Page 60 of Echoes of Us
Ezra sat alone by the window, managing to look both perfectly casual and expertly styled in designer jeans and a cream sweater that probably cost more than her monthly wage.His smirk deepened as she approached, all predatory grace.
"Well," he drawled, "if it isn't the girl who broke Cole Westwood’s nonexistent heart."
Ashley slid into the chair opposite him, refusing to let his tone unsettle her."Thank you for meeting me."
"Couldn't resist."His smile was all edges."It's not every day the good girl comes begging for my help."
"I'm not begging."
"No?"He leaned forward, elbows on knees, studying her with those unsettling blue-green eyes.A thin scar above his lip caught the afternoon light when he smiled - the kind of imperfection that somehow made him more attractive rather than less."Then why exactly did you track me down, Ashley?Because last I checked, you weren't on Cole's list of favorite people.Or mine."
Heat crept up her neck.Her fingers found the condensation on her iced coffee, drawing absent patterns on the glass."He's making a mistake.Staying in Geneva-"
"Is exactly what I'd do if I were him."Ezra's laugh held no humor.He lounged deeper into his chair, one ankle crossed over his knee, the picture of casual superiority."Though I have to admit, I didn't expect you to be the one to finally make him snap.All those girls throwing themselves at him, and the one that breaks him is the wannabe physicist with a savior complex."
Ashley's fingers stilled on her glass.Through the window behind him, clouds drifted across the summer sky, casting shifting shadows across the empty street.The cafe's air conditioning hummed quietly, barely masking the low jazz playing through hidden speakers.
"I don't have a savior complex."
His smile sharpened."No?Then what would you call this?"He gestured between them."Driving out here, cornering me in my favorite coffee shop, trying to manipulate Cole's best friend into bringing him home?"
"That's not-" She stopped, caught by the knowing look in his eyes.Her sundress suddenly felt too thin, too casual under his calculated stare."I just want him to make the right choice for his future."
"His future."Ezra rolled the words, mocking her."Right."He sat forward, all pretense of casual grace dropping away."Tell me something, Ashley.Did you ever actually see Cole?Or were you too busy looking for whoever you wanted him to be?His brother, for example?"
The question hit too close for comfort.Ashley stared into her watered-down coffee, watching the last ice cube slowly disappear.Everything she'd done - coming back, trying to save Dale, getting close to Cole - it had all seemed so clear.So necessary.But sitting here, under Ezra's scrutiny, she couldn't ignore the chaos she'd created.
"I messed up," she said quietly.The admission felt raw in her throat."I thought I knew what was best for him.For everyone.But I just..."She swallowed hard."I made everything worse."
Something shifted in Ezra's expression - not quite softening, but reassessing.He leaned back, studying her with those unnerving blue-green eyes."Keep talking."
"I need him to come back."The words tumbled out before she could stop them."Not for me.I know that's over.But he belongs here, Ezra.His research, his future...he can't throw it all away because I hurt him."
"And what makes you think you have any right to decide what he throws away?"
"I don't."She met his gaze steadily."That's why I'm here.Asking you.Because you're his friend, and he trusts you, and..."Her voice cracked slightly."And I'm terrified that by trying to fix everything, I've broken something that can't be repaired."
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the quiet hum of the cafe's air conditioning and the clink of cups from the distant counter.Ezra's fingers drummed once against his armrest, then stilled.
"Broken things can be fixed," he said finally."But not always into what they were before."
How many ripples had she created?How many changes had she set in motion that she couldn't see yet?
"I know."She stood, gathering her bag."Just...tell him the department needs him.Tell him whatever you think will work.Please."
"That won't work."Ezra stirred his coffee, the silver spoon clinking against fine china."Cole doesn't respond to should.Never has."
"Then what does he respond to?"
"Challenge."A hint of his earlier smirk returned."Tell him he can't do something, he'll move heaven and earth to prove you wrong.Tell him he should do something..."He shrugged."Well, you've seen how that goes."
Ashley sank back into her chair, processing this."So what are you suggesting?"
"You really want him back here?"When she nodded, Ezra leaned forward."Then we tell the department he's not ready.That maybe a year or two more experience would better prepare him for the rigor of the program."
"But that's not true-"
"Exactly."His eyes glinted."Within a week, he'll have a proposal drafted proving why he's not only ready but overqualified.In two weeks, he'll be arguing with the department head.Three weeks..."He spread his hands."Welcome back to Yale, Mr.Westwood."
