Age Is Just a Number by Jeffery zedd

Chapter 19 

Zara’s POV: 

“Oh, thanks,” I mumble, feeling quite awkward by his sudden compliment. Sometimes, William would call me cute, but that was it, cute. Hesitantly, I resume walking towards his house. 

I I did not see that one coming. 

William opens his front door and turns on the lights, and I walk inside, taking off my flip flop. “Where is everyone?” I ask. 

“Out.” 

“For the night?” I question, hoping he will respond with a yes. 

“No, my parents are on another business trip, and bro is out until tomorrow night,” he said, staring at the, ground. 

“So we are- 

“Alone.” 

“Cool,” I mumble. 

Great, I spend all day. 

him, and now we are spending the night together. 

William walks towards the kitchen and starts grabbing some chips while I went to the cabinet to get some soda. I turn around to see William pouring out some chips, smiling at me. “What is it?” I asked, placing. two cans of drink on the table and grabbed two cups. 

“I don’t know, I’m just glad you’re here,” he said while I pour out the sodas. 

I hopped on the counter and grabbed a chip. 1 know, I’m great company,” I said, biting the chip. 

He grabs my wrist, biting the other half. I sat there watching him, eating the chip with his tongue sticking out. My heart freezes, feeling his tongue against my fingers, licking it. I swallowed the lump in my throat when he opened his mouth, sucking each of my fingers. He smirks, “You sure are.” 

Taking the bowls of chips and candies, he heads towards the living room. I look down at my wet fingers, mind wondering if I would look like a creep if I start licking it right now. 

I didn’t do that. 

When we finished, we laid out the board games. Since we started Fun Friday when I was eight, we collected many games over the years. We probably have more than what is in the store. “So, what should we play first?” I ask, eyes scanning the piles of boards. 

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He puckered his lips and looked around. 

“Oh! How about twisters!? We haven’t played that in ages!” I said, 

“Or we can play another game,” he suggests, reaching out for scrambles. 

“Oh, come on. You’re afraid I’m going to beat you, old man?” I said teasingly, holding up Twister in front of my chest and swaying it back and forth. 

He rolls his eyes. “I’m not old.” 

“Then prove it,” I sang. 

It’s official, I develop a love–hate relationship with Twister. 

I’m currently bending over, attempting to reach my left arm on blue while William is behind me. “Okay. right arm yellow,” he said, and he moved his arms to get blue. I bit my lips when I felt his hand grazing against my chest. 

Was Twister always this sexual? 

“Hey,” he whispers behind my ear, and I can. feel his forearm grazing against my boobs. 

“Y–Yes?” 

“It’s your turn. 

“Oh right,” I said, reaching my arm out to spin it. 

“Left leg red,” I said, trying to reach for yellow, When I bend upward, my face falls flat when I feel his crotch. hitting my ass. 

“You’re right,” he said. 

“What?” 

“Twister is fun,” I turn my head to see William smirking. Our faces were merely inches apart, and I can feel his hard–on pressed against my bottom. ‘It’s my turn,” he breathes out. moving towards the board, closening our distance, eyes entirely on me. “Right arm, green,” he said. I can feel his lips grazing against mine. 

I can feel his body moving closer, arm reaching out. Our lips were touching, and I held my breath, trying not to faint. He turns his head, and I can feel his lips hitting against mine, causing me to fall. I look up to see William on top of me. He grins, “You lost.” 

I push him off and stand up. “It’s because you cheated!” I shout, stomping my leg. 

He sat there, a playful grin still on his face. “How can someone cheat in Twister?” 

I point at him, “Because y–you, your face, and lips! And urg!” I fold my arms and stomp my leg. “Not fair! Not fair! Not fair!” I whine, stomping my leg some more, acting as if I’m a child again who hates losing. I don’t 

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Chapter 19 

know when, but I develop this childish behavior around William whenever I lose a game. 

I remember how I cried for two hours over monopoly when I was ten, claiming he cheated until he promised to take me out for yogurt. When I turned eleven, I found out he did cheat. He was grabbing money from the bank when I wasn’t looking. 

lips. 

away. 

He stands up, pinching my cheeks. “Is someone a whiny baby?” he said in his baby voice, pouring out his 

“I’m not a whiny baby.” I whine. 

He wraps his arms around me. “Come on, don’t pout,” he said, turning his head towards me, but I turn 

William moves forward, and I move back. We continue the pattern until I stumble down the couch. “Okay, 

I 

how about the did cheat. You won,” he whispers. 

A smile made its appearance. “Yup! I won!” I said proudly, knowing I didn’t win, but whatever. 

He wraps his arms around me, pulling me upward. My smile dropped when I realized William was between my legs, laying on top of me. 

When did that even happen? 

“Don’t ever leave without telling me ahead of time again,” he grumbles. 

“Let’s watch a movie,” I said, trying to change the subject and perhaps positions. 

“No.” he replies gravely 

“What?” 

“I’m comfy,” he whines. 

Tm noooooot!” I said, trying to push him off. “You’re so faaaat!” 

He went on his elbows. 1 miss this.” 

“Fun Friday?” 

“You,” he said, nuzzling his nose against mine. 

“You’re acting really weird, William,” I said 

He turns his head to the side, hair tilting along. “Am I?” 

I nod. “Very weird.” 

“I guess I just miss you a lot. It’s making me crazy,” he said, deep brown staring at me. “I go crazy without you by my side Zara,” he whispers. 

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Chapter 19 

“I 

I was choking on my own words, unable to respond appropriately. 

“Come on, let’s go to sleep.” 

“What about the movie?” 

“We have next Friday,” he said, carrying me upward. I can feel his hands underneath my ass as I held his shirt while pacing us up the stairs. 

I 

“I can walk,” I said, wrapping my legs around his torso. 

“I know,” he said, keeping his eyes on mine, hands squeezing my bottom, causing me to bite down on my lower lips, attempting not to squeal. 

He walks towards his bedroom, and my grip tightens. “I don’t want to sleep in your bed.” I pout. 

“Why not?” 

“Because I don’t want to,” I mumble. 

I glance up at him. “Please, can we sleep somewhere else?” I said, chewing on my lower lips. 

“Can I ask you something?” He questions, and I nod. “Did you happen to see Misha on my bed three months ago?” 

I push him back, resting my feet on the carpet. “I have to go.” I said, passing him, but he grabbed my elbow and pulled me back. 

“William! I don’t want to talk about her,” 

“Why not?” 

“I don’t want to hear from you, you know, with her.” 

“You mean had se-” 

I cover up his mouth, staring at him with widening eyes. When I felt his tongue running through my palms, I retracted my hand, but he held it in place. I stepped back, and he went forward, placing a thigh between my legs. “Nothing happened,” he said, and I stare at him, unable to believe his words. “Nothing happened between 

Misha and me on that bed.” 

I bit my lower lip. “Why are you letting me sleep on your bed again? You forbid me to step inside your room ever since I was thirteen,‘ I mumble, fingers playing with one another. 

When I was younger, I always slept on William’s bed, waiting for him to come home from school or work. I remember how he had the softest mattress in the whole world. I would curl up under his blanket, smelling his scent – I know it’s creepy, but hey, I was a lovesick puppy and waited for him to come home. 

Thirteen, the vicious age when William forbade me to step into his room. I remember how I was sitting on his bed while he walked back and forth, lecturing me about how I shouldn’t be in a guy room because they are 

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all jerks. I would sit there listening to his lecture, but it didn’t make any sense, so I zoned out and started thinking about ice cream. 

That caused him to give me another hour lecture about how I should listen when an adult talks instead of thinking about ice cream. After that, he started avoiding me like I was a wild animal getting ready to attack. him. 

I can hear him releasing a deep breath. “It’s complicated.” 

“I don’t understand, William. We were so close until you ditched me to hang out with your friends more. I mean, I guess I understand. Who would want to hang out with a thirteen–year–old,” I said in a mocking voice. 

“Zara, you were,” he releases a deep breath. “You were going through puberty at that time, and you slept on my bed without a bra on,” he said. I stood there and stared at him while he chewed on his upper lips. 

He pitched the bridge of his nose, “And you wear skirts just a bit too often,” he mumbles, releasing a hazy breath, I stand there, biting my bottom lips, cheeks reddening. “And when you started wearing a training bra, it got worse. You kept sleeping on my bed only with the bra and a short pair of shorts on. How do you think that makes me feel?” 

“It was hot,” I mumble. 

1 can’t have a thirteen–year–old sleeping on my bed with barely anything on.” He ground his teeth together, “Please understand my position.” 

I stand there, tucking my lips over my teeth, feeling his hot body radiating towards me. Slowly, he places at finger under my chin, lifting to meet his eyes. “How about a fort in the living room tonight, on the carpets, just like the old days?” he suggests, changing the uncomfortable subject, and I nod my head. 

William lifts me, princess style, carrying me to the living room. He went upstairs to grab pillows and blankets. I laid it out then rolled on top while he threw the sheet on top of me, causing me to throw into a loud 

laugh. 

He went under the blanket with me and started tickling me, causing my laughter to heighten. Stop!” I shout, trying to get away, but he pulls me back, wrapping his limbs around my body. 

He stops, and I look up. “I’m glad you’re back.” 

“W–William!