In Your Heart, стр. 24

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.

“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.