Marcus's POV
The hallway is quiet as Marcus walks Zoe to her suite.
His hand is still on her waist from dancing and he's trying to convince himself to let go. The night is over. The performance is finished. Letting her go is the right thing to do.
He doesn't let go.
They reach her door and Zoe turns to face him. Her dark curly hair is falling out of its style now. Her makeup is slightly smudged from the evening. She looks tired and beautiful and completely real.
"You were amazing today," Marcus says, and he means it in a way that goes beyond the performance.
Zoe laughs but it sounds uncertain. "I barely knew what anyone was talking about. Half the time I was just nodding and hoping nobody asked me a follow-up question."
"You handled it perfectly." Marcus steps closer without meaning to. "Made people laugh. Fit at my side like you belonged there. Like you've always belonged there."
The words come out before he can stop them.
