Chapter 5
Ezra
That same afternoon
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Isettle into the nearlyempty bleachers, making it before Elias’ afterschool training is over. He hasn’t seen me yet, and he is one hundred percent able to just be himself. Around our brothers he has to try and be just as strong and responsible. Around me, he may let his guard down, but he’ll always still try to protect me. Here though?
He has the biggest smile on his face as he sidesteps one of his friend’s tackling attempts, the two of them getting splattered in mud. He reaches down to help his buddy up and they break into a sprint, trying to trip each other up on their way to the first obstacle. It’s nice seeing him so free, just enjoying himself.
“He’s a good kid,” a voice behind me states, but I heard his steps on the metal stands long before he came to sit near me.
“The best,” I agree wholeheartedly.
I turn to face Colton, the training coach for the school. He’s a solid man, befitting the position, with bright blue eyes and dark hair that should make any girl swoon. But yet, he doesn’t get my blood pumping. He usually ends up finding any excuse to bump into me when I show up to these things, as do all of Elias’ other teachers. I’ve taken point on all of the conferences and such since our brothers are always busy, and the men around here jump on the chance for any excuse that my brothers can’t protest against.
“You coming to the game next Friday?” he asks casually and I fight off my grimace.
“You know I never miss his matches.”
And that’s exactly why this entire conversation is making me uneasy, because everyone in the school knows I am in the front fucking row for anything Elias is even remotely involved in. I take my role as sister-mom incredibly seriously.
“Maybe I’ll see you there?” he asks and I just get annoyed at his hemming and hawing.
“Spit it out, Colton. I don’t do subtle well.”
He turns to face me, completely ignoring the teenagers under his watch. As such, I can’t help but keep shooting glances that way, because teenage boys left unattended is a blank check for trouble.
“I’d like to take you on a date,” he rushes out, and fuck, that gets my full attention, teens be damned.
“Have you lost your damn mind?”
He laughs, going so far as to take my hand and run his thumb over the back. It’s been years since anyone has been this fucking bold, and not going to lie, I’m low key freaking out about it. As much crap as I give my brothers, they’ve been a perfect excuse to fall back on to not have to deal with this sort of thing.
“You’re almost twenty-four, Ezra. You know what that means,” he prompts and I just blink at him, because I have no clue what the lunatic is going on about.
When he sees my honest confusion, he blushes.Blushes.And I slide my hand from his grip, unnerved. I feel the vibration of footsteps on the stands, but they sound far away.
“Your brothers didn’t tell you, did they?” he asks awkwardly.
