Page 9 of Maybe This Time
I need to leave.
I can’t do this.
His eyes went wide. “You can’t,” he blurted out, taking a step closer. “I haven’t seen you in years and you’re just going to walk away?”
An unexpected rage filled my chest, dimming the hurt and threatening to take over and washing it all away. He’d been back in town for anentireweek and apparently, I hadn’t been important enough for a drop-by or even a text. I’d somehowmanaged to speak to him without completely losing my shit, but with his accusation, all bets were off because how dare he?
“Me, walk away? You’re the one who hasn’t spoken to me inmonths.”
I must have said that last part louder than I’d intended because a few patrons nearby looked over at us. I’d usually hate the attention, but right now, I didn’t care.
“Talya.” He’d said my name so quietly, I’d barely heard it.
My eyes fluttered shut. “I can’t do this,” I started, shaking my head repeatedly. “I just… I have to go.”
I moved to push past him, but I’d barely made it a step when his gloved hand wrapped around my wrist.
I was ready to yank my arm away and tell him off, but when I looked up at him, Ezra’s face mirrored what was happening in my chest. Looking at him felt like a punch to the gut when it used to fill me with so much happiness.
Ezra used to be my person. He’d always been.
He’d been my best friend, my confidant.
Probably the love of my life even though I’d never mustered the courage to tell him. I’d always been scared to tell him how I felt, not wanting to risk our friendship. That might seem like an easy excuse, but when you shared so much with one person, the idea of not having them anymore or for things to never be the same if they didn’t feel the same way was almost unbearable.
What if I’d confessed my stupid love for him and he’d left or started acting differently to protect my feelings?
Guess he left anyway,the nagging voice in my head mocked, reminding me of the hole Ezra had torn between us when he decided I wasn’t worth it anymore.
“Talya, stay.” His voice came out thick with emotion. “Please.”
CHAPTER 6
EZRA
If I hadto get on my knees and beg for her to stay, I would. I’d do just about anything to have more time with the only girl I’d ever cared about.
I thought I’d be able to forget about her when she never answered my last letter and worse, didn’t take me up on my offer to come visit me in Paris after I’d basically confessed my undying love for her.
But Talya Morrone was unforgettable.
No matter how much time passed or how chaotic my life got, she’d always had a way to ebb herself back into my thoughts and completely annihilate everything else in its path.
She hadn’t answered me, but she was still here.
That had to count, right?
“Give me one hour,” I offered, hoping the small compromise would push her to say yes. “I’ll even time it. After that, you can leave if you want.”
I wouldn’t let that happen, but I’d deal with that later. Right now, I just needed her to agree and let me take her somewhere more private so we could talk.
“One hour,” she finally said, pulling her arm out of my grasp.
Relief flooded my chest and a small smile grew on my lips. “Okay, yes,” I started, stumbling on my words. I swear I wasn’t always so clumsy, but Talya always had a way to destabilize me.
Especially looking like she did right now becausefuck mewas she the most beautiful person I’d ever laid eyes on. She wore a green dress that made her look even more breathtaking than she already was. My fingers itched to learn every inch of her like I’d dreamed of so many times over the years.
I held my hand out. “Come with me.”
