Page 29 of Snapping the Ice
CHAPTER 7
LUCAS
I was in over my head, and I didn’t give two shits about it. I needed to be close to him. It was like I’d been with him in a past life and lost him. Of course, I wasn’t sure I believed in past lives, but what the hell? This defied explanation. Mason would think I was nuts. “Do you…” I swallowed hard. What if he believed I was psycho like his ex? “Do you feel the same?”
His brown-eyed gaze softened. “Yes, of course I do.” He turned his hand in mine and squeezed it. “I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t been there tonight.”
“Do you think Tate would have talked you out of breaking up with him?” I worried my lower lip. I’d wanted to step in when the fucker pulled Ezra’s hair. Heat flickered inside me.
“Truthfully? I don’t know.” With a sigh, he ate a bite of pizza.
He didn’t seem very hungry. I’d already downed two slices to his half slice. Motion in the window caught my attention. Was it Tate? “We need a plan.” It disturbed me to think the guy might be skulking around outside or watching us. I rose andlowered the window shade and then on the window by his dinette. What if Tate tried to kick the door in?
“What are you doing?” Ezra drank his beer.
I shouldn’t tell him what I saw. I didn’t want to worry him. “I’m just making it a little safer, that’s all.” Grabbing a chair, I propped it under the door handle. “There.” I planted my hands on my hips.
Ezra gave a soft chuckle. “Jesus, Lucas. Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“You only have a deadbolt on that door. Anyone could kick it in.” My breath hitched. Fuck, I’d forgotten to ask about the gun. “Hey, uh, does Tate own a firearm?” I freed a stuttered laugh.
With his eyes widening, Ezra slowly nodded. “His father has quite the gun safe. I know Tate keeps a Glock at his place, but he could get his hands on any number of guns.” His jaw muscle bulged. “You don’t think he’d come around?—”
“No, I’m sure he’s not that fucked up. Right?” I rubbed my neck. Shit, maybe we should go to my place tonight? “I mean, you know him best.”
“His handgun is intended for protection. He has some expensive things in his home.” Ezra twisted his lips.
Heavy guitars blared through the room.
I jumped, and Ezra shook his plate. “Fuck.” It was my phone. I sped to it and picked it up. “Hello?”
Ezra lifted a shaking hand to his forehead. “Jesus Christ.” He sniggered.
“Dude, where are you?” Evan asked.
He’d been out when I left, and I hadn’t told him about this. “I’m at Ezra’s place.”
“You are? Why?”
I glanced at Ezra, taking measured bites of his pizza. Grabbing my phone tighter, I paced across the floorand into the kitchen. Whispering, I said, “He broke up with the asshole tonight and I was there for him. Good thing too.” Heat sparked inside me at the image of Tate snatching Ezra’s arm. Tate hurt him. I could tell.
“What happened?”
“Tate wouldn’t let him leave. He…” I glanced behind me at Ezra, still eating and staring into the room. Fuck, I didn’t want him to hear me. “Hey, I’m going to take this into your bedroom.”
“Sure.” Ezra gazed at me with hollow eyes.
An ache stretched across my heart. I need to be quick with the phone call. After jogging into the bedroom, I closed the door and turned on the ceiling fan’s overhead light. “The fucker pulled his hair, right in Ocean Club.” I clenched my jaw. “If I hadn’t been there, he would have hurt Ezra even more.”
“Jesus, Lucas.” Evan clicked his tongue. “So, what will you do now?”
“I’m spending the night here with him.” I looked over his bedroom, the blue paisley bedspread and the mismatch of dressers and headboard on the bed, all painted in white. Had he picked up his furniture in a garage sale and fixed it up? It wouldn’t surprise me.
“You’re sleeping with him? Dude, are you turning gay on me?” He snickered.
“No, I’m sleeping on the couch and I’m not turning gay on you.” I scoffed. He had to chirp, even at a time like this. “I’m afraid his boyfriend is going to show up.”
“And you’ll be sleeping in his apartment,” he said. “You know, if he finds you there, he’s going to take you out.”
