Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“You’re the sweetest man I ever met,” I whisper, and then I write that down too and fold it up before dropping it into the glass. “And I love the way you look at me.”
I write that down and his smile becomes one of complete mischief. “I can’t take my eyes off you.” He chuckles when I write down another.
He says the sweetest things, in English and Italian.
“Would you like dessert now?” he asks, motioning to the small menu on the corner of the table as I place the vase back in the safety of the box and tuck the notepad into my small purse.
“Let’s share one, I’m not sure I could eat one to myself.”
“Whatever you desire.”
Funnily enough I think he means that.
Later that night, after more pleasant conversations, more wine, a shared lemon sponge and a nice walk through the city, he leaves me at the entrance to my building without even a kiss goodbye.
When I get upstairs, I place the vase in the middle of my dining table, and before the night is up, the bottom layer is filled. There are so many things to love about Ezra Conti. So many wonderful things.
Chapter Forty-Two
My happiness is as important to him as his is to me.
The jar is dwindling at half full despite the fact it has been a wonderful four months.
Every other weekend, Ezra has flown to Seattle to see me, unfortunately on his weekends without Maria but I understand why. He has wined me, dined me, and made me laugh until tears have streamed from my eyes.
Yet he hasn’t kissed me, hasn’t touched me beyond our desperate embraces every time he leaves and a kiss on the cheek every time he arrives again.
Halley is an overwhelming presence, she’s constantly at my place talking about the guy she’s dating while using my TV and games console because my TV is bigger. I don’t mind. She’s so sweet and she adores Laurie who comes once a month, though I suspect that’s on Ezra’s dime because she refuses my money and doesn’t earn enough to fund the trips herself. I’ve not had the chance to return to LA yet, truth be told I’m terrified I’ll bump into Elizabeth, or Ezra’s mother, Izabella.
Pax is no longer an issue for me, I had a fortunate escape. He was sentenced to a year in prison for his assault on his new girlfriend who unfortunately decided to stand by him through the entire thing. An unfortunate but common theme when it comes to abused women or even men. I hope she learns one day that he is not the right man for her. I hope everyone in that kind of relationship does.
I was blessed to have been financially able and supported enough to walk away. I was blessed to find the love of a man like Ezra, despite our situation.
Robert was salty about our relationship at first, and though he has stayed my friend, he has been distant which concerned me. He’s better now, I hope, and is joining us for lunch soon. Which is why I’m so on edge.
“I need to tell you something,” I mutter, biting my lip, giving Ezra puppy eyes so I look more forgivable.
“Now?” He looks up at the Sausage Palace and then back at me. “We’re about to head in.”
“I need to because I want you to hear it from me…”
My meaning isn’t lost on him. His body becomes tight and his throat bobs with an audible gulp. “Oh.”
“My attentions, though solely focused on my heartbreak, took a night off from my pain.” I tuck my hair behind my ears and place my hand on his chest. “The night of the party… Robert and I…” I wet my lips and count to six, he waits patiently. “Things happened between us, I won’t go into details but things got heated. I should have told you sooner but I chickened out and now I realize how dishonest that was but I swear I have done nothing with anybody else or even him since. Except we kissed a couple of times—”
He places his hand over my mouth, effectively stopping my ramble, and his eyes, hurt and full of envy, scan my face. I hear him mutter the number six before he drops his hand.
“Since your birthday, have you…?”
I respond by shaking my head and he blows out a relieved breath. Then he asks, “Should I be worried? Is there anything there that might corrupt what we have before I have the chance to fix it?”
“No.” The word comes instantly because it’s the truth. “I love him, but in a totally different way. He’s a good friend, but that’s all he’ll ever be. He could never replace you on the pedestal I’ve put you on, it’s far too high.”
At that he smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, then he blows out a breath that projects his grief. “I have no right to be mad because we were not together, and truth be told I have wondered about that night since he kissed you in front of me, but I will be honest and say my heart is beating heavily in my chest and suddenly I have lost my appetite.”