In Your Heart, стр. 62

I sat down just as Ezra appeared. He’d ditched his tux jacket and if anything he looked even more lickable. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up to his elbows and his slick black tie lay flat.

I quickly turned my head away when he saw me looking.

The chair to my left slid out and he sat down.

“You keep running from me,” he drawled, “and yet we keep ending up together. Think there’s something to that?” He propped his elbows on the table and tipped his head in my direction, a dark curl tumbled forward across his forehead refusing to be tamed.

“Yes,” I agreed and he smirked, “the world hates me.”

His smile fell. He leaned forward, his eyes flicking all across my body before he ever so slightly drew his bottom lip in between his teeth. Fuck me. He wasn’t playing fair.

His lashes lowered, fanning across his cheekbones, and his breath tickled the skin of my neck. “I’ll leave you alone…tonight. But soon I’m going to talk and you will listen.”

I swallowed thickly, hoping he couldn’t see the way my pulse fluttered in my throat.

“Is that a threat?”

His lips quirked up into a crooked smile and he leaned impossibly closer. “No, sweetheart, that’s a promise.”

I suddenly felt light-headed. Even when he sat back, out of my personal space, I still couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen into my lungs.

Our food was served to us, but I merely picked at mine. My appetite was completely gone. I wished I could bow out, but since I was the Maid of Honor I was stuck here.

The tables were cleared away to make room for a stage and room to dance.

Emma and Maddox had their customary dance together before Hayes and Maddox took the stage.

“Emma,” Maddox spoke into the microphone, “you haven’t heard this song yet and I’ve been hiding it for a while. This is for you. Only you.”

She smiled up at him from the edge of the stage.

He sat down on a stool beside Hayes. He tipped his head in Hayes’ direction and the soft sounds of the acoustic guitar filled the air.

With a small smile Maddox began to sing. His voice was similar to Mathias’, but softer.

Emma swayed to the song, looking up at her new husband with love shining in her eyes.

I was so happy for her, but that happiness didn’t fill the ache in my heart.

“Dance with me.”

I turned and looked up at Ezra. I said nothing as I quickly looked away.

He moved to stand in front of me and held out his hand. Other couples were already filling the dance floor.

I saw Hayes dragging a giggling Arden out onto the dance floor.

“Take my hand, Sadie.” His eyes pleaded with me. “If you don’t you’ll regret it.”

I wanted to be mean and tell him that I already regretted everything between us and that I could handle one more, but the words would be a lie, and I was done with all of the lying. It was exhausting.

He crooked his fingers, beckoning me to trust him for the moment and to put my hand in his.

Exhaling a deep breath, I somehow found the courage to give him my hand.

He smiled triumphantly and pulled me onto the dance floor.

I couldn’t help the blush that colored my cheeks when I thought about what happened the last time we danced together.

He held my one hand and his other settled on my waist, above the curve of my butt, and I stiffened. “Relax,” he coaxed. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“You already have.” I whispered the words so softly that I thought he might not hear them, but he did.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead and I closed my eyes. “I’m going to make this up to you,” he vowed, “you’ll see.”

I wasn’t going to hold my breath.

I CLOSED THE door to my shop and locked it behind me.

The night sky glittered above me with a thousand shining stars and a brief smile touched my lips. It had been three days since the wedding, and I was feeling surprisingly good. It was one of the first days where I’d actually felt like my normal self.

I adjusted my purse strap on my shoulder and walked in the direction of my apartment. The weather had been perfect today, so I’d wanted to walk. Walking helped me to clear my head. It was helping me to gain a new perspective, and maybe the next time I saw Ezra I wouldn’t feel quite so angry. After all, none of this was his fault.

I crooked my head back, enjoying the evening breeze tickling the bare skin of my neck. Fall was in the air and I couldn’t wait to wear fuzzy pajamas, and drink pumpkin spice lattes every chance I got.

My building came into view, the old brick glowing with a golden hue from the old fashioned streetlights.

My strides quickened and I hurried up the steps, passing one of my neighbors. “Hey, Frankie.” I waved at him before grabbing my key and unlocking the door to my place.

I stepped inside and immediately knew something wasn’t right.

The floor lamp beside the couch was turned on and I knew it had been off when I left.

I turned slowly, circling the room with my eyes, and stopped when I reached my bed.

My breath was sucked out of me and my whole body shook at the sight of the boy perched on the end of my bed.

“What are you doing here?” I gasped, my purse and keys falling from my hands onto the floor. “How are you here?”

He shoved his dark unruly hair away from his eyes and stood with a gentle grace as he untangled his long legs.

He held up a key. “Maddox and Emma let me borrow this.”

“They’re on their honeymoon,” I said stupidly.

“I know.” He took a step forward, his boots crunching something. “I’ve been planning this for a little while.”

“Planning what?”

“This?” He spread his arms to encompass the space.

I finally allowed my eyes to leave his face and I looked around me in awe. Everywhere I looked pieces of paper littered the floor.

I bent down, picking up the piece of paper nearest my shoe.

I gasped, my hand flying up to cover my mouth. “Ezra.” It was only one word, but I knew he could hear the surprise and overwhelming love behind the word.

On the piece of paper was a drawing of the first time we met. He’d sketched every little detail, and while he wasn’t the best artist it was flawless in my eyes.

I clutched the piece of paper to my heart, hugging it against me, wishing that I could squeeze it tight enough to melt inside of me.

A tear brushed against my cheek and I reached up to wipe it away. In the process, my eyes met his.

“You wouldn’t let me explain.” His voice was soft, hesitant, almost scared. “So I thought I could show you.”

“Show me what?” My voice was thick with the threat of tears.

“That I’ve loved you from the beginning.” He pointed to the drawing I held so protectively against me. “There’s not been one single moment that I’ve known you where I haven’t loved you. And somewhere along the way, that love became something bigger, something so undeniable that the force of it scared me more than anything else ever has.” He took a measured step towards me. “Somewhere along the way I fell in love with you. I think I fell in love with you a long time ago and I was too fucking stupid to admit it, because the thought of loving you and losing you was too painful to contemplate. I would rather have you as a friend than not at all.” Another step. “But I realized something when you walked away from me in the hospital. No matter what, I was still going to lose you, because being your friend isn’t enough anymore, Sadie. I know now that falling in love with you isn’t wrong. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. And I’m so, so sorry that it took me so long to see that.” He took yet another step towards me and now no more than three feet separated us. “I’ve made a mess of things. Please, tell me it’s not too late to fix this. I love you. I’m in love with you. And I will spend the rest of my life making this up to you if that’s what it takes. Forgive me, please.”