Page 30 of Defect
“I wanted to apologize. Like I said, sometimes I have outbursts of anger and I shouldn’t have directed it toward you.”
“Well, I appreciate your apology. Thank you.”
“Are you mad at me?” The brown puppy dog eyes were killing me.
“No, Ezra but I don’t like being snapped at. Nobody likes being snapped at. I can admit that I shouldn’t have assumed you were perfectly fine though. It was careless on my part, so I apologize too.”
“Thank you. I understand if I messed up and you don’t want me to work at your studio. I know how important energy is. Mine was kinda fucked up.”
“It was but it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. I’m honestly impressed that you’re taking responsibility for your energy. So many people neglect to do that,” I said.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about snapping on you when you didn’t do anything to deserve it. Then I thought about how you used to be in an abusive relationship and that asshole must have snapped at you all the time for no reason. I didn’t want to give you a reason to ever put me and him in the same category or to ever feel like you had to protect yourself around me.”
I was speechless.
He processed all of that just from losing his temper with me a little earlier. I folded my arms and took a step toward him. “You’re a really special person, Ezra. Thank you for coming over to apologize. Also, I would never put you in the same category as my ex. You’re not a monster.”
“Thank you,” he nodded. I watched his tongue dart out to lick his lips and averted my gaze.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow. I want you at the studio by ten.”
“Okay, I can do that.” We stood there smiling at each other. We looked simple as hell but neither of us wanted to part ways even though that only meant he was going across the street. “Hey, can I get your number?” He asked, pulling out his phone.
“Oh, sure. For like…work stuff.”
“Yeah, or friend stuff.”
“Or that,” I nodded. I rattled off my number and he put it into his phone. “Send me a text so I’ll have your number,” I told him. I ran into the living room and grabbed my phone. I felt Ezra’s eyes on me the second I turned around. His gaze was hot and it seared my skin in the most delicious way. Normally, I hated being ogled but Ezra wasn’t ogling. He was appreciating.
“I just sent it,” he said, holding up his phone.
“Yup, I got it. Thanks.”
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow, Solo.” He reached out and touched the ends of my hair then pulled his hand back. “Sorry. That was weird as fuck. I just…”
“It’s fine, Ezra,” I laughed.
“I’ve been staring at your hair all day and it’s so beautiful. I guess I wanted to touch it.”
“You could have asked.”
“Would you have said yes?” He countered. My belly flopped at how deep his voice got.
“Yes,” I answered almost breathlessly. I would have probably let him touch whatever the hell he wanted and that’s exactly why it was time for him to go back across the street.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Solo.”
“Goodnight, Ezra.” I watched his broad shoulders and long legs head across the street. I made sure he was on his porch before I closed the door.
I walked over to the couch and fell down with a soft sigh.
“You two are just friends, right?” Amaris came out of nowhere wearing a know-it-all smirk that made me smack my lips.
“We are. He came to apologize for snapping at me earlier.”
“And to get your number?”
“Were you spying on me? Damn.”
