Chapter 47: Uncertainty
Evie had initially thought that Ezra would eventually fall back into his old ways and stop being consistent with her, but she was proven wrong. It was evident that he was genuinely invested in what he wanted, and what he wanted was her.
Every morning, she woke up to find that he had made breakfast for her, just as he promised. Not once did he skip a day, and she couldn’t fathom how he seamlessly transitioned from his typically withdrawn self to being so attentive. It was as if he was fully committed to making her happy.
Each night, when they met, dinner was waiting for her – something he hadn’t even guaranteed, but he did it anyway, which took her by surprise.
He paid attention to the smallest details she mentioned and consciously learned about her preferences to cater to her likes.
Take the day she received a package at work, for instance. Evie scrutinized the brown box, skepticism creeping in; she hadn’t ordered anything.
"Are you sure?" she asked the delivery man.
He confirmed it was indeed for her: "Ms. Evie Quinn." Thanking him, she returned to her desk, carefully unwrapping the package to find the very book she’d been yearning to get – one she had always forgotten about or never had the time for.
The scent of the new book wafted up as she noticed a small envelope tucked inside. "Ezra?" she thought.
"You said you wanted it," he had written. It was short and to the point, just like him. What struck her was how he remembered such a small detail.
Ezra went out of his way to order her coffee, buy her thoughtful gifts, and show up unexpectedly.
Perhaps it was true when they said, men would create the time for the woman they truly wanted or liked, they would never be busy when they liked a woman and Ezra just proved that theory right.
Evie felt a mix of disbelief and joy at how perfectly he seemed to fit into her life. He was always available to help, even when it wasn’t explicitly said. Like when he walked into the kitchen while she was preparing dinner.
"Do you need help?" Ezra asked, casually.
She raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "Not really. I thought you were busy?" she queried, aware of his earlier seriousness.
"Well, I’m available now," he said, shrugging, as he approached the sink to wash his hands and assist her.
"I’ll need the spices. They’re up there," she pointed to a high cupboard, knowing she would have to stretch to reach them. With ease, Ezra reached up, to open the cupboard and Evie ducked her head instinctively. That was so stupid because there was clearly enough space between her and the cupboard.
"It wasn’t even going to hit you," he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Evie narrowed her eyes in mock discontent. "Are you calling me short?"
"I never said that," he replied calmly, turning his focus back to her.
"But you implied it," she countered, unable to let it go. His smile only deepened as he fetched the spices and placed it on the counter for her to use.
Ezra also often appeared in places where she least expected him to, like the other day at the program when he surprised her with a bouquet and then vanished. Whenever he surprised her like that, he never made it seem about him.
He consistently stood up for her, especially during one social event. When a man in Ezra’s circle made a rude comment about her.
The man had scrutinized Evie as if questioning her place among them, as if he could sense she wasn’t part of the billionaire elite, and he was irritated by her presence.
"I don’t get what the hype about her is," he sneered.
"Ezra, who picked your girlfriend for you? Is this some grandmother *shit* —picking up village girls for their grandsons? Your standards can’t be this low." He joked.
Evie’s chest tightened at the barrage of insults. She could easily handle herself, but Ezra was quick to intervene, wrapping his arm around her waist to show his support.
"What do you know about standards? Look at yourself – you’re the lowest piece of crap here," he shot back.
The man’s face fell, the wine in his hand suddenly tasting bitter. "Pardon me?" he mumbled.
"Evie’s my woman, and you’re not fit to even breathe the same air as her," Ezra stated firmly, glaring at the man who dared to make derogatory comments.
The man’s jaw tightened. "For this, Ezra, you’ll pay dearly," he shot back, seething with anger as he stormed off. The man and Ezra were about to make a deal worth billions but he would definitely not make the deal anymore, he thought. And Ezra cared not for it.
Ezra watched him leave, then turned his attention to Evie, who was observing him intently. "What?" he asked, locking eyes with her striking blue gaze, shimmering with eyeshadow.
"You didn’t have to step in like that. I can handle myself just fine," Evie replied, her tone measured.
"You really think I’m going to stand by while some jerk talks trash about you?" He inquired.
"Thanks," Evie whispered, appreciation edging her voice.
The anger in his eyes began to ebb, and Ezra leaned in, whispering in her ear, "You have no idea how much I wanted to knock him out."
Evie’s red lips curled into a smile. "Nah, don’t do that," she replied, sipping her wine.
On tough days, Ezra was always there for her. Like the day she sat staring at her phone, reading cruel comments for the third time. One blog had twisted her words, branding her pretentious and overly ambitious, questioning her worthiness for the spotlight.
She tossed her phone aside, feeling the weight of it all. She hadn’t even confided in anyone about how deeply it affected her. All she wanted was to sleep it off.
Then—
A knock at the door.
When she opened it, she almost broke down but held back, maintaining her composure. Ezra stood there, brown paper bag in hand, his expression calm.
"You didn’t respond to my texts," he said softly.
"I just... didn’t feel like talking," she replied, the words heavy on her tongue.
"I know. That’s why I came."
He stepped inside, placed the bag on the table, and declared, "I got you the cinnamon rolls you like. And chamomile tea."
She stared at him, processing his thoughtfulness.
Evie blinked rapidly, her throat tightening. "You saw the comments too?" she asked quietly.
Ezra nodded. "I did. It was crap. Anyone who actually listened to you knows better."
She moved closer, standing next to him in silence for a moment.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
He handed her a warm mug. "You don’t have to face everything alone, Red." His hand rested reassuringly on her shoulder.
Now, they were curled up in the living room, watching a Korean series. Evie, wrapped in a quilt, sat close to Ezra, who had his arm draped around her. She teased, "I didn’t think you meant it when you said you could be fun," recalling a moment that made her chuckle. "I thought it was just a bluff."
Ezra raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Is this your way of admitting you enjoy my company?" he teased back.
Evie didn’t answer immediately. Reaching for the popcorn bowl, she realized it was empty. Her mouth fell open in disbelief as she turned to Ezra. "Don’t look at me. You ate the last bite," he replied.
Evie rolled her eyes and grabbed the bowl, preparing to head to the kitchen. "We’re completely out of popcorn," Ezra said, his voice low.
"Wait, what?" Evie exclaimed, puzzled. What was she supposed to do without something to munch on? Chewing while watching movies was a must for her. She was addicted to it.
"You wouldn’t know because you’re always busy eating," Ezra chuckled quietly, but Evie shot him a glare that was both cute and annoyed.
"I can’t believe this," she said, flopping back onto the couch, her arms crossed and lip pouty.
Ezra observed her with a mischievous smirk creeping across his face. "If you have this need to keep your mouth busy while watching movies, I have a suggestion."
"What is it?" she asked, a mix of intrigue and caution in her tone, knowing Ezra was up to something.
"We could kiss," he offered outright.
Evie blinked, no word left her lips and the air was thick with awkwardness. Ezra shifted his gaze, muttering, "Understood," as he read the silence.
She was caught off guard by his boldness, and for a moment, she didn’t respond.
"What do you want to do, then?" he asked, deflecting.
Evie shrugged, adjusting the quilt around her. She then leaned against his shoulder.
Evie then felt his fingers weave into her hair, massaging her scalp in a way she didn’t expect to feel so good. She caught glimpses of his sharp profile as he focused on the series.
In that moment, she considered if she should have just given in earlier. No, she reminded herself—she wasn’t supposed to make things easy for him.
She had observed Ezra, she noted how perfect he was. He put in so much effort for her, and she wondered what it was like without the perfection and everything...
She silently wondered, if she could start trusting him or would it be better to wait a little longer before giving in?
Evie didn’t know what to do, even as she was certain that she liked him too. She was only uncertain about whether her choice would be right. She didn’t want to regret it.