Page 17 of Falling for Ezra Thomas
Ezra shrugs and pushes off the wall to help me get the supplies I need. “It’s not our fault. It’s how Mom and Dad raised us.”
“To date and get married in a few weeks?” I roll my eyes again, knowing full well how they were raised. It isn’t like I’ve been ignoring their parents all this time. My parents pulled a little from the Thomas playbook, too, and Vivien and I weren’t raised all that differently.
“Also, not our fault. We can’t help it that you ladies are perfect for us.” His smirk says he’s messing with me, but he might not be too far off. I pray that whatever is building between Ezra and me is equally perfect, but only time will tell.
Ezra sighs and grasps my hand. “Lore, all joking aside, I know it’s different for us. You’re not sure about your career, I justjoined the military, and we aren’t going to have a traditional sort of relationship right off, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know you.”
“Right, but going from friends to more is a different thing,” I say, admitting something that is truly what scares me. “What if we’re better as friends?”
“Don’t say that. Please.” He squeezes my hand and forces me to look at him. “Lore, we’re notjustfriends. Maybe Viv and I have been best friends for ages, but you and me have something great, too. We always have, and downplaying our friendship because you’re afraid isn’t fair.”
I swallow my pride a little. He’s right. I act as if we have superficial friendship alone and notdeepfriendship. And we do. It’s thatbest friendlabel he’s always had with Vivien that differentiated our friendship, but truly, most of our childhoods were spent as a group. Beck included, so if I really think about it, Beck and Viv do make sense. Just like Mom said in the beginning. I thought she was crazy, but maybe she saw things we didn’t.
Maybe she can help me with this too.
“Lore?” he whispers, bringing me back to reality.
I inhale and try to relax. “I guess I’m still a little scared.”
“I am too, but I want you, okay? I want this to work.” He leans in and I let him kiss me again. He’s sweet and gentle and it reminds me that this is the next step, not the beginning. We have the background, and we’re building the next part of this thing between us.
“There you two are. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Mrs. Thomas’ hair flies everywhere as she works to rein in all the craziness into a proper party. “Listen, I’m glad you two are dating but if you don’t get my tables done, I’m going to—”
“Okay, okay,” Ezra says and raises his hands. “I’ll go bring in more tables even though I don’t know where you’re going to put them.”
I chuckle and watch him go before realizing he just left me alone in the kitchen with his mother. I adore Mrs. Thomas, but it’s the first time we’ve been one-on-one since she discovered Ezra is not only leaving soon, but that we’ve decided to give a more serious relationship a try.
“How are you?” she asks, her tone so motherly.
I bite my lip to try to hold back the tears, but I can’t, not with her. Everything that has been weighing on my mind comes front and center again in a great big, heaving sob. In a second, she wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight.
“I know. Me too,” she says and sniffles. “But we have to be strong and supportive. I’m here for you, just like your parents. He’ll be back before we know it.”
I nod against her shoulder and she releases me. She wipes away my tears and smiles.
“We’re going to be okay. You’ll see. Whatever God has planned for us will surprise us every time, right?”
I laugh a little and smile. She has a way of making a person feel right as rain, even when the whole world weighs them down.
“I know, it’s the waiting part I’m really bad at,” I admit.
“Oh, honey, aren’t we all?” she says and smoothes my hair. “But we’ll get better at it. I promise.”
Someone opens the kitchen door and we separate, discreetly wiping our tears. She glances at me with a soft smile and I know we feel the same way: a little lost, sad, but also proud. She’s also right. I know we’ll figure out what comes next.
Chapter Ten
Lorelai
Sweet and Salty hasbeen transformed into something from a fairy tale. The whole town is either inside or mingling in the street out front. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how small Coldstone Creek is, then someone goes and gets engaged, and it’s a big affair with everyone from the mayor to the shop owners on Main Street in attendance.
Vivien smiles and tries to be cordial for both Beck and herself, but her fiancé has almost shut down. This is ten times more than Beck’s comfort level can manage, which proves that the party was a distraction for his mother.
“He’s miserable,” Ezra says and adjusts his tie. “You know how he feels about all of this attention.”
“Yeah, I know. I wish we could rescue them, but it’s their party. I think your mom needed the distraction.” I look up at him and sip my water.
Ezra scrunches his nose. “I know. I wish I could have changed the timing of everything, but the Army doesn’t answer to me.Totally unrelated, you are gorgeous. Have I mentioned that?” He grins and looks me over once more, taking in my green dress. He toys with one of my meticulously crafted waves and sighs. “I want to dance with you all night, but…”
