Page 80 of Scandalous

“I know you don’t, but they want to be with you and I like knowing that you are happier when they are.”

She makes a hmm noise but doesn’t respond.

Deciding to change the subject, I ask about her date. “Did you like the yacht last night?”

“He told you about it?” She sounds less irritated and more curious now.

“We share everything.”Even you.

“I’m starting to get that. Honestly, Holland and I are the same way. I tell her everything.”

I hear some rustling in the background.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

She curses then the phone goes silent.

“Aurora? Aurora, are you okay?”

My heart is racing. I’m moments away from calling the police in the States to check on her.

After a moment, she comes back.

“Sorry. I was getting some steps in. I haven’t been so productive today in my physical activity. I dropped the phone.”

“Bloody hell, Miss Blake. You gave me a heart attack. Are you okay?” My hand finds its way to my heart.

“I’m fine. It didn’t hit me. It hit the floor.”

I shake my head. “Be more careful.”

“You’re not my parent. Even if you were, I don’t listen to them either.”

It’s trying my patience, but I manage to let the comment go.

“Moving on, I’ve bought your ticket for next Thursday. You’ll need to be at the airport by eight. Your plane leaves at ten. You layover in San Francisco, then you’ll arrive in Sydney Saturday morning. I’ll be there to pick you up.” I start to pace again, waiting for her response.

“I told you I won’t go to your parties. You all have to agree and I don’t believe you have actually changed your mind. I won’t be the thing that pulls you apart.”

“Why must you be so difficult, Miss Blake? I have changed my mind. I would really love for you to come to the party. Even more than that, I want you to be my date. The guys, of course, are going stag, but I want you on my arm. I’ll prove to you that I want you there.” The last sentence comes out in a growl.

I curse internally at how rough I’m being, but I’m irritated. She gets under my skin.

“I have class Friday morning. I’ll be missing that.”

I rub my temple. “I’m aware. I’ve already reached out to the professor and asked for the assignment ahead of time. You should have it in your school inbox so you can finish it before you leave. That way you are not behind. You’re actually ahead.”

“You did what?” she screeches.

I freeze. “I knew it would be an issue, so I went ahead and solved it for you.”

“You can’t keep doing this, Ezra. I get that you have some need to have control over things, but you can’t do things without talking to me first. That’s not how this is going to work. If you want me to forgive you and give you a shot, then stop treating me like I’m some pawn you can move on a chessboard. Give me the respect I deserve. You should have asked me to come before you bought a ticket. You shouldn’t have ever reached out to my professors. That’s my responsibility. You made me look childish by doing it for me.”

I move to my bed, sitting down, dropping my head in my hand as I hold the phone to my ear. “I didn’t. I told him it was a surprise trip. He understood and thought it was romantic that I was whisking you away. As for the ticket, you are right about that, but I thought you would be more likely to say yes if I had already spent the money. Honestly, if you really feel that strongly, I’ll get a refund. I only want to see you. We have been talking, but I feel like things aren’t healing between us. I think we need to see one another.”

I hear her sigh on the other end of the phone. “I know you have some sort of baggage. Santi said you all do and I look forward to getting to know each of you, but you can’t use that as an excuse to break boundaries. If you want me to come, ask nicely and I will, but we are going to have a conversation about what is and isn’t allowed in this. Do you understand?”

I brighten up. “You’ll come?”

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