Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 57139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Me
You were doing so good for a minute there too.
Ezra
Ocean life talk triggered me. I blame myself. And SeaQuest.
Me
Yet you still watch the show like it wasn’t canceled eons ago only to be replaced in your heart by StarGate.
Ezra
Are you trying to turn me on?
Me
Is it working?
Ezra
I will neither confirm nor deny but did you know that male dolphins form alliances with other male dolphins in order to win the female dolphin’s heart? It’s like they created Hunger Games but for mating.
Me
And on that note…and what happens when one dolphin betrays the other?
Ezra
I’m assuming death.
Me
Soooooo perseverance?
Ezra
Absolutely, oh and I know we’re out of coconut milk but the Co-Op only had that one brand where you have to shake the chunks out and I figured the last thing we need is your rage in the morning on top of your already chipper attitude, so I’ll stop off later and grab it at the store on the other end of town. Anything else you need grocery wise?
I smiled down at my phone.
Me
You trying to turn me on now with grocery list talk?
Ezra
Eggs, beef…wait for it…cabbage.
I giggled out loud then nearly dropped my phone. Wait. Were we flirting? My entire body flushed hot then cold. No. Nope. I couldn’t, we shouldn’t. Nope. It wasn’t real. I couldn’t lose him. I couldn’t. Some days it felt like he was the only one who got me.
Ezra
The stunned silence says more than you’ll ever know, seriously though, text me, and you’ll be fine. I’m rooting for you even though you hate the color pink.
Me
The color pink is just red pretending like it isn’t full of rage, smokescreens if you will. And thank you!
Shakily, I put down my phone and shoved all thoughts of Ezra away. It wouldn’t help me—not for tonight’s date, and not for my own heart. He’d already weaseled his way in years ago, and it wouldn’t be hard for me to fall into his arms. My body didn’t need encouragement; my heart was already waving pompoms. But my brain? My brain said false. Because in what world would Ezra ever truly love me?
Which is why I needed to at least give this a chance. Maybe a normal guy. A safe guy. Maybe even a guy who could finally convince me Ezra wasn’t the only option.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
HARPER
If we break-up, do I still get pity sex? Is that a thing?
—Roan
Ezra had stopped work short and decided to tag along on the date. Meaning, he was filming as much as he could and staying out of the way while I stared at the name and corresponding picture on my phone and shoved it up into Ezra’s face. This didn’t look promising, not with the most recently posted picture with the caption, I feel eyes on me always.
He grimaced. “Maybe he’s changed.”
“Changed?” My laugh was sharp. “He thinks everything he touches dies. He won’t even keep a succulent alive, Ezra.”
He smirked—his name rolling off my lips like a curse he secretly loved. “A succulent. You’ve mentioned that. But hey, give the people what they want. You’ll go on two more catastrophic dates, finally realize how lucky you are to have me… no more fighting, no more late-night rendezvous which—actually—” his grin widened. “I might need to re-think that last part.”
My hand flew up, clamping over his mouth. “That was a test. For science. For the advancement of the community of growing minds.”
His lips curved under my palm. He bit down gently, then pulled back, catching his lower lip between his teeth. “Are you done, or were you about to read me your manifesto? It was just a handjob.” His eyes flicked over my face. “Unless it meant more to you?”
My entire body went rigid, heat roaring up my neck. Oh God. It had meant something. To me. And to him? I was just a hand. He was just a body.
I was spiraling. I was the psycho here, wasn’t I? I woke him up out of a dead sleep and basically manhandled him.
“You said harder!” I blurted, way too loud.
Ezra nodded, infuriatingly calm. “Thank you for your compliance.”
My breath caught. “Say compliance again.”
He leaned down, voice a gravelly whisper against my neck. “Compliance.”
My body betrayed me. Full goosebumps. Full traitor mode.
We jumped apart when someone shoved past us—the waiter dropping silverware at the table. I clutched my water glass like it could cool me down.
“Okay.” I forced a shaky smile. “Another date. With death-trauma guy. Got it. Drinks at the bar.”
Ezra held up his phone, smirk firmly back in place. “I’ll be on recon. Get some nice behind-the-scenes. How bad can he be?”
I prayed my eyes said bad. Very, very bad.
Because if I remembered correctly, that ex used to walk me to my door—not to be polite, but because he claimed he had “vivid dreams” of intruders waiting inside.
I’d slept with the lights on for a month because of his “dreams.”