Page 241 of Wrath

I run my hand over his hip again before I pull out slowly. “My beautiful Ezra. Let's go to the shower. We're both filthy by now."

That makes him laugh. He seems out of it as we get into the shower. Then we're in there, and he's hugging me, his arms around my shoulders. He just hugs me for a long time, and when he pulls away, he gives me a sleepy-eyed smile. The one that says I'm his and he's mine. The one that tells me nothing will change that.

Fifteen

Josh

It's been two weeks since we got back together. Is that what I should call it? It doesn't feel quite right. I step outside the math building and pull my phone out, texting,‘Hey there, birthday angel. U know what? It's been two weeks since we found each other again.'

He replies fast.'I know. I miss u. What're you doing? Math?'

'Just got out'

'Call me?'

He likes when I call him. Considering how closed off Fairplay Ezra was, this fact always surprises me.

"Hey, birthday boy. How's things going?"

"One more class and I'm free,” he says. “Got the Jeep all packed. I should be there by six, and we can get on the road."

"If by on the road, you mean in my bed," I murmur into the phone.

"You know I do."

"Who's the bottom tonight?" I ask cupping my hand around the phone. Over the last week and a half, we've driven to eachother almost every other night, and I think I'm starting to understand the cliché that there’s too many bottoms and not enough tops.

"I think you are, Mills. I've been thinking of you that one time—when I had your wrists tied up together. So damn hot. I wanna plow that."

"I'll be your fuck toy. Long as you treat me right."

That makes him chuckle. "I'll treat you more than right. Get that ass ready."

"On it. Just as soon as I get out of physics."

"Send some pics. Millsy."

I can hear affection in his voice. When we get off the phone, I'm walking to the student union for a soda, I can't help thinking how damn crazy it is—all of this. How well we still just...fit.

There's no walls with us this time. No secrets. I trust that he loves me. He lets me love him. We're fucking like bunnies. During this little three day stretch he gets away from practice, we're going up to Fall Creek Falls, a nature spot near Chattanooga.

The phone rings, and I'm smiling as I pull it out of my pocket. But it’s not Ezra. It’s my mom. Fuck.

"Hi, Mom."

"Well hello, Joshua. How are you?"

"I'm pretty good. How about you and Carl?"

"We're good,” he says. “Carl got off early, and he's grilling burgers. We wish you were here."

"I wish that, too."

"So I saw Jenna's mother. She said Jenna will be home this evening. Her finals are over now. We were just wondering when you might be home.”

"Oh yeah.” I feel bad I haven’t thought to call her. “I'll be home in...man, Mom. I don't really know."Jesus, I am so not prepared to do this right now. "It's nothing bad," I rush out. "Ijust...have some other plans." I inhale deeply and just spit it out. "I'm seeing someone. Like...a boyfriend."

I can tell my mom is shocked by her tone when she says, "You are?"

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