Forty-three

Maisie knew that she shouldn't be nervous, but she was. She needed to have a serious conversation with Zach and as much as she would love to have it the next day at work, she knew that she would not be settled until she tells Zach that she wants them to continue dating. They did have a lot to talk about.

Zach opened his door to see Maisie on the other side. His mind didn't even go to the fact that she was the one ringing his doorbell. Who he was suspecting was Jeffery, but he prefers who he saw. “Hello.”

“Hi. Can I come in?” Maisie asked Zach who was looking unsure and tensed like he didn't know what to expect.

“Err, sure.” Zach said as he stepped aside and let her come in.

Maisie moved to the sitting room where she dropped her bag and sat down. “What is wrong?” Zach asked sitting close to her.

“Nothing. I am sorry, I just needed a break to clear my head.” Maisie said with a nervous laugh. “I saw Vivi today, she tried to make me believe that she was going to see you.”

Zach's blood ran cold as if he lost Maisie all because of Vivi. He was not sure what he would do to that girl when he sees her.

“I didn't see her; you have to believe me.” Zach said making a move like he was about to hold Maisie's hand, but he withdrew his hands before they made contact, he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

“I believe you.” Maisie said. “You had already left; she came after the day was closed.”

Zach breathed a sigh of relief until Maisie's next words made him tensed again.

“We need to go slow Zach," Maisie said.

“I don't understand Mase.” Zach slowly said.

“We went too fast before, Zach. We hardly knew each other, and we were already dating. Having sleepovers and all that. I still don't know a lot about you.”

“What do you suggest. Please don't say that we should continue this break. It has only been four days and it has been hell without you, Maisie.”

“I don't know what we should do.” Maisie said as she stood up and walked around like she couldn't sit still again. “Even with all I felt for you, I still felt betrayed when I saw your lips on hers. I believed that you could hurt me like that. I didn't have enough faith in you. I want to have faith in you. I want to know for a fact that there are some things that you can never do to me.”

“Then we will work on all this.” Zach said. “You want us to take it slow? Fine, we will take it slow. You want to know stuff about me, we will talk about it, we will go on dates if that is what you mean and when you feel more comfortable, we will get back to our former point where we were close to getting married...”

“What?” Maisie asked as the color drains from her face

“Huh.” Zach looked at Maisie strangely.

“What do you mean by we were getting close to being married.” Maisie asked as Zach looked at her sheepishly.

“Too soon?”

“Yes. You have known me for less than three months, Zach.” Maisie reminded him.

"I have known you much longer than that.”

“Let's remove the time you were a ghost.”

“Why should we remove it.” Zach asked.

“You only know what I tell you. You don't remember.”

“I might not have remembered it but that doesn't mean that it didn't happen or that it changed the things I know about you.”

“It isn't enough Zach. Please. I would suggest you don't talk about marriage any time soon.” Maisie tells him “And as usual you always wound my pride.” Zach jests, “I thought all women wanted to get married.”

“We do, when we are ready, not before. And I am nowhere near ready.” Maisie said.

“Why?”

“Why are we having this conversation. When we are not going to do anything like that in the upcoming future.” Maisie groans.

“Humor me.” Zach tells Maisie who grumbled. “Fine, being ready is a state of the mind. Where you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with one person. Being totally in love with a person can make you be in this state of mind, but you should look at the odds before entering into that serious commitment...”

“I asked you to tell me why you are not ready, not give me a lecture about why those who are ready are not really ready." Zach cut Maisie short.

“Can we just change the topic?” Maisie glares at Zach.

“What do you want to discuss.” Zach asked.

“Speaking of dates, can we go to Cathy gathering together.”

“No. My parents are holding a picnic that day. I have to go.” Zach said.

“Too bad.” Maisie shrugs.

“Come with me.” Zach tells Maisie.

“What? No way.”

“Why? I thought you wanted to spend time with me.”

“Not at your parents' house.”

“Come on. I thought you wanted to meet them.”

“I did before you started talking about marriage and scaring the hell out of me.”

"It wasn't meant to scare you besides it is not like I can introduce you as my future wife yet. I mention anything like that, and my stepmom was will talking about double weddings and believe me. I cannot stand Vivi enough right now.”

“Fine. I will go.”

“Okay and about that case.” Zach started.

“I will continue working on it.” Maisie replies.

“You may not need to. I found a lead.” Zach grins at Maisie.