I laughed, clinging to his shoulders. “I’m not crazy, I’m alive.”
He shook his head, hauling me out of the water like he was afraid if he didn’t I wouldn’t get out on my own.
“Why’d you come in after me?” I asked, shivering when the cool night air touched my wet body.
He set me on the ground and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear that clung to my forehead.
“Because that’s what friends do,” he replied with a small shrug of his shoulders, “you jump, I jump. Always.”
My lips quirked into a smile. “I didn’t jump, though. I face-planted into the water.”
He laughed, hooking his thumbs into the back of his wet t-shirt and pulling it off. His lean chest was exposed with a smattering of dark hair trailing beneath his belly button. I tried not to notice how my heart pitter-pattered.
“Same difference,” he claimed, shaking his head so that water droplets flew from his hair.
“What are you guys doing?” Maddox called. It sounded like he had his hands cupped around his mouth.
Ezra scrubbed a hand over his heavily stubbled jaw. “I think the party is over.”
I shivered, my teeth chattering together. That water wasn’t exactly the warmest. “I think so too,” I agreed.
He tucked his t-shirt into the back pocket of his jeans and started back to the house.
It was easier to see going this way since the fire was in front of us.
When we approached, Emma rushed forward. “Are you okay? We heard a splash.”
“Just peachy,” I replied, wringing out my wet hair.
I shivered again and she said, “You need to get inside and take a hot shower. You’re going to get sick.”
“Yeah,” Ezra agreed, “go ahead. I’ve got to clean up down here first.”
“Are you sure?” It was his house and I felt bad for going first. He had to be as cold as I was.
He nodded. “Positive.”
I didn’t fight him on it, because I was freezing and a hot shower sounded like the best idea ever right now.
“Thanks for all of this,” I waved my hand around, “and thank you guys for being here.” I looked at Emma and Maddox then.
Maddox dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
Emma smiled sweetly. “There’s no where else we’d rather be.” She paused, biting her lip. “I’d hug you goodbye, but you’re soaking.”
I laughed. “We can save the hug for later.”
She nodded and watched me head up the porch steps. I hadn’t missed the flash of worry and speculation in her eyes. I knew she thought there was something more between Ezra and I, but she couldn’t be more wrong. We were friends and that’s all we ever would be.
“GET UP.” Ezra demanded, turning on the ceiling light in the guestroom.
I sat up in bed, the blankets pooling at my waist. “What the hell?” I blinked sleep from my eyes and looked at him dazedly.
“Get up,” he repeated.
“What are you wearing?” My eyes widened at the sight of him. He had on a pair of khaki shorts, a white sleeveless shirt, and…was that a fisherman’s hat on his head? One of those with the little dangly things? Oh my God, it was!
“We’re going fishing,” he stated, which explained the hat, “so get your ass out of bed, get changed, and meet me downstairs. You have ten minutes.”
He slipped out of my room and closed the door.
I would’ve thought the whole thing was a strange dream if it wasn’t for the fact that the light still blinded me.
I glanced at the clock on the bed and gasped. “It’s six o’ clock!” I screamed. “I’m going back to bed.” I lay back down and tossed the blankets over my head.
The door creaked open and his shoes slapped against the hardwood.
The covers were yanked unceremoniously from my body.
I gasped, trying to grab the sheets from his hands.
“No,” he demanded. “We’re going fishing.”
“It’s six o’ clock,” I repeated, a whining tone to my voice, “on a Sunday. The day of rest.” I made a grab for the covers once more, but he yanked them completely off the bed and threw them on the floor. “Ezra!” I yelled.
He ignored my outburst and headed out the door once more. “You’re down to eight minutes now. Tick, tock.”
I hated him.
No, I didn’t.
But seriously?! Six o’ clock on a Sunday?
He better have at least made breakfast or I might turn into a raging beast.
I forced my tired body out of bed and changed into a pair of jean shorts, a tank top, and sneakers. I grabbed my sunglasses from my purse and stuck them on top of my head.
When I reached the stairs Ezra was starting up them. “Coming to get me?” I asked, a brow rising in interest.
He grinned and nodded. “Yep. I thought you were flaking.”
“Did you think I might try to make a break for it and climb out the window?”
He shook his head as I joined him downstairs. “I wouldn’t put anything past you,” he confessed. “I made biscuits and gravy if you want any.”
“Is there anything you can’t cook?” I asked him, heading over to the coffee maker.
Oh sweet sustenance.
He chuckled, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “Not really.”
“You’re going to make some girl very happy one day,” I told him, standing on my tiptoes to grab a coffee cup from the top cabinet.
He grunted in response to my comment and came up behind me to grab one of the mugs for me so I didn’t topple them over.
“Thanks.” I took the cup from his hands and filled it with the steaming black liquid before I added a heart attack inducing amount of sugar. “What ever happened to you and that actress?”
A few months before I stopped speaking to Ezra he’d gone on a few dates with an up and coming actress. She’d been gorgeous and exactly the kind of girl you’d expect a rock star to date.
I’d asked him before why things ended and he never wanted to tell me.
Today, he shrugged and leaned his backside against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed over his chest. “She was too vain. I want someone with a little more substance. Someone who’s…” He paused, staring off as he searched for the right word. “Real,” he finally settled on. “I want someone I can picture myself growing old with and who doesn’t throw a temper tantrum at the sight of a wrinkle.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “She did that?”
He nodded reaching up to further secure the hat on his head.
“Is that why you haven’t dated since then?” I asked.
He shrugged. “No, I just haven’t found anyone worth my time.”
I fixed myself a plate of biscuits and gravy, taking a seat on one of the barstools.
Ezra pulled out the one beside me and sat down as well.
“So,” I started, shoveling a fork full of food into my mouth, “why do you want to go fishing?”
“The better question is why wouldn’t I want to go fishing.” He smiled boyishly, fiddling with the edge of the hat. He propped his elbows on the countertop and tilted his head in my direction. “I thought it would be fun. We haven’t hung out in a long time.”
I raised a brow, fighting a smile. “Admit it, you only want to see me scream and run away from a worm.”
He tossed his head back and his laughter echoed around the kitchen. “You caught me.” He reached into his back pocket. “Here,” he extended a baseball cap in my direction, “you’ll need this.”
I took it and removed my sunglasses from the top of my head so that I could put it on. Pouting my lips I turned to him. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” He answered without a second of thought. He promptly cleared his throat and looked away. He jumped up from his seat like he’d been burned. “I’ll be outside.”
He hurried away and I watched him leave, wondering what I’d done.
I didn’t dwell on it for long.