her eyes widen with surprise. “And that’s only the beginning of what I want to do to you.”

Her lips part and close twice before she finally speaks. “Nash.” My name is a hoarse whisper. Whether it’s a plea or a denial, I’m not certain.

I never know how Zoe will react. She’s stubborn. If I say she’ll do one thing, she’s liable to do the other just to prove me wrong.

“What do you want, Zoe? Tell me and I’ll make it happen.”

She runs her teeth over her bottom lip and lowers her eyes to the sidewalk. The silence stretches on and while neither of us have moved apart, the figurative distance between us feels as though it’s rapidly growing.

My hands raise and cup her cheeks, drawing her focus, I direct her to look at me once again. “Zoe, don’t shut down on me. I think I’ve made it clear I want to explore this connection we have. See what it can become. What do you want?” Her skin unbelievably soft and warm against my palms has me imagining what the rest of her would feel like under my exploring caresses. “Answer me.”

She visibly swallows and licks her lips. “I think we need to keep anything that might have been in the past where it belongs.”

I step back and let my hands fall to my sides. Flashing her a grim version of a grin, I shrug my shoulders trying to appear nonchalant. “We can chalk it up to a missed opportunity and never speak of it again.” I resume walking toward work and she scurries to follow.

“Nash, I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? I wouldn’t want you pretending to have feelings for me. I’m glad you’re being honest.” But I know she’s lying to herself and it’s only a matter of time before she’s forced to face the truth.