Page 16 of Falling for Ezra Thomas
Dominic chews his lip and shrugs. “He’s been off his game lately, too. Maybe he’s contemplating retirement.”
“He’s not that old yet. Is he?” I ask. “I don’t really know anything about soccer.”
“No, not too old for it, but it is rough on the body. He might be ready to move on. Or it has something to do with Melody breaking up with him.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, leaning in for the details.
Dominic scrunches his nose. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to let that slip. I thought you already knew, but since you clearly don’t, I’m not getting into that. Get back to putting tablecloths out before my sister gives us both worse chores.” He grins and disappears before I can grill him about what he knows.
I remind myself it’s none of my business, but it sure is easier to think about their issues than mine. I head back to the kitchen to search for more tablecloths only to be caught around the waist and dragged halfway across the kitchen into a darkened corner. I laugh because there’s only one person it can be, though my heart races anyway.
“I haven’t been able to kiss you all day, and it’s driving me crazy,” Ezra says. “I didn’t think you’d ever come in here.”
“Your mother has kept us busy, and you’re going to get us in trouble.” I try to push away from him but he won’t let me. Truthfully, I don’t try that hard.
“I’m a grown up, and I don’t need my mother’s permission to take a break and kiss my…girlfriend?Did we ever decide what to call this?”
“I’m pretty sure we said we were going to date via letters.” I settle into his arms with my hands on his chest since I can’t escape. It’s better to give in and enjoy every moment I can get than to fight him, anyway.
He turns his nose up at my statement and groans. “I know we should take this slow, but I don’t want to.”
“It’s probably better to.”
“Beck and Vivien went full steam ahead and we are literally at their engagement party.”
“We’re setting up for the party, which we should get back to soon before your mother has a nervous breakdown.”
“Technicalities.” He waves his hand, dismissing my clarifying statement.
I sigh and push back a little, and because he’s perceptive enough to know I’mnotplaying around, he gives me wiggle room.
“Look, I want to dive right in too, but we have a lot to think about and work through. Yes to being your girlfriend, but no to flooring the gas like our siblings did, okay?”
He palms my cheeks and kisses my forehead. “Okay. I can live with that.”
“It’s not because I don’t want the same thing as my sister, Ez. It’s just that everything is changing, and I don’t want to make those big decisions while I’m so unfocused and confused about the future.”
He nods. “I know. I don’t mean to put more pressure on you.”
“I know that, too. Trust me, you’re not putting any more pressure on me than I’m putting on myself. I do want this to work, which is why I’m saying let’s slow it down. None of those spontaneous proposals two weeks after we start dating like you Thomas brothers are known for.”
“What about twomonths?”
I narrow my eyes and scowl at him. That kind of thing might have worked for my sister and Beck, but it just isn’t for me. I need to think through things. Plan. Figure it all out.
“Fine, three?”
I stand on my toes and kiss him, but it’s much shorter than he’d like.
“Let’s get through basic training and we’ll see where we stand after that. Now, where are the table cloths so I don’t get into trouble? Despite what you say, I am actually afraid of your mother right now.”
“Corner cabinet, top shelf, and don’t think I missed that you didn’t saynoto three months.”
I throw my hands in the air and laugh. “What is it with you Thomas boys and these fast engagements?”
“Only Beck and Vivien are engaged. Unless you know something I don’t.”
“I know that the others are only waiting so my sister and your brother have a little of the spotlight on them for a while first, but as soon as the right time comes along, you know Lev and Silas will marry Emma and Ella.”
