“No,” he shook his head, “but I still didn’t think you should be alone.”
“Well, thanks.” I smiled, truly grateful.
“Let’s do something today.”
“Like what?” I plucked a piece of grass from the ground and wrapped it around my finger.
He shrugged. “How about we watch a movie and just hang out? We haven’t had a chance to do that in a while.”
“No, we haven’t,” I agreed. Smiling, I nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
He grinned and stood up, extending a hand to me. “We better shower first.”
I took his hand and couldn’t stop myself from saying, “Together?”
He reared back in shock.
“I was kidding, Ezra.” I bumped his shoulder with mine and started walking. I turned around backwards to face him. “First one to the house gets the shower!”
I took off running and when I reached the porch I turned around to see that he was still walking leisurely down the driveway. He lifted his hand to wave when he saw me looking.
“You lose!” I called to him.
“Really, because I feel like a winner from where I’m standing! You have a nice ass!” He yelled back.
My mouth fell open in shock and I turned abruptly to head inside without comment, but his laughter followed me.
We both showered and after a quick snack we sat down on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Ezra had already picked out the movie and the previews began to play. Most people skipped through this part, but we never did.
“What did you pick out?” I asked, curling my legs beneath me. My damp hair tickled my shoulders and I reached for the cream colored blanket that sat on the back of the couch and wrapped it around me.
“Benchwarmers.” He reached for the popcorn and shoved a handful in his mouth.
“A classic,” I responded, wiggling around until I got comfortable.
He stretched his long legs out on the coffee table and chuckled under his breath. “Only you would consider this a classic.”
I smiled. “And what would you consider a classic?” I countered, popping a piece of popcorn into my mouth.
He pursed his lips in thought. “The Godfather.”
I shook my head. “Okay, so maybe Benchwarmers isn’t a classic.”
He chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “You gave in easily. That’s rare.”
I shrugged, grabbing another piece of popcorn. “I’m tired.” And I was, for so many different reasons.
“Come here,” he coaxed, moving the popcorn bowl to the coffee table.
“What?” I asked stupidly.
He put a pillow on his lap and motioned for me to lie down. After a reluctant sigh, I did. I felt weird about it, which was stupid, because I’d done this often with him in the past. But with the way my ‘crush’ had intensified since he let me live with him, it suddenly felt different. You know, typically when you live with someone it’s hard in the beginning working around each other’s quirks—Braden and I had fought a lot when I first moved in—but Ezra and I flowed naturally together.
“Comfortable?” He asked, fixing the blanket so that it covered my shoulder.
“Yeah, thanks.” I said when he grabbed the remote and pressed play.
I tried to relax and watch the movie, but it was impossible.
Ezra was everywhere, invading my senses and making my brain fuzzy.
When his hand settled on my arm I nearly jumped out of my skin.
I knew he meant nothing by the touch, but I couldn’t stop myself from wishing it was more.
So much more.
Crushing on my best friend really freaking sucked.
MY HEART POUNDED in my chest as I swiped pale pink lip-gloss over my lips. Hayes would be showing up any minute to pick me up and I felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t know why I’d agreed to do this. I felt like I was cheating, even though that thought was beyond silly considering I was no longer with Braden and I certainly wasn’t with Ezra either. But that knowledge didn’t stop me from feeling dirty. It was all so stupid and ridiculous.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
I had to get a grip.
Hayes was a nice guy and it was one date.
This wouldn’t change anything.
I nodded my head in affirmation at my own thoughts and put the gloss away.
I sprayed on some perfume and turned out the bathroom light before heading downstairs. I grabbed my purse from the counter, checking my phone for any messages. There was one from Hayes saying he’d be here in ten minutes that was sent five minutes ago.
“You look nice.”
“Ah!” I let out a scream and whipped around. “Jesus, Ezra, you scared the crap out of me. I thought you were still out.”
“I got back early.” He leaned against the back of the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. “Seriously, you look nice.”
“Oh, thanks.” I mumbled, still scattered. I’d dressed in a long white skirt with a loose over the shoulder beige sweater on top. I was going for nice, but casual.
Ezra shoved his hands into the pockets of his khaki cargo shorts. “So…Hayes?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, tucking a piece of wavy hair behind my ear. “You’re okay with that right?”
He’d been fine since the Fourth of July party, but the way he stood now with squared shoulders and a tense jaw only reiterated my feelings that I was doing something wrong.
“Of course,” he scoffed. “Why would I have a problem with it?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
My hand tightened around my phone, willing Hayes to get here faster so that I could end this awkward conversation.
“What are you going to do today?” I asked him.
He shrugged, scrubbing a hand over the heavy stubble on his cheeks. “I need to mow, so I guess I’ll do that.”
It always amazed me that Ezra liked to do things such as mowing his own grass. I mean, he was a rock star. He could easily pay people to mow his yard—which was far bigger than most—but he wanted to do these things himself.
“Maybe we can watch a movie later?” I suggested, wanting to get rid of the mountain that seemed to be growing between us.
“I’m not in the mood.”
“Oh.” I sighed, glancing towards the door. My phone buzzed in my hand and a second later the sound of a car horn could be heard outside. “I guess I better go.” I pointed at the door stupidly.
He nodded, forcing a smile. It was so incredibly fake that I nearly called him out on it. “Have fun,” he said, the tone lacking any enthusiasm.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, for lack of anything else to say.
I headed to the door and before it closed behind me Ezra caught it. I turned back to look at him, raising a brow. “What?” I asked.
He stared down at me and then up at Hayes who was climbing out of his truck. When his eyes fixed on me all he said was, “Be careful,” and the door closed in my face.
I was tempted to barge back inside and yell at him—to tell him he was being a jackass again—but Hayes was waiting on me so I plastered on a smile and headed over to his truck.
He stood waiting by the passenger door. “Hey, you look beautiful,” he greeted me, lowering from his towering height to kiss my cheek.
I smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
He opened the truck door and held onto my hand as I climbed inside. His hand was warm and calloused like Ezra’s from all his hours of playing guitar.
He jogged around the front of the truck and climbed inside. The music was blaring and he reached over to turn it down.
“Where are we headed?” I asked. I’d been surprised when Hayes wanted to pick me up at one in the afternoon, but I rolled with it.
“I thought we could go to the park and have a picnic.” He nodded to the backseat of the truck and I turned around to see an old-fashioned looking picnic basket.