Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Zach's POV.

I kept my gaze on Vega, too afraid to blink in case everything that had happened was just a dream and I was slumped off somewhere, surrounded by people trying to resuscitate me. It was surreal, but I wanted the moment to last forever.

She'd bared her soul to me, given me her body without holding back and I felt unworthy because I didn't deserve such honesty, not after everything I'd done to her.

It was the first time that someone hadn't let me go, even though I deserved it, even tho I pushed her away, even tho I'd hurt her with my words and actions. It was the first time that someone had fought to keep me, and it made my heart swell so much that I thought it would burst out of my chest.

The feeling was mind-blowing because all the hate and the ache I'd felt for the past few years seemed to be a thing of the past and as I stared at her, I wanted to lock up the moment forever, with just me and her and the precious gift she'd given me.

Her love made me feel as if I was soaring. I didn't even care if no one else ever loved me as long as she did. In my universe, she was the only one that existed for me.

Vega turned to face me and my breath hitched in my throat as I took in her flushed cheeks, her plush lips, and her bright eyes that were smiling at me. I wanted to kiss her again and again, I'd been obsessed with her before this and now I was addicted.

But what if her feelings for me faded away, what if she remembered everything that I'd done to her and she decided to leave me for someone else, someone like Ryan Mickelson? He was more handsome, wasn't petty, wouldn't hold a grudge for five whole freaking years…

"You're grabbing me too tight" she whispered and I let go of her, realizing too late that I had indeed been holding her with a death grip as I saw the light bruising forming on her wrist.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… I was just" I stopped, hating the fact that I just couldn't quit hurting her.

Her finger grazed my arm gingerly. "Stop beating yourself up about it, I'm fine and you didn't hurt me," she said, almost as if she could read my mind.

"I want to make it up to you Vega, but I don't know what to do…  I feel like I'm going to do everything wrong, I feel like one day you're going to think that you made a mistake and that you shouldn't have been with me" I confessed, letting out my doubt because the fear I felt of losing her once more was crippling.

"Let's take it one step at a time ok, I'm pretty content just knowing that you forgave me, and I love you, if that feeling didn't fade for five good years, I don't think it's going to fail now Zach. I love you, a whole freaking much." She said with a wide smile on her lips and it was so cute and infectious that I leaned in to press a quick kiss to her lips. Vega gasped, in the same instance that a camera flashed around us. I could also hear the collective gasp of those that were close by. I didn't even need to look around to know that we had some audience ogling the display. It was a freaking party after all.

Vega suddenly looked uncomfortable and I wondered if it was because she didn't want anyone to know about us. Was this a casual thing for her because I didn't want it to be?

"What's wrong?" Vega asked staring at me, and I couldn't understand how she was so perceptive of my emotions. The way she could pick up every little change boggled me but it also made feel me seen, almost special. I forced a smile, trying to ease her worry.

"There's no problem, and about the pictures of us being taken, you shouldn't worry about that, I can pay the news media so they don't release any photos you don't want online".

"Is that what you want?" she asked, her bright gaze dimming.

"I'm asking because you looked uncomfortable all of a sudden," I said, deciding to be honest.

"Well, I thought maybe you didn't want anyone to know about us… I mean… " she trailed off, looking unsure.

"I want everyone to know that you are my person Vega, so I'm not uncomfortable being seen with you at all," I assured her. "And I hope it's just going to be the two of us… you know, no seeing other people".

I watched her nervously. I didn't want to share, I didn't want to be casual and I definitely did not want to go back to the way things had been. A beautiful smile touched her lips.

"I want that too. I don't want to be with anyone else but you."

I leaned forward, rubbing my nose against her, the feeling of joy spreading like a warm tingle through my skin.

Someone cleared their throat behind us and I turned to face Andrianna, Jake, and Markus watching us, the first two with amusement, but let's just say Markus wasn't looking too pleased.

"Can you both tell me what is going on here?" Andrianna asked, acting as the spokesperson for the group.

Jake nodded. "Yeah, cause you guys were going to talk, and then you disappeared through the crowd, and now here you are, and you both don't look like you want to kill each other anymore, so did a miracle happen wherever it was you both went, and what is with the change of clothes" Jake pointed out and Vega squeaked beside me, her cheeks flaming up as she stole a glance at me before she looked back at Jake.

Maya had brought new clothes for us since we hadn't been exactly gentle while trying to get undressed. I'd ripped her dress in the heat of the moment and she'd torn my shirt open. My buttons were probably still littered about in the office. I felt my face heat up and my dick hardening in my pants as I pictured her naked, underneath me. The beautiful sound she'd made still resonated through my skin.

Markus was watching me like a hawk.

"Something spilled on my dress" Vega got out in a rush, the tip of her ear turning pink and I smirked, which earned me her glare.

Andrianna arched an eyebrow, as her lips turned upward. "I'll pretend I believe that for one second."

"I'm serious" Vega sputtered, then looked to me for help.

"It's true," I said, backing her up, and the twinkle in her eyes when she smiled at me was worth it.

"So?" Andrianna drawled, a wide grin spreading across her lips. "Is there something you want to tell us?" she said, wriggling her eyebrows, her gaze moving between us.

.

Vega's blush deepened. "We talked" she answered, her gaze slipping to mine as she reached to take my hand. "And now we're together".

I loved that there was absolutely no hesitation on her part. "Yes, Vega is my girlfriend," I said, raising our connected hands and pressing a kiss to it.

Andrianna and Jake squealed, both jumping excitedly, then they rushed to hug us before they pulled away just as fast.

"I can't believe this, Jake, can you believe this".

"Don't ask me. I feel like I'm in an alternative dimension right now. I mean this is truly shocking to me" Jake got out.

"How did this happen? I thought you were going to kill yourself or something… " she trailed off, expecting me to fill them in but I was staring at Vega again, because she radiated so much warmth, and her smile lit up the entire room.

Jake took Andrianna's arm. "I don't think we'll be getting any explanation, so you better let them be".

Andrianna pouted. "Y'all are so not fun".

My gaze slipped from her and I noticed Noah approaching us with a bewildered look on his face that only got comical when he saw us holding hands. Ugh, I was never going to hear the end of it from him when he found out about the two of us. I could already picture how he'd tease me about it in the future.

He got to us. "I'm not even going to ask for an explanation cause I could practically feel you both suffocating the atmosphere as you made googly eyes at each other".

"Says the guy whose eyes are about to pop to the floor with how surprised he is" I retorted and he laughed.

"Don't blame me, I mean just days ago we were having a conversation and you were blowing off the chart…  who knew that a day could turn that all around, Mr tough guy, I don't need anyone to love me" he mimicked and I groaned. Forget the distant future, he was already starting now.

"I hate to burst into this reunion, but I have unanswered questions, and if y'all didn't notice, I'm still pouting over it," Andrianna said, her voice slightly raised.

"You'll get all your answers after the party, are we cool," Vega said and Andrianna nodded.

"That's fair enough".

Noah stepped towards Vega and I frowned, keeping an eye on all his gestures. He better not touch her!

"Vega, it's good to see you again… "

"Hold it right there" Vega cut in and Noah paused, a puzzled look on his face. "Zach told me everything and let's just say, you're not in my book of grace right now".

I smirked inside as Noah's jaw dropped to the floor.

"That's insane, you're aware Zach is the main culprit right, so why am I the one being punished. I did everything he said to, you should be mad at him, not me".

"He's apologized, and you were supposed to be a friend, so yeah, I can forgive Zach, but you my friend, you're going to have to earn it".

Jake looked around, clearly not understanding what was going on. "Ok, well that was fun, now can we all get drunk and get out of here".

"We can't. We still have to meet some of our friends, and by friends, I mean business associates" Vega said, then glanced at me.

"Yeah, it's all part of the event and if we don't they might think that we're too proud or something".

Markus cleared his throat and we all turned to look at him since he'd mostly been quiet throughout our conversation.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he said, his gaze serious and I nodded, although it killed me to let go of Vega and walk away from her.

*****

"You said you wanted to talk" I reminded after some seconds of him and I just standing and staring at each other. He crossed his arms, then regarded me with narrowed eyes.

"Are you playing games with Vega?"

"I'm not… "

"Yeah, you better not" he cut in viciously. "I know what she had to go through after you left, and then there were also the countless rejections from the guys she went out with. I know you might think that I'm doing this for selfish reasons but am not. Vega is my friend, and I care about her, so if this is all some petty way of you getting back at her for what happened in college then you have to back the fuck bro, or you'll have me to deal with" he threatened, meaning every word and I knew exactly where he was coming from. If he knew half of what I did to Vega, I was sure he wasn't even going to let me within an inch of her.

"I understand and I give you my word. I'm going to take care of her, and also do my best to make up for what I did, what I put her through. It was all my fault and I'm sorry".

Markus sighed, then exhaled. "That was convincing but you'll still have to pass the ultimate test so I know how truly serious you are," he said with a smirk.

I squared my shoulder, ready for whatever he had to throw at me. "I'll do anything to prove my love for Vega".

Markus smiled. "Good, because you're going to have to FaceTime her Mom, and tell her what your plans are for her daughter, and let me tell you, that woman can sniff out lies from a mile away and if she does, she's going to drop everything she's doing over there, fly here, and whoop your ass".

I admit I did not see that coming but it made me feel good. I did want to talk to her mom and make it all official.

"Then I better get to it," I said, feeling my smile stretch across my lip. Markus patted my shoulder.

"That's good man. Welcome to the fold" he grinned, and it felt good that I was suddenly part of a social circle, and I knew they were real too because they didn't give a fuck that I was Dante's son or any of the other bullshit. They saw me as an individual, they saw me as me and I didn't have to buy that acknowledgment from them either.

My neck prickled and I turned around, my eyes darting at the crowd of people mingling and having fun as a feeling of unease settled within my chest. Someone had been watching me. I was sure of it.