Goose bumps had begun to pucker my skin and the fair hairs on my arms stood on end as a cool draft swept in across my unshielded shoulders. The rough carpet dug into my back as I clung to his chest - Zach rested his warm hand on my bare waist, his shirt just managing to stretch across our bodies as a makeshift blanket. He was still panting. His body sheened with sweat and his hair stuck to his forehead, his eyes dark and hot with ardour. The familiar heat crawled up my neck and my cheeks set on fire when I recalled our fiery reunion. 

         "Lou. Lou. I fucking love you."

He had repeated over and over, my name like a frenzied prayer on his lips. 

I touched his collar bone with my fingertip, allowing myself to trace his skin and convince myself he was actually here. I still couldn't believe it. He watched hesitantly for a few seconds before rolling over so he was leaning on his elbows above me.

"Happy birthday." he grinned devillishly. 

"Shut up." I hissed, snatching his shirt and cocooning myself with it. He laughed, bending down to kiss my forehead. 

"My, my. Moody, aren't we?" he whispered as he curled a strand of my hair around his finger. "It seems you're getting grumpy with your old age."

"Old?" I whipped off my cocoon angrily, and he raised his eyebrows cheekily as he ran his gaze down my body. "Twenty one is not old. You must be at least thirty by now!"

He gasped dramatically, letting out a deep laugh. "I'm twenty eight!"

"Still pretty close. The big three-zero is nearing!" I joked, prodding his stomach. "You'll be bald with a beer belly soon enough." 

"I didn't know Phil was your type." he quipped, a smirk curving his lips as he pinned my wrists to floor above my head. 

"He isn't." I huffed. 

"So who is? The Scot?" he suddenly questioned, a serious tone in his voice. 

"What are you talking about?" I narrowed my eyes. 

"I saw the way you looked at him." he muttered as he moved away from me and rose to his feet, scooping his clothes up from the floor. He distanced himself to the other side of the room, shrugging on his clothes as I stared at him. 

"I don't understand what you're implying." I retorted, but I knew very well what he was thinking.

"What would your answer have been if I hadn't interrupted? Would you have gone out with him?" he shot his answers at me like harsh bullets, dragging his jeans up over his knees to his hips and fastening them with fumbling fingers. 

Where was this coming from?

"No! I would have said no. I don't like Lachlan like that!" I told him as I grabbed my underwear. Oh God, even I knew that tone in my voice was a complete lie.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself that?" he bit out, snatching his shirt and hauling it over his head. Before I could respond he laughed viciously. "Don't even answer."

"Zach listen to me-"

My half finished sentence was abandoned in the air as the doorhandle to my flat jolted. Who the hell was that? Lachlan? God, his timing could not be worse! It clicked fervently as I scrambled to dress myself. The ribbon at the back of my corset kept tangling in my hands and I almost screamed with annoyance, promising myself I will never wear such a fiddly thing again. 

"Wonderful." Zach drawled as he kicked his feet into his shoes. "This must be your boyfriend now. Persistent little bastard, isn't he?" 

"Please be quiet." I hissed. "He has nothing to do with you."

I heard the door open in the midst of our argument. What? Lachlan didn't have keys to my flat.

"Nothing to do with me?" Zach echoed acidly. "Don't you think I have a say in who wants you? We just had sex on the wall, on the floor and pretty much every other surface in the room! You're mine. I love you, and I waited for you, but clearly that amounts to nothing in the face of someone as fucking fantastic as William Wallace over here!" 

He threw his arm in the direction of the doorway - a gesture directed at Lachlan - only, it wasn't Lachlan; it was my mother and Mike. 

Realising his horrific error, Zach dropped his arm to his side and shame dawned on his face. A piercing silence sunk into the room and I held my face in my hands, unable to withstand the hideously humiliating situation. I was still only half dressed, the corset loose around my torso and still unfastened. It was clear they had walked in on us, not only having an arguement but that we had only moments ago been sleeping together. 

Ground, please swallow me whole.

             "Louise Ann Whitlock, you have five minutes to dress yourself and explain what the hell is going on." My mother said, her face stoic and void of emotion as she dragged Mike out of the room and slammed the door. Five minutes was never going to be able to explain this. 

Zach let out the deep breath he had been holding; clearly I was not the only one effected by my mother's stone cold, disappointed stare. I reached my arms back, still struggling to tie the corset. I bet you would never see a lingerie model struggling with her corset - I must have looked like a psycho in a black lace straitjacket. Putting his anger aside, Zach kneeled down and threaded the ribbon properly behind me, tying it securely as I sat on the floor, eyes beginning to brim with water at the soul-wrenchingly embarrassing experience. 

This twenty first birthday would be another disaster to remember. 

           "Sh, sh, sh." he soothed me softly, smoothing a hand over my shoulder and turning me to face him. "I'm so sorry for this. I never meant to hurt you. It's going to be fine."

My nose had already became blocked as I struggled to sniffle up. Very attractive. I was about to try and find a tissue when Zach lifted his shirt, using the hem to wipe underneath my eyes and above my cupids bow. I cringed and grabbed his wrist. 

"You'll mess up your shirt." I complained. 

"I have others." he informed me with a gentle half-grin. 

"What are we going to say to my mum?" I snivelled. 

"We tell her the truth." he said, his warm brown eyes offering a depth of reassurance that made my nerves slowly begin to settle down. "There's no point in digging ourselves a bigger hole by lying."

The living room door quietly opened, and my mother and Mike entered the room. She had a fairly guarded expression, and it was difficult to judge what she was feeling or thinking as she sat down on the sofa. Zach helped me to my feet and placed his arm around my shoulders, his other hand clasping mine supportively. If not for the fact he was holding me up I probably would have skittered out the room with my tail between my legs. 

                "So?" My mum probed, one brow lifted in apprehension. 

"I don't really know where to start." I sighed honestly. 

"I turned up out of the blue at the party." Zach suddenly stated. "I've been looking for Lou for years, and once I knew where she was I had to see her. We came back to the flat and..."

"I think that's enough details." I snapped in a whisper. 

"Lachlan seemed very upset when we visited The Pegasus." my mum claimed. "Did something happen?"

"He..." I trailed off. 

"Has feelings for Lou." Zach insisted, his tone clipped with slight aggravation as he eyed me with a clear message in his eyes: We're telling the truth, remember?

"Oh really?" Mike chimed in with a chuckle. "It seems your daughter has multiple admirers, Susan." 

"Mike! You're not helping!" my mum exhaled loudly as she swatted him on the shoulder. 

"Let the kid live a little, it's her birthday!" he laughed. 

My mum clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Fine, but just this once. You still have a lot of explaining to do. Especially you, Zach. I want to know exactly why you have turned up in my daughter's life again, and if you are going to stay in it this time." 

"I understand." he nodded. 

"At the end of the day, this is between you two and no one else, but if you run off again I will have something to say about it." my mum sternly explained. 

"Right." Mike dived through the awkward atmosphere and revealed a small cream gift bag. "Happy birthday!"

With the previous still lingering in the air, I gingerly took the bag from him and lifted out a small box. I recognised the Pandora brand straight away and my heart lodged in my throat - this jewellery must have been really expensive! I popped open the box and saw the delicate silver metal nestled in the middle of the white cushioned box. I lifted it up into the air to admire the three small charms dangling from the chain; one was a little silver suitcase, a cat and a small bead with family carved into it. I was ecstatic. 

I launched myself into my mum and Mike's arms, almost crushing them. They laughed and Mike patted my shoulder. "You haven't seen what else is in the bag yet!"

Zach smiled, a content look evident on his face. I sunk my hand back into the bag, feeling around until I pulled out another small box, only this was black with a red ribbon tied around it.

"What is it? A matching neclace?" I guessed and my mum just shook her head. The box was a bit stiff, and something was rattling inside as I pried it open. 

A key. 

"A key?" I eyed my mum skeptically before glancing back down. "Oh my god. Is this a car key?"

My mum started laughing. "Why don't you have a look outside?"

Even before she finished her sentence, I was already out the door. I ran down to the road beside my flat and spotted the modest black Vauxhall Corsa parked up against the path. It had big red ribbons stretching over the hood of the car with a bow and I just stood there in shock - I never have been a screaming-with-excitement kind of person. It was an older model, but I was already in love.

Zach jogged over to me, a grin on his face. "Well look at you, having your own car. Impressive. You can be my chaperone from now on. You going to take me for a spin?" 

Mike and my mum were just walking over when it dawned on me. 

"I have no idea how to drive!" I revealed and Zach laughed. 

"You can get lessons, it'll be a piece of cake!" Mike chortled. 

I shook my head. "I can't even afford a proper bed yet, I'm still saving. There's no way I can afford to invest in driving lessons." 

"You don't have too, we'll pay for them." my mum smiled, but I could feel a guilt rising in my stomach. 

"You already bought me a car, there's no way I can expect you to pay for my driving lessons. I should do this by myself when I have the money. I could always ask someone I know to help me learn a few of the basics before I start taking my proper lessons." I explained.

"What about Lachlan? He can drive can't he?" my mum offered, but Mike gave her a sharp nudge.

"Yeah, I'll ask him about it tomorrow. Thanks so much for this." I wrapped my arms around them again and kissed my mum on the cheek.

"I can drive." Zach suddenly spoke up. "Plus, I've been driving longer. I'll teach you."

I could see the jealousy flaming in his eyes and a small impish smile graced my lips. Secretly, I adored the fact he was jealous over my friendship - and one sided crush - with Lachlan. 

"Okay." I agreed, and his eyebrows lifted in surprise, clearly expecting me to refuse. 

Game on, Mr Caldwell. Game on.

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Hello!
I KNOW it's been so long! Since my break up I've been a little bit bitter towards romance, so I couldn't find it in me to update, but I did. It might be a little bit short, but I wanted to update.

What do you think about Lou liking Zach's jealousy over her and Lachlan? Do you think she's playing with fire? What did you think of this chapter? Awkward!

Thanks for waiting so long, I love you guys!

- R x