The sweet gesture released a swarm of butterflies unlike any she'd ever felt. Most men would've already made their move and abandoned her by now, but Zach had cleared his schedule to be here. He made space for her where others refused. Holsten was the closest she'd come and even that was more of a convenience thing than anything else. And Alfred, well he hadn't ever been interested in her. Everyone else pretty much always just … fizzled out.

Not Zach though.

Jo felt the pressing need to say something, to check that she wasn't about to ruin their friendship by proceeding with this, but she could form no words. He would pull away if he wasn't comfortable. He would say or do something to reestablish their boundaries. She rested her free hand on his shoulder before leaning in to kiss him.