Page 22 of When October Starts

Juno

“You could’ve asked Ezra to take you home. He left ten minutes ago,” Benji told me as we walked downstairs to the big foyer.

“Oh, no. Don’t worry, Benji. I’ll be home in no time.” If I had known that Benji wouldn’t have a problem with Ezra driving me home, I probably would’ve gotten into his car with no hesitation. But we didn’t wanna risk anything.

“And you’re home alone? How are you not scared to spend the night alone instead of staying here with your friends?”

“Pixie’s my only friend, and she’s already sleeping. I don’t think I’d have much fun staying here,” I pointed out. It was only ten-fifty, and they decided to watch another horror movie.

“You’re boring, Juno. This is your last chance to spend a night here with all the others. It’s your last Halloween at Memphis.”

I rolled my eyes and opened the big door to leave the building. “I’m also seventeen and don’t really believe that the dead returns to Earth tonight. I don’t wanna stay up late and celebrate a holiday that gives kids more cavities than anything.”

“Right,” Benji chuckled. “You know what? I changed my mind. You’re bothering me again with your know-it-all attitude,” he mocked. Luckily, we didn’t take each other seriously.

I laughed and walked to my bike, then unlocked it and started to walk toward the sidewalk. “Check your surroundings while you’re riding home. Don’t want the nun to come and get you,” he called out, and I shook my head. “I wish,” I muttered.

I quickly made my way home, and as I turned the corner onto my street, I saw Ezra standing next to his car with his hands shoved into his coat pockets.

I smiled at the sight of him, then got off my bike and pushed it up the small path leading to the front door. I didn’t bother locking it, wanting to get to Ezra as quickly as possible.

With only a few steps, I reached him and threw my arms around his shoulders, pressing my lips against his. A low chuckle escaped him, and he pulled me closer against his body.

“Think I will ever get to see your room?” he asked after breaking the kiss.

I scrunched up my nose. “You don’t really wanna see it. It’s messy,” I told him, but he shrugged.

“This is the only chance I’ll get. Show me your room,” he nudged.

I let out a sigh, then looked back at the house. “Please don’t judge our house. There are plants everywhere, and Mom likes to paint but she’s not very good at it, so ignore all the paintings.”

We walked to the front door, and while he waited for me to unlock the door, his hands moved from my waist to my hip, then over the side of my bottom. I loved his hands on my body, and I wished we were at his apartment already. Naked.

“Smells like a herb garden,” he noticed, and I nodded, turning on the lights in the whole downstairs area. “That’s because of Aggie’s wall of herbs.” I pointed to the kitchen where over twenty pots were hanging on the wall.

“Impressive,” he breathed.

“It is. But the smell can get a little overwhelming sometimes. Pixie once passed out as she entered the house.”

Ezra looked around the kitchen and living area, and I reached for his hand to pull him upstairs to see my little sanctuary. As we arrived to the second floor, I pointed to the ladder leading up to my bedroom. “It’s up there.”

He looked at me with a soft smile, then climbed up the ladder, sticking his head through the gap in the ceiling. I watched as he looked around, taking in everything in my bedroom. “I like this,” he said, stepping back down to look at me “I like yourvibe,” he grinned.

I laughed at him. “Don’t ever say that again. You’re too old to use that word.”

Ezra pulled me against his chest, kissing the top of my head while I wrapped my arms around his waist. “But I’m not too old for you?”

I shook my head. “No. You’re perfect for me. There’s no way I can tell my heart who to fall in—” I shut my mouth immediately, staring into his eyes while I cursed myself for almost saying that one word.

The corners of his mouth curled up slowly, and his hands cupped my cheeks gently. He tilted his head, studying my face carefully. “Wanna finish that sentence, sweetheart?”

I kept staring at him, but I couldn’t stay quiet forever. I swallowed the lump in my throat, and my heart wouldn’t stop pounding in my chest. “I…” My voice was shaking.

Ezra was watching me with a challenging look, but before I could say one more word, he was the one to talk. “I’m in love with you too, Juno.”

My knees went numb, and I was lucky he was holding me up on my feet, or else I would be lying on the floor by now. His words dug deep into my heart, finding a spot where they could stay and never leave.

“I know it’s not going to be easy for us, but I want you to know that no matter what’s going to happen, I’ll be right here.” He kept his voice low, and while my vision blurred, his thumbs brushed over my cheeks.