“Wait until you see the ones they have for tonight.” Hayes whispered in my ear. “They’re epic.”
I believed him. The Wentworth’s were loaded, so they could pay to have the best.
“This is nice, huh?” He asked as a firework crackled, sparks flying low to the ground.
“Yeah,” I replied, but I couldn’t keep my eyes from drifting behind us to Ezra.
I’d tried many times to get over my ridiculous crush on my best friend, but it was impossible.
Even when I thought I’d moved on with Braden, a flame in my heart still burned for Ezra—reaching and hoping that maybe he felt it too.
He lifted his head, as if he felt my gaze on him, and his eyes collided with mine.
I quickly looked away, focusing back on what Hayes was saying, but that one look from Ezra had revealed so much and it only served to make the ache inside me grow stronger.
“MOM, I’M FINE,”I assured her for the thousandth time since I’d answered my phone. I had her on speaker while I folded my clothes and put them away.
“But Sadie,” she started in again, “you were supposed to get married today. I know it has to be bothering you. You’re my daughter, I can sense these things.”
I sighed. “Things are hitting me harder today,” I confessed, “but in all honestly, I dodged a bullet. I wouldn’t have been happy with Braden in the long run. You know that. You never were his biggest supporter.”
“That’s because he treated you like you were beneath him. You need a man who wants to stand at your side, not one that acts like you’re a child.”
My mom. So, wise. Too bad I tended to ignore her advice.
“I know,” I agreed, putting away the last of my laundry.
“Why don’t you come over today, sweetie?” She asked. “We could bake cookies like we used to.”
“I just don’t feel like it.” I grabbed my phone off of the bed and switched it off of speaker before holding it to my ear. “I have some things I need to do today,” lie, “and I really am fine. You don’t need to worry so much. I’m a big girl.”
Her sigh echoed over the speaker. “Sadie, you’ll always be my baby to me. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
“Okay, okay.” I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder as I reached for the water bottle on my nightstand and took a sip. “I have to go now, mom.”
“Alright, but if you change your mind and want to come over I’ll be home all day.”
“Okay,” I said again. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up the phone and grabbed my tennis shoes, sitting on the edge of the bed as I tied them on. I hoped going on a run would help clear my head. I hadn’t lied when I told my mom I was okay, but it was still a hard pill to swallow.
Downstairs I found Ezra lying on the couch, reading a book.
He laid the book on his chest when he heard me and crossed his arms behind his head. “Where are you going?” He asked.
“For a run,” I replied, heading to the refrigerator for a fresh bottle of water.
He sat up, dropping the book on the coffee table. “Mind if I join you?”
I paused with the water bottle halfway to my lips. “I don’t mind…but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you run.”
He laughed. “I might not be the most fit of the guys, but I can run.” He stood up, heading for the steps.
I didn’t bother to tell him that I thought his body was perfect, even though the words were on the tip of my tongue. The last thing I wanted to do was make things weird between us again. We were finally getting on normal footing again. Although, with my upcoming date with Hayes I feared things might be headed for another nosedive.
While Ezra changed I stepped out on the front porch, inhaling the morning air.
Here, on the lake, there was something magical about the mornings. Everything sparkled with dew and the animals weren’t afraid of us. From where I stood I could see a deer grazing in the woods and a squirrel scuttled along the porch railing.
Smiling to myself, I sat down on the top step and stretched my legs.
Behind me I heard the screen door creak open. I peered over my shoulder at Ezra and oh my Lord I think he was trying to kill me.
“What are you wearing?!” I squeaked, hating the appalling way my voice spiked.
His dark brows furrowed together and he looked down. “Uh…shorts?”
“Where’s your shirt?” I huffed, staring at his bare chest and those low slung basketball shorts that were like the worst kind of delicious torture on the planet. It seemed wrong to be checking out my best friend on the day I should’ve been married, but let’s face it, a lot had changed in the last two weeks and I no longer gave a crap about Braden. He could move on with his bitchy lawyer and I could do whatever I wanted with my life—including drooling over Ezra.
“I’m not wearing one…obviously.”
I let out an exasperated breath and jumped to my feet.
“Besides,” he continued, “where’s your shirt?”
Now it was my turn to look down. I wore a pair of running shorts and a jog bra.
“Forget I said anything,” I huffed, glancing away in embarrassment and cursing myself yet again for my ridiculous feelings towards him. I wished there was some magic potion I could drink to make them go away, because now that I’d realized how strong my attraction to him was I couldn’t tamp it down like I had in the past. It didn’t help that he was one of my best friends, and therefore a truly decent person. He was the whole package and I hadn’t lied when I told him he’d make someone very happy one day. But I knew if he had his way—which he always did—I wouldn’t be that person.
His lips quirked as he fought a smile clearly amused at my dismissal of the conversation.
I started down the porch steps and looked back at him. “Are you coming?”
“Always, sweetheart.” He joked, tossing in a wink for good measure.
I rolled my eyes and started to run, setting the pace. He fell into step beside me.
Since the road leading to his house was dirt and cut a windy path through the woods it was the perfect place to run.
Even though it was early in the morning it was no time until sweat clung to my body and my breath came out in small pants.
Ezra kept up with me, unfazed by my fast pace.
The sun filtered between the branches of the trees and I watched the way the shadows from the leaves danced over the dirt path.
That was the thing I loved most about running, how it allowed me to empty my mind completely and focus on the beautiful things in front of me that I normally overlooked.
We came to the end of the driveway and turned right, heading down the dirt road that led to another house several miles away. Ezra had once told me it belonged to an old guy that owned a farm and all of the surrounding land. He’d actually owned the cottage Ezra bought, but decided to sell it when it began to fall apart and he didn’t have the funds to fix it.
“How are you holding up?” I asked him between breaths.
“I’m fine.”
I picked up my speed, enjoying the burn in my arms and legs.
After two miles I turned around. Ezra managed to stay by my side the whole time, even though he looked like he was about to keel over dead.
When his house was in sight I veered off of the path and into the grass. I sat down and brought my knees up to my chest.
Ezra followed, his body wet with sweat. He collapsed beside me onto his back with his knees bent. His chest rose and fell with each lungful of air he pulled in.
“You’re insane.” He panted a few minutes later. “Completely and utterly insane.”
“Then why did you come with me?” I asked, my breath under control now.
He turned his head to look at me, pushing the damp black curls away from his dark eyes. “I know what today is.” His voice was barely a whisper. “I wasn’t going to let you go off by yourself.”
I cracked a smile. “Were you afraid I might hang myself from a tree?” I stuck my foot out and lightly kicked his leg in jest.