less now than it ever used to be. Mama said I’m finally growin’ up and appreciatin’ quality over quantity, and I guess she’s right.” His eyelids dropped low over his blue eyes for a moment. “I’ve been up and down so much, I learned who matters and who to take with a grain of salt, and that’s most folks.”
“Yeah,” I agreed carefully. “There are very few people who really matter, and you get to choose them, so you might as well be picky. I wasn’t picky enough… and look what happened to me. I just don’t want you to think I’m trying to monopolize your time or anything.”
“You’re not.” The long, strong muscles of his thighs flexed as he slid the bottoms of his soles up along the top of the mattress. “If I tell you somethin’, you promise not to say nothin’ to anybody?”
“Pinky swear,” I told him instantly.
His face was even and serious as he said, “My contract with the White Oaks just came in. It’s official.”
His contract? “Shut up.”
Zac nodded, seriously, knitting his fingers together and setting them on his lap, his expression going straight toward the TV. His shoulders hitched up high, and I watched him roll them back with a deep sigh. “Yeah. My agent texted me while we were still at the party that it was comin’. I just got it right now while you were showerin’. One year. Part of me wasn’t expectin’ it to actually still come through. Can’t be stayin’ up anymore.”
“No, you can’t,” I agreed before reaching for his arm, pulling his hand toward my face, and pressing the back of it against my cheek. “I’m so happy for you!” I cheered, snuggling his hand since a hug was out of the question because of my boobs.
And if he wondered why I didn’t just hug him instead of clutching his hand to my face and then giving it a peck, he didn’t say a word. His gaze slid toward mine though, a little apprehensive—I knew his features too well to not recognize what the hell I was looking at—but I was pretty sure there was more excitement in there too than not. “Yeah, I’m excited, but… we’ll see what happens. I’m not startin’, but I’ll take it.”
We’ll see what happens? “It’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, but if anyone can do it, you can,” I told him, still clutching his hand with both of mine. “I’m so happy for you. I won’t say anything to anybody. But I’m so, so, so happy. You’re going to be incredible. Hopefully the other guy plays like shit and you’ll get to start, but even if he doesn’t, you’re still going to be there, waiting, and that’s all that matters. You know how many guys would kill to have that opportunity?”
One corner of his mouth went up, and it was sweet and reluctant. “I’m gonna wait to tell Mama and Paw-Paw tomorrow. They’re announcin’ it come Monday.” He paused. “I hate keepin’ secrets.”
“Keeping secrets does suck, but it’s okay. I think everyone will understand. I know I do.” And I couldn’t believe he actually told me.
Could I?
His blue eyes moved toward me. “What kind of secrets do you have, kiddo?”
I swallowed and lowered his hand away from my face. “A few of them.”
His palm turned, and his long fingers wrapped around mine gently, giving them a light squeeze. “Like what?”
“Well, it’s not a secret if I tell you, is it?” I snorted and drew my hand back to scratch at my cheek even though I didn’t need to.
He smiled. “But you’re only tellin’ me.”
“So it isn’t a secret if I just tell you?”
“You tell Connie secrets, don’t you?”
I nodded. “I tell her almost everything.”
“Tell me somethin’ then.”
“You tell me something first.”
His mouth went flat, but he got a squinty, thoughtful look on his face. “I almost went to school in Oklahoma instead of Austin. I’ve never told anybody that.”
“No,” I gasped.
He nodded and held up his thumb and index finger apart about an inch. “Came this close. I can’t remember anymore why I almost went there instead, but it did almost happen.”
“Who are you?” I whispered, imagining the devastation Paw-Paw might have felt if he’d done that. He might have cried.
But Zac chuckled deep. “Okay, your turn.”
I scratched my nose. “A secret of mine?”
He dipped his chin.
I had to think about it. “I don’t really have secrets that are mine. More like, I know other stuff about other people.” That was