Falling for the Ghost of You(73)

I scowl at the girl. "Of course not, but it's rude! She's probably texting all her little friends, 'oh, look at the super hot guy standing next to the dumpy girl.' Ugh!"

He squints down at me. "Did you just call yourself dumpy?"

"She's probably thinking that, the little bitch. Do you want me to go over and say something to her?"

"Easy, tiger." Zane grins and rubs my shoulders. The line is moving."

Grumbling, I move forward. I catch the girl's eye and glare at her. Frightened, she quickly turns around.

Great, now I feel bad. And completely immature. What's wrong with me? Remembering Helize's words, I inwardly groan.

Guard my heart. Yeah, right.



I am having so much fun right now. Zane goes on every ride with me, not complaining once. Not even when I make him go on the Princesses' Carousel. I buy him a dorky canary yellow shirt that reads ‘Fairytale Castle V.I.P’. and dare him to wear it. He just shrugs and puts it on right over his long-sleeved shirt, not self-conscious at all. And he looks hot in it! Of course, when I put on the same shirt, I look like a big-breasted circus clown.

We eat dinner at Pirate Dan's, a restaurant on this big wooden boat sailing in a man-made lake. I have clam linguini and Zane has a salad of some kind. The ambience is perfect—the dark dining room lit by the soft glow of big Chinese lanterns, and the music is whimsical and romantic. Pirates and wenches roam around, making sure our drinks are always filled.

After dinner, we go up to the deck and kiss and kiss under the stars. Then Zane takes my hand, towing me back to the hotel with breathless urgency.

Afterwards, we stand at the balcony, watching a special fireworks show. As I watch bursts of color light up the night sky, warm and secure in Zane's arms, I finally let go of my fears and doubts, and allow myself to be really truly happy.

No regrets.











Chapter 30



We don't get much sleep that night, so when I finally get up, it's already ten in the morning. I stretch my whole body feeling wonderfully achy and content.

Zane leans over and kisses my bare stomach. "Wanna grab a shower together?"

I laugh and pull the sheet back up. "No, Yeah, separate ones. I'm kind of...achy from last night."

"Sorry," he says, grinning unrepentantly. "Separate showers, it is. Then we'll get breakfast. Sound good?"

I smile back at him. "Sounds great."

As I'm getting clothes from my bag, Zane's phone rings. Scowling down at the screen, he mutters, "It's work. I need to answer."

He walks out of the room, mumbling a curt greeting to whoever called him.

I can't stop smiling right now. Last night was amazing. If I could wake up next to Zane for the rest of my life, I wouldn't need anything else.

If we got married...

Shut up, Violet. No silly day dreams. Just live in the moment.

Shaking my head at myself, I shuffle into the bathroom. I soak in the tub for a little while until my growling stomach convinces me to get out and get dressed.

Ugh, I forgot a bra. I wrap a towel around myself, grab my clean clothes, and head back to the bedroom. After making sure Zane is still in the shower, I drop my towel and rummage in my bag for a clean bra.

Did I not bring one? Why did I bring fifteen pairs of panties?

Oh, great, I just knocked Zane's bag off the bed. And it's open, so all his things tumble onto the floor.

I pick his bag up and carefully replace the neatly folded clothes. There's something half-under the bed. It looks like a thick manuscript. Curious, I pick it up, and turn it over to the front.

Hm. The title reads, "Falling for the Ghost of You" and there are two neon green sticky notes attached under it. Frowning, I scan over the elegant scrawl on the first note:



Aiden,

The part of Logan was made for you! He's a rock star who wants to lead a normal life, and enrolls in high school, incognito. He ends up falling for a sweet and brainy girl. The writer is Jennifer Kingsley, and it's being backed by Noah Dickensen! Also, Chazz says Alaina is in if you are. Read it and tell me what you think!



Aiden? What the hell? I read the second note.



You were right about the ending and that scene in the cafeteria. Talked to Drew and she said it was negotiable. We could discuss the change—if you ever answer your damn phone! Or are you too deep in your role as "Zane O' Connor" in Nowheresville? Drew needs an answer a.s.a.p. Please keep your phone on!!

P.S., you were right, I totally didn't recognize you! The dark hair and eyes are hot!



My hands shake so badly, the script falls from my hands and lands on the carpet with a soft thump.

It can't be what I'm thinking. There must be a reasonable explanation. There is no way Zane is...no way.

Zane's wallet is right there on the dresser. I've never touched it—never actually went through any of his things. I float to it as if in a dream. It takes me a couple of tries to simply get it open.