Zenon's Game Chapter 187

He came back towards me and drew me into his arms. He wrapped himself around me and kissed the top of my head. "Rumors are cruel, Candace. That's what they are. I've had rumors about me that you don't even want to know."

"I want to know," I insisted, my voice muffled against his shirt, "I want to know everything about you."

He smiled, "I didn't expect you to say that. Very cute."

His lips brushed mine in a sweet and gentle kiss. I circled my arms around his strong back, feeling his back muscles underneath my touch.

"In this relationship, there's only you and me. I'll make mistakes but I won't make a mistake that big," he said.

Zenon never was one for grand speeches or long monologues. But he summarized his side in a few words and those few words meant a lot.

"There's only you and me," I repeated, burying my head into his chest, "And Bryce."

"What do you mean Bryce?" he asked, pulling away so he could look me in the eye.

I could see that familiar twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes.

"Bryce and Bianca might be a new couple," I told him, "How do you feel about that?"

"I don't feel a type of way," he shrugged. "Bryce asked me about it a few weeks ago and I said the same thing."

"OK."

Bianca's friendship with Zenon was going to cause me problems, I knew it.

I knew that the day I left the store unattended was the same day she and her brother walked in. She was probably the one who got me fired and she was probably the one fueling these rumors.

But I couldn't take that out on Zenon. Maybe she was hoping she'd get between us – wedge herself between Zenon and me.

I like drama on TV and not in my relationship.

"Now it's my turn," Zenon said, "I need you to know something. I support my friends until they don't support me. That's the condition. So if Bianca isn't supporting us, then I'll do something about it."

I'll trust my boyfriend until proven otherwise.

I'm not a side piece in their love story. She's a small pain in mine.

It was early December and we gathered outside the Dawsons' house. Porch lights created a warm glow around the entrance.

Annika had brought her packed bags to the front door, ready for the airport.

She held onto her coat and stalled at the entrance, waiting to say goodbye to Zenon's parents. Jake picked her brown bags up and started to load them into the back of Zenon's car.

It was getting cold and I'd wrapped myself in an oversized hoodie that was definitely Zenon's. He left it in my room a couple weeks ago and I've been taking very good care of it ever since.

Maybe I'll give it back when it stops smelling of him.

Annika finally stepped out of the Albert house and she had an emotional look on her face. "I'm going to miss this place."

That's when Zenon appeared, joining us from round back. By his clothes, I could tell he had just been working out.

"Are you going back to New York?" I asked Annika, one eye still on my hot boyfriend approachign us.

"Miami," she answered. "Trick."

"You know what a trick is in American slang?" Jake asked, closing the hood of Zenon's car.

"What is it? Have I said something naughty?" she asked, inspecting our expressions for a clue.

Jake defined it as, "A man who spends a lot of money, either directly or indirectly, to sleep with women."

Annika looked even more confused. "Indirectly? How can one spend money indirectly to sleep with someone?'

"Annika, that's what dating is," Jake answered.

Zenon stood beside me. He noticed my hoodie and smirked.

Then he joined in on the conversation, without missing a beat, "Anyone else think Jake's feeling romantically exploited?"

"Do you know what year it is?" Jake answered, "Everyone still single is being exploited romantically."

Well that's a hot take.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked Zenon, rubbing his arms for him.

"I'm running low on hoodies," he responded, tugging at the hood of mine. Well, his technically.

He leant down and gave my frozen lips a kiss.

"OK lovebirds. I'm heading out," Annika came up to us, enveloping us in a bear hug, "Come visit me in Johannesburg. I'll be there for New Years and then back in New York at the beginning of Jan."

"I wish we could," I said, "Never been to South Africa but I'd love to one day. It's been really nice having you herre."

Zenon looked over at his brother and chucked him his car keys. Jake caught it in one hand.

No one commented about the catch, but I enviously watched the coordination.

Jake said stiffly, "Thanks for letting me borrow your car."

It was the first time I'd ever heard him thank his brother. I could hear in the stiffness of his voice that he felt uncomfortable doing so.

"Fill the gas tank and we'll call it even," Zenon answered.

Annika pulled me aside and whispered in my ear, "Good luck with the brothers."

"Thanks," I said, thinking I probably need it. "Jake will miss you."

"I'll miss him too. I won't miss how everyone thought Jake and I were hooking up-" she paused when she saw my expression.

"You definitely weren't," I agreed and then double checked, "Right?"

She clarified, "I'm twenty-two and he's a boy."

That night, I got ready for bed when I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I waddled over to open it, already dressed in my warm and fluffy winter PJs.

My ginormous slippers made it hard to walk smoothly.

"Hey," Zenon greeted me, wearing a navy-blue jacket.

My fluffy slippers accidentally stepped on his sneakers. He looked down.