Chapter 43: For The Best
The aroma of something sweet hit her like a wave. She followed the scent to a tray casually resting on the bedside table. After finishing her brushing, she was ready to start the day, but Ezra was nowhere to be found on the bed.
She had left him there this morning, and the sight of toast and orange juice confirmed that he was behind this thoughtful gesture.
A smile tugged at her lips, and despite her efforts to remain composed, a blush crept onto her cheeks. Evie couldn’t fight it; she picked up the toast and took a bite. It was sweet, spicy, and absolutely delicious. The flavors reminded her of their kiss the night before—a moment she couldn’t shake off.
They hadn’t gone further than kissing, but to Evie, that alone was more intimate than anything else. She had felt his body respond to hers, and the memory of being wrapped in his strong arms made her knees feel weak.
"Stupid girl," she chastised herself inwardly, chuckling awkwardly. She reminded herself that Ezra’s words, "I want you," indicated mere attraction at this stage. He hadn’t exactly asked her to be his girlfriend yet; they needed to take their time and do things properly.
"Girl, slow down," she thought, pushing back thoughts of what it might mean to be his girlfriend.
They had only just established something the day before, yet her heart raced at the thought of being his official girlfriend.
"This is good," she said out loud, savoring another bite. Just then, she felt someone poke at her sides.
Startled, she turned to find Ezra looming above her.
Her eyes widened as he leaned in, taking in his mouth the remnants of toast that lingered by her lips before chewing, meeting her gaze with a slight smirk that made her face flush.
"I didn’t know you were making breakfast," Evie managed, swallowing hard.
"As a matter of fact," Ezra straightened, locking eyes with her, "I’ll start making you breakfast every day." The promise sent her heart skipping a beat.
Evie snorted, slipping away from him, wanting to maintain some distance. Being this close to Ezra clouded her mind more than she was willing to admit.
"You have work," she pointed out. "You’d be late every day because of me?" she challenged, taking a sip of the fresh orange juice he had prepared.
"Like anyone’s going to fire me," he quipped back, pride evident in his voice. "I can afford to be late if it means I’m making breakfast for you."
Her heart tugged in his direction again, and she hated how easily he gained control over her thoughts and feelings.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her head, attempting to act unaffected by his words.
Deep down, Evie knew she wasn’t supposed to make it easy for him. She refused to let him see how much this new attention affected her, even though he had already succeeded in capturing her heart without her admitting it.
She had been drawn to him since that day in Paris when he had done everything for her. She could still recall their laughter, their conversations, the subtle touches, and that unforgettable kiss. "I have somewhere to be, so I need to get ready," she informed him, firm in her resolve.
"Right," Ezra muttered, a frown settled on his face, revealing his reluctance to let her go. He still wanted them to spend their time together, but he understood the importance of what she had to do today.
Evie was one of the speakers for an important women’s program on ’fashion and identity’, a detail he’d committed to memory.
Closing the gap between them, Ezra could see the inquisitive look in her eyes. With a soft grin, he placed his hand on her cheek, tilting her head to meet his gaze.
She looked absolutely adorable. "I hate that you’re leaving, but I know it’s important," he said gently.
"You’ll do great, Evie." His serious tone conveyed his conviction, and he meant every word.
Evie’s gaze were fixed on him, her heart swelling with gratitude for his presence just before the event. "Thank you," she thought, wanting to express her appreciation, but instead, she firmly slapped his hand away from her cheeks, where it had been lingering a moment too long. Ezra raised an eyebrow, amused by her reaction.
"I always do," she replied defiantly, giving her hair a flick that caught him in the face as she strode past him.
All Ezra could do was chuckle. He hadn’t expected that kind of response from her.
There certainly had to be more where that came from, and he was going to see every bit of it, Ezra that thought.
The sound of her shoes echoed as Evie descended the staircase, heading for the event.
Ezra lifted his eyes from the book he was reading, watching her walk in his direction with a smirk forming on his lips.
"Can you help me with this? I’m having trouble," Evie said as she approached him, brushing her hair aside with one hand.
"Where is it?" Ezra asked, and she dropped something into his outstretched palm.
His eyes narrowed as he recognized the ruby chain—the necklace Shane had given to Evie that day at the dining.
Even though her past with Shane was over, Ezra felt an uncomfortable twinge of jealousy. He didn’t like the idea of her wearing it, but he was determined not to let those feelings surface.
As he began to work on the clasp, he noticed it was already broken, and a smug smirk crossed his face. "It’s broken," he said.
Evie spun around, her brows furrowing in confusion as she locked eyes with the chain. "What? How?" she demanded. The chain had been intact when she attempted to fasten it upstairs; her new nails had simply made it difficult for her to do it herself.
"It just broke," Ezra said, meeting her skeptical gaze.
"But don’t be upset—I have something better." Her confusion deepened.
"Just wait here, alright?" He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her head before striding confidently away, hands tucked in his pockets, a smirk lingering on his lips.
The chain hadn’t truly been broken until he applied pressure, and he couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, knowing it was for the best.
Evie was going to wear the things gifted by him. Only him.