The second Neylani lit up like that, Zeke forgot entirely about the reception around them. About the noise, the people, all of it. He just stood there smiling like an idiot while she fussed over Rupert, relief pouring out of her so openly it tugged right at his chest. “Guess he missed his mama too. He was just around here, who knows how.”
And then suddenly she was grabbing him, kissing his jaw, and Zeke’s entire brain short-circuited for a solid moment. His hands instinctively settled at her waist to steady her, eyes wide before a crooked grin spread across his face. “Yeah,” he said quietly, voice a little rougher now. “Yeah, of course we can go.”
He glanced down at Rupert bundled safely against her chest before looking back at Ney with that same soft expression he always seemed to get around her. “I’ll drive. You just hold onto your boy and make sure he doesn’t start judging my music choices on the way home. And for the record, I’m happy he is okay.”
One-armed, Neylani sent a quick text to a couple of people — namely, Darcy, Grace, and Ashton — to explain Rupert had been found and she was leaving earlier than planned. Barely able to see the words being typed because of how blurry her eyes had become. "Me too," she huffed shakily, through a smile, staring down at the turtle in her arm fondly. She was incredibly grateful the reptile was safe and sound, back home. Ney grabbed for her clutch, hooked an arm around Zeke's, and dragged all of them out of there as quickly as possible.
FAST-FORWARD TO NEYLANI'S
"What's crazy is, I think he's actually happy to be back in there," Neylani said, watching Rupert munch on some greens inside the new aquarium she had purchased weeks ago, after the storm had destroyed the last one because of course, she had never wanted to give up hope in finding him. "He's usually pulling a Houdini multiple times a day, that's why it's his middle name.." Reaching inside one last time to give the beloved turtle a gentle few strokes along the back of its shell, Neylani finally straightened up and carefully settled the lid back on top. "Cannot believe you found him.." Her voice was still choked up with emotions over it.
In fact, that was all she got stuck on. The gratitude of this man, that he was there and had gone above and beyond to help her find Rupert, now rescued him. Neylani had never felt closer or more appreciative of Zeke in her life. Maybe the universe was trying to tell her something? It certainly felt that way, because as she passed him on the way to the kitchen, thinking they could have a drink or something to settle the night out, the woman was acutely aware of him.
And what she wanted. Which was him. It was a reeling emotion she hadn't experienced for anyone before. At least, not this way. Or maybe, to put a finer point on it, something she had steadfastly refused to entertain and deny for years. Because she was afraid to care about someone, lose them somehow, and wind up a shell of herself like her father after he lost her mother. Because she was too comfortable, too set in her ways, too stubborn to what to make room for someone else after she'd been on her own for so long. Because she worried she wasn't enough. It was just easier, to be on her own.
But tonight, it felt like a repudiation of these choices. A smack in the face of reality that see, if you'd only given it a chance. Maybe Zeke could have done so much more for her, improved the quality of her life and chased away whatever demons, than simply playing savior with the turtle. Who knew where they could be by now, if Neylani had only given him a fair chance those five years ago?
Zeke barely got through the kitchen's doorway before she'd turned on him, blocking the way. Eyes searching the man's ridiculously handsome face and the way he still looked at her, which had always made her stomach go up in knots. Now, those feelings intensified. Ney's hand came to cup his cheek, gentle, thumb stroking there. The touch intimate. "Thank you," she told him again, but it wasn't just for Rupert anymore. It was for the rest of it, too. For having been so patient with her and still there, waiting on her to decide when she wanted more. Had he always known she would? Or just had blind hope? Honestly, it didn't matter the specifics or his reasons, all she cared about was that he hadn't let her muscle him out completely as she had every other suitor.
Ney wasn't sure what this feeling was, but she decided to give in to it. She was tired of fighting herself on everything. Fighting him and everyone else, too. She wanted to do what she wanted, for once. Selfishly, without any second thoughts. So Ney's arms hooked around Zeke's neck and shoulders, pulling him in closer, kissing him. She wouldn't keep him away any longer.
END
