This Is Crazy (This Is, #1)

by Natasha Madison

Zara Stone @ZaraStone When your ex-boyfriend gets engaged, you ask his idol @EvanRichards to be your date to crash his wedding. What do you say? Wanna be my date? #myexhasapencildick

She isn’t pretty, and she isn’t beautiful. Exquisite is the only word that comes to mind.

“Um …” I say, not sure I can put a sentence together. What is going on with me? I think the tequila was spiked. Fucking Justin probably put moonshine in there.

I laugh, looking at the dog look at the camera his nose coming to the screen and sniffing it. “Go away, she’s mine.”

“This isn’t a joke, Zara,” my father says. “He said you were his. You know what that means.” “Um,” I say, and my father continues. “There are certain men out there …” he starts. “Like your father,” my mother says, “and your brother and Max and Zack.” “Parker, this is not funny,” he says, and I can see them. “These men. Once they say you’re theirs, you’re theirs.”

He cups my face in his hand. “Ruined,” he says softly, leaning in and kissing me again softly. “If I don’t get away from you, no one is going to be eating.”

“I’m not going to hide that you’re mine,” he says, looking straight at me. “First thing, I’m my own person,” I tell him. “Second, we aren’t hiding anything. We are being private.” I grab another chip and dip it, waiting for him. “You kissed me,” he states. “You kissed me. You made yourself mine when you did it.”

“You can’t go out like that,” I finally tell her, putting my hands in my pocket. “What else do you have?” “What is wrong with this outfit?” she says, looking down. There is nothing wrong with it, and now that she’s facing me, I see it’s a wrap dress. “Well, for one, it’s not long enough,” I tell her, and she just laughs, making me glare at her. “For two, it’s not long enough,” I repeat because besides the length, she looks amazing. “Three, it’s not fucking long enough, Zara,” I say, now running my hands through my hair.

She is holding a kid in her hand that has to be Max’s. Seeing my girl holding a girl, I swear my heart squeezes in my chest. I almost stop skating in the middle of the ice when it hits me. I love her. I’ve fallen in love with her.

“I get it, that feeling like you can’t breathe when you’re not together. Or the missing them so much your heart aches. The whole my stomach is sick from not touching you. It all makes sense.”

He smiles. “But you love me so …” He kisses my neck, and Lilo barks at him. “I will share her, but she’s mine.”

That moment you see the person who owns your heart, who can destroy you. Knowing that without her, you are going to be half the man you should be. Knowing that only with her, your heart beats normal; knowing that only with her, everything is going to be okay.

“I mean, I would have to experience it to fully render my decision,” I tell her, and she just smiles. “I don’t think it’s fair to make a half-ass choice.” She pushes away from the table. “Give me twenty and then come in the room.” “Twenty?” I ask her. “Minutes or seconds?”

“This is her ‘I’m freaking out’ voice.” “Why?” he asks the question. Yes, a stupid question indeed. “Why?” I shriek. “You shouldn’t have said anything,” Zoe tells him. “Why? Because the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” “That is so not true.” Zoe shakes her head. “It’s usually through your vagina.”

“Here is your virgin mimosa,” she tells me. “It tastes gross, by the way.” “It’s orange juice,” I tell her.

“The first boy who said he liked you. Do you remember what you did to him?” I look over her and shake my head. “You kicked him in the balls.” “Oh right,” I say, thinking back. “But in my defense, you actually told me to do that.” “Yeah.” He laughs. “Don’t ever tell your mother that.”