“And you’ll be friends again.” Cash didn’t look entirely sure of that as he headed after Danny. “This was just a surprise. For everyone.”
“Us too.” I managed a weak laugh as the two of them left, shutting the door behind them and leaving Ezra and me alone with a huge bag of food and four untouched coffees. I grabbed the one I’d been toying with and downed half of it like I’d been sprinting in the desert.
“Well. That couldn’t have gone worse.” Ezra flopped on the couch.
“Yep.” Taking my coffee and one for him, I went to join him.
“I’m sorry.” He gazed up at me with big, sad eyes as he took his coffee.
“It’s not your fault.” I settled next to him, wrapping an arm around him. “I’ve told you, we’re both in this.”
“Yeah, but I honestly thought people would be happy for us, get over any objections, and we’d move on quickly. I was naive.” He rested his head on my shoulder, his silky hair brushing my neck.
“Not naive. Hopeful. You were hopeful. There’s a difference,” I said firmly, squeezing him closer. “You’re an optimist, and it’s one of my favorite things about you. You didn’t know they’d show up like this, and you sure as hell didn’t plan on it blowing up like that.”
Groaning, he put more of his weight on me, wiggling around until his back was braced by my front. “I maybe could have predicted the unhappiness though. And I’ve been kind of a crap friend.”
“We both have.” I wasn’t going to lie and tell Ezra otherwise. But he wasn’t the only one who’d ignored texts and given less than complete answers. “We got kind of…wrapped up in this thing.”
“Yeah, we did.” Ezra gave an unhappy sigh, then rolled his shoulders like he was trying to shake off his funk. “We can do better.”
“Yup,” I agreed. “We will.”
“I hope they give us the chance.”
“They will.” I tried to project confidence I didn’t entirely feel before shifting to a sterner tone. “And no more hiding. No more big secrets. From either of us.”
“Sorry.” Ezra tipped his head back to gaze contritely at me. “The part about crashing here kind of slipped out. I hated how upset Danny looked and hated knowing things were about to get more awkward.”
“Yeah, and that’s likely not the only hard or awkward thing we’ll encounter, but if we’re in this together, let’s be together, right? All in?” Peering down at him, I tried to sound upbeat, but my voice wobbled at the end, betraying me. Maybe Ezra didn’t want this as much as he’d said previously. Maybe the negativity was going to be too much for him. Maybe—
“Stop thinking so loudly.” Ezra bumped me with his elbow. “Yes. I’m all in. No matter what.”
“Good.” Now I simply had to trust things would work out, that our friends would give us the chance to make amends, and that Ezra would be here to weather more storms with me. That was the hard part, believing, truly trusting that Ezra would stick it out, but as I kissed his head, I’d never wanted anything more than simply the chance to keep holding him exactly like this.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Duncan
By the time my dad’s wedding rolled around, Ezra had been staying with me for two blissful weeks, the only blip being the continued strain with Danny and Harley. I wasn’t looking forward to more awkward interactions any more than I was looking forward to the wedding itself.
The Saturday in question dawned sunny and hazy, the sort of lazy late summer vibe made for sleeping in and swimming and definitely not for long sleeves and starched collars. That my dad and his new love had had a whirlwind courtship and engagement was no surprise, nor was the lavish event at his Malibu estate. Dad moved fast and wasn’t going to miss a chance to show off, nor would he wait for the weather to change. I, however, could do without the occasion to wear a tux, and I was in a cranky mood as we arrived.
“You look too good to be so frowny.” Ezra straightened my tie after I turned the keys over to the parking valet. My father, as usual, had pulled out all the stops. Air-conditioned party tents had sprung up on his impeccably landscaped grounds, greenery proudly flouting reports of a drought, and uniformed catering personnel scurried around. The party was already in full swing. So much for my dad’s humble bragging that they’d be keeping the event small but exclusive.
“I’d rather be in a T-shirt with you on my couch and one of your reality shows.” I wasn’t even joking. Lately, that was my favorite part of the day. After dinner, but not quite bedtime, I would check the last of my emails, Ezra’s feet in my lap or head on my shoulder, show on the TV, us having a leisurely conversation about anything and everything.