7
“How did the gaming session go?” Darius asked during Sunday dinner at the B&B.
Ezreal choked on his food. How had Darius found out he’d gone over to Sara’s?
“Don’t have a heart attack.” Darius patted him on the back. “I dropped by with some stuff for Ahri’s design class. Janna was here and mentioned it. She said she was surprised you’d managed to talk to her mom without having her interpret for you.”
Ezreal closed his eyes. Darius had once told Ezreal he should just get over himself and start taking responsibility for it. That had hit a little close to home, but it’d had the opposite effect of what the big man might have intended. Ezreal had stuttered with everyone he spoke to for two weeks after. Darius had apologized and never done it again. Would he start up again?
“I think it’s so nice of you to work with Sara on her project,” Francie said. “She told me it’s always been her dream to bring music to underprivileged kids. I think she’s had a hard life.”
Ezreal looked up from his food. He wanted to ask why she thought that because he did too. When he’d been teaching Sara the game the other night, there’d been times a car would drive past, and she’d pause to listen. Then, once it’d gone by, her attention would return to the game. What was she listening for? Ryan had even commented on it. What was it about strangers coming around that made her worry? Ezreal paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. Did it have something to do with why she’d come to North Carolina? Was she like Ahri and running away from something too? Someone?
That would explain Janna’s comment about strangers coming around. He wished they knew each other well enough that Sara could trust him. If he pressed her for more information, would she think it an intrusion?
“She mentioned to me that you two went out looking at wallpaper samples,” Francie said.
“We did shop around, and some of them were okay, I guess, but I could tell she wasn’t really happy with anything.” Ezreal glanced at Darius. “I was wondering if you’d consider painting a mural on one of the walls of the music room. I thought you might have some ideas she’d like.”
“Oh, I’d love to see that,” Francie said. “Rafe told me you painted a huge mural for your school back when you were teaching.”
“It was fun. It’d be nice to do something different for a change.” Darius nodded, looking thoughtful. “Are you talking about a row of notes or something like that? No. How about a keyboard that flows along the wall at kid height. I could do it at varying levels but one they could touch and even practice on. Hmm . . .”
Ezreal grinned as his friend’s imagination took over, especially when he started brainstorming different possibilities. It was a good way to distract him from talking too much about Sara. Ezreal didn’t have any dating experience. He wasn’t sure his friends, all single and currently without girlfriends, were in any position to give him advice.
Darius dated the most but only casually, never anything serious. At thirty, he probably should have someone steady in his life. Ezreal had never wondered before why he didn’t. The man might not always be patient, and he was bossy, but he was someone Ezreal knew would always have his back. He was more like a big brother than either of Ezreal’s blood brothers who’d never come to his defense. They’d always looked at him as an embarrassment.
“You should talk with Sara first though,” Ezreal said. “It’s her room, so she has the final say on what goes in.”
“Even though you're paying for it?” Darius asked.
“Herproject.Herdecision.”
Darius studied Ezreal for a few seconds but didn’t say anything. The man always saw too much.
“Do you think it’ll be finished in time for the start of the school year?” Francie asked, cutting a slice of cake and sliding it onto his dessert plate.
“It depends on how soon the contractor can get to work and how many jobs are being juggled at once.” Ezreal took a bite and closed his eyes. “You’ve done it again Mrs. D.”
“Thank you.” Rafe’s mother’s cheeks flushed like they always did when someone praised her cooking.
“It’s just as well to wait,” her husband Alex said, holding out his plate for a slice, “until the kids have settled in before starting an extracurricular program anyway.”
“Ahri went to her practice session,” Francie said.
“It was a mess, but Sara has a great sense of humor. She said we’ll have to work through some things before she does it for real.” Ahri glanced at him. “She did say she should have invited you, that you have a way with kids.”
Ezreal ducked his head. Knowing that Sara thought highly of him meant a lot, but he didn’t want her to just think of him as good with children. How did a guy get a woman to look at him differently? Romantically.
A memory of the way she’d felt pressed against him when she’d taken his chest measurement flashed through his mind. And the way she’d practically snuggled against his neck. His body flushed with warmth. No woman had ever done that to him before. Did it mean what he hoped? Or was he putting too much into it? He’d like help interpreting her behavior but he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Glancing up, he found Darius watching him, a speculative gleam in his eyes.
“Janna said her mother’s sewing you a costume for Rafe’s party,” Lessa said. “She’s making ones for Janna and Nik. Ma’s sewing ours.”
“I like Sara a lot,” Ahri said. “I’m glad you’re able to help her.”
Ezreal was too.
