“She told me.” I steady my voice, even though my chest is pounding so hard I feel sick. “She wants both of us. And I love her enough to try, even if it means being around you.”
He laughs. “I don’t want you.”
“Yeah, trust me, the feeling’s mutual.” I cross my arms to stop them from shaking. “I don’t need you to want me. But if we both want her, we figure this shit out.”
“I’ll never sleep with you. The only person I want is Felicity. But I would have to get along with you.”
“Ditto dumbass. Ditto. Sausage isn’t in my diet. I’m a purely taco kind of girl. The only phallus shaped object I’ll tolerate is the silicone type, and that’s just for my viewers. No other time.”
I lean forward now, my voice lowering, tightening. “But I swear to God, Ezra, if you don’t show me she’s okay right now, I’m calling the fucking cops. I don’t care if she hates me for it. I will burn this house to the fucking ground to get her back.”
He just sits there, not moving, but neither am I. We’re in a true standoff as if we were in the Old West. The only things missing are the guns in our hands, firmly aimed at the other’s head, fingers itching to pull the trigger.
His hands move, pressing down on his thighs as he pushes up to stand. “You’re right. I don’t want to lose Felicity. I fucked up and I can own up to that. The last few weeks without her have been the worst of my life, and I’ve made some questionable choices. Tonight being one of them.” He pauses, running his hand through his hair, and I catch the ink on his arm sticking out from beneath his sleeve. It’s beautiful. If I didn’t know he truly cared for Felicity, I’d question him about having another woman on his arm.
“She might not forgive me,” he adds, softer now.
“Where is she?” I demand again. Honestly, I could give a rat’s ass if she forgives him or not. I’m more concerned if I’ll get her forgiveness once I confess my truth.
“Fine, follow me.”
He moves toward a hallway and I fall in step right behind him. He opens a door, and I peer around his body, seeing a flight of stairs when he turns on the lights. A trail of small, flickering lights are mounted on the wall, giving just the barest ability to see where I’m going.
Step by step, I follow him up until I step onto a landing.
Another fucking door awaits us.
He takes hold of the handle, pausing, causing my unease to spiral yet again.
“Why are we stopping?” I say through clenched teeth.
“She’s okay, no matter what you think. You can look at her, but if you go near her, this is over.”
“You’re not making me feel good about her being okay.” I snap. My hands are fists, knuckles white. I want to scream. Hit. Fight.
He lets out a heavy sigh, turning the knob and pushing the door open.
He steps inside, shifting his body just enough for me to see around him. My breath catches.
Felicity.
She’s laid out, still, on the bed. The only thing telling me she’s alive is the soft rise and fall of her chest.
“What did you do to her?” The words leave me in a cracked sob. My legs nearly buckle from the weight of seeing her like that. My chest aches with the need to run to her, pull her into my arms, and never let go. “She was coming here already. She was coming to you. Why the hell would you do this?”
He sighs, but my gaze stays glued on Felicity. I need to make sure she’s okay. My eyes roam her body, checking every inch of exposed flesh to make sure she doesn’t have any injuries. Ezra’s lucky I don’t find any or I’d kill his fucking ass. I still may.
“I saw the live,” he says quietly. “The two of you. I just—” He pauses, jaw clenching. “We need to talk before she wakes up. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“So you drugged her?” I snap, still not looking away from Felicity.
“I panicked. It was stupid. I just... I didn’t want to lose her.”
His hand reaches out, fingers curling gently around my arm. I tense—but he doesn’t force me, doesn’t yank me or try to control me. Just a soft, hesitant grip. It’s almostpleading.
“Let’s go,” he murmurs. “We need to talk before she wakes up. Figure this shit out.”
I hesitate for a second longer, eyes still on her—my girl, my heart—and then I let him guide me out, the door clicking shut behind us.
