Set Me Free (A Fugitive #2)(63)

"Holy crap..." I covered my mouth, tears lining my lashes as I was quickly gathered into one embrace after another.

As I cried my way through the reunion, Tom and Zach pinned up a big CONGRATULATIONS sign on the wall with the University of Arizona logo in the corner. AJ and Liesl started dishing out food and I spent the next three hours playing catch up with all the people I loved.

Zach's hand remained on my back for most of the party. By the time it was over, I was completely drained, yet elated. I flopped down on Zach's bed with a blissful sigh.

"You have fun?" He lay down beside me, inching his arm under my back and pulling me on top of him.

I gazed down at his face and whispered, "Thank you."

"It was actually Mom's idea, so I can't take all the credit."

I kissed his soft lips. "I'll let you take some. You came back early for me."

"I love you." He ran his finger down my hairline. "And I can't wait to have you by my side when we head to Tucson this year."

"It's gonna be awesome." I grinned.

His hand glided down my back, cresting over my butt and giving it a little squeeze. "Although we've got the summer to enjoy first." His eyebrows wiggled and I laughed.

"Zach, the party guests may have left, but your parents are still down the hall," I whispered against his lips.

"Oh come on, they know you sneak into my room when I'm home. They're not stupid."

"Yeah, I guess my door does make that little squeak. That's why I leave it open when you're here."

"They know we're in love, Lucy." He kissed my cheek. "And I think they're pretty cool with that."

I closed my eyes, relishing the way his lips felt as they traveled over my skin. I arched my neck back, giving him easier access. With a delicious moan, I quickly found his lips, loving the way his hand felt as it moved up my neck and cupped the back of my head.

Yes, the future was mine now. The past was the past and could remain there.

I knew there would still be challenges ahead of me, but I would survive them and a kiss from my Zach could turn any bad day into gold.

I could do this.

As our soft kissing grew with fervor, a smile broke over my lips. If it weren't for this guy beneath me, who knows where I'd be. He'd drawn me back, he'd held me still and he'd given me the confidence to fight back.

The day I stopped running was my first step towards a real future.

Zach Schultz set me free and I was never going to forget it.