Page 64 of Defect
“Well, you need to go tell her again because she’s standing in my damn studio like she thinks she has power here.”
“I got it,” he sighed heading to the front. I went with him in case he needed a little push to tell his mother to fuck off. “Ma, what’s up? I know you didn’t think I was going to church with you just because you showed up at my job.”
“That’s exactly what I think. Let’s go. If all you’re doing is cleaning up, you can spare some time.”
“I’m working on my tea blends too. I don’t have time to go with you.”
“Tea? Ezra, what in the world does this woman have you in here doing?”
“I’m not going,” he said, lifting his eyebrows.
“I didn’t give you a choice. Let’s go. You need to get from up under her.” She gestured to me.
“Are you under the impression that something is going on between us?” I asked.
“I don’t think Ezra understands his little crush isn’t going to get him anywhere. He thinks he can have a normal relationship. He doesn’t understand his limitations.”
“Look, you can go home. I’m not going to church with you.”
“I’m not leaving until you come with me.”
“I’m sorry, you can’t loiter in my studio. You’ll leave or I’ll have the police escort you off my property.” I put my hands on my hips and she glared at me like an angry feral cat. I dared her to stay in my studio against my wishes. I would call the cops in a fucking heartbeat.
“Ezra, let’s go!” She snapped at him angrily. Every one of my hackles rose in defense of him. I stepped in front of him but he gently moved me to the side.
“No. I’m not going. You can go. Goodbye.” His voice was strong and unwavering. He stared at his mother for a few beats then he walked back to the Reiki room.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Fredericks.” I forced a smile but venom dripped from it.
“I’ll be back after service to pick my son up.”
“That’s nice.” I waved her out the door and locked it behind her. I gripped my amethyst pendant in my palm and squeezed tight. I was going to need all the fucking strength in the world to deal with her ass.
…
EZRA
I made sure to get up extra early so I wouldn’t be late to Sun Goddess since Solo had a bunch of shit for me to do. I got in the shower and played some old school R&B. Tamia thumped through my speakers while I got ready. It had been so long since I listened to music. It felt good. I didn’t realize how much of myself I lost after the crash. I found pieces of myself along the way though and it made me feel whole.
I pulled a t-shirt over my head when my bedroom door trembled under my mother’s fist. She walked in and frowned at me. “Turn that mess down, Ezra! Why are you listening to music so early?” For a minute, I had flashbacks of times before the crash when Mom would bang on Everett’s door demanding he turn his rap music down.
That was before she changed into the woman she was now. Now, I didn’t recognize her. I didn’t want to anymore. “I’m getting ready for work. We’re doing all new inventory so I’m working overtime.” I told her as I grabbed my phone and airpods. Her scrutinizing brown eyes raked over me with disproval in her stare.
“Overtime? I don’t like all the time you’re spending with her. No matter what you do, she’s not going to be interested in you. Someone like you can’t have a normal relationship. I keep telling you that. Besides, she’s way too old for you.”
“I’m just trying to go to work, Ma. I don’t have time for this extra shit.” Little did she know, Solana was more than interested in me. She was falling in love with me and I damn sure was falling for her. Shit, I was already in it. There was no more falling for me. Solana was everything.
She thought I was scared of being in Malachi’s life. She thought I cared about missing out on something. If I wasn’t with her I was missing out. Nothing else came close to her.
“You need to stay away from her, Ezra. She can’t possibly see anything in you.”
“Yeah, okay,” I chuckled and moved past her and down the steps. I walked out of the door and across the street when I noticed Solana’s car was still in the driveway.
“Ezra!” Mom called from the other side of the street. I ignored her and knocked on the door. Solo opened up with a fresh smile and sparkling eyes. Her cocoa skin glowed in the yellow dress she wore. Her long black hair was braided to one side and hung over her shoulder. She looked like a goddess.
I knew my mother was watching but I didn’t give a fuck. I wasn’t going to hide the way I felt in front of anyone. I bent down and hugged her tight.
My sunflower.
