Page 33 of Unbroken

Maggie’s eyebrows hit her forehead. “You did? How in the world did you manage that?”

Dani pushed off on the swing, starting their rocking motion again. “Actually, I just made him admit that he knows Zane makes you happy. The giggle cinched it for him.”

Maggie looked confused. “The giggle?”

“Apparently, Zane swept you off your feet and headed back to the bedroom with you and you giggled,” Dani informed her. “That made JT happy. Pretty sure it made him escape the house pretty quickly after that as well, though.” Dani laughed as Maggie’s face reddened again.

Maggie sighed. "I'm glad you were able to get through to him somewhat," she admitted, her frustration with her brother softening. "I know he's just worried about me but I really want him and Zane to get along."

“I'm sure they will work it out man style eventually. Now spill, girlfriend! I want all the details!” Dani looked at her with anticipation.

Maggie cleared her throat and filled her glass again. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Dani gave her a playful punch in the arm. “Seriously? You are so not leaving here until I hear at least some of it. I’m totally angry with you that you didn’t call me the minute he left anyway.”

Maggie’s lips quirked up on one side but she tried to hide it in her glass. She wanted to share everything with her friend but talk like this was so out of her comfort zone. “Well, it was a lot to process. He makes me feel...” She struggled to find the right words.

“Hot and bothered? Horny? Filled with lust?“ Dani supplied helpfully, grinning.

Maggie snorted despite herself. “Well, all of those, but more.” She searched her mind for the right words to describe what feelings Zane brought out of her. It was difficult as she’d never felt them before. This time Dani waited, sipping her wine and keeping the swing slowly going back and forth.

“He makes me feel...free,” Maggie finally offered, confident that this was the closest she could come to the way her heart, mind, and body felt when Zane and she were together.

Dani’s green eyes widened at this deep revelation. “Free? That sounds lovely but I think you’re going to have to explain more here, Mags.”

Maggie gave a little nod and stared out across the fields like she was watching a movie only she could see. A smile tugged at her lips as she spoke. “At first, it was overwhelming,” she confessed. “He started kissing me like he was going to die without me, and then his hands were everywhere.”

“This sounds promising,” Dani said. “Go on.”

“For a few moments, I thought I couldn’t breathe, but then suddenly everything shifted. He didn’t give me any time to think about anything. I only had time to feel, everything. It was like he found the real me that was buried deep inside and coaxed that Maggie to the surface with every touch of his hands, every kiss of his lips. It was like a dam broke and all the pent up water came rushing out so fast I wasn't able to get control of it. After that, it was a bubble with just the two of us and nothing else mattered.”

Dani sniffed. “Aww, Mags, you love him.”

Maggie gave a little jump of surprise. “What? No. It’s way too soon,” she protested.

“The heart wants what the heart wants,” Dani said. “It sure sounds like love to me. It’s how I feel about Levi. When we’re together, nothing else in the world matters.”

Maggie’s hand went unconsciously to rest over her heart. Her eyes shone with unshed, happy tears at the revelation. “Maybe you’re right. I think I love him.” She glanced over at her friend. “He couldn’t love me, could he?”

Dani gave her a hard glare. “I don’t see why not. You’re basically perfect, and definitely perfect for him. Honestly, Mags, you’ve changed him. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him." She gave the swing another push with one foot. "He’s always had this ‘happy-go-lucky’ persona, but underneath, he was going through the motions. We'd talk about our weekends sometimes and he'd tell me about his latest Barbie and what club they went to, what she looked like, what she was wearing but he never mentioned how he felt about them. When he talks about you, that's all I hear – how sweet you are, how he's so glad I introduced you, asking what you like. I see real happiness in his eyes now, especially when he’s around you.”

Maggie beamed at the words. “Really?”

“Really,” Dani confirmed. “Now you just have to tell him.”