Zach had never truly thought about the future, at least with anything besides his bookshop. His work was his life, his passion. Although he enjoyed surrounding himself with interesting people, he’d kept most safely in a circle of acquaintance-level friendships. Jo was probably the first, non-family member, who had toed her way across the line. Who had him lightening his workload just to be sure they had an ample amount of time to spend together.

The last person he had done that for had been Rosie, and, well, look how that turned out.

Part of him worried their friendship would be temporary. That his heart would be wounded, yet again, but it had been long enough that he felt he should try. She was a delight to speak to, and he admired her independent, go-get-em nature. They were qualities he didn’t quite possess, at least not in the way she exhibited them. He didn’t feel like he needed to be artificial.

As the gap between them narrowed, Zach felt as if all air had escaped his lungs. Even while dancing at the odd party his family coaxed him to go to, he’d rarely been so close. Unsure what to do, his right hand started to move of its own volition. Gently, he brushed a stray strand of hair from Jo’s forehead and sought to tuck it slowly behind her ear.