Page 38 of Texts From My Exes
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
HARPER
I know you’ve read the last fifty texts. I can see the read receipts! I’m going to keep sending them till you reply. I’ll wear you down, just watch, my therapist says persistence pays off!!
—Jaysen
“This is crazy. Like completely batshit crazy. How did my harmless little TikTok dating show go from something I needed to keep my apartment and prove my own creativity to like…” My eyes raked him up and down. “You. How did this turn into you?” I study Ezra, noting he way his nose twitched.
Graham had left hours ago and we hadn’t really moved much beyond using the restroom, making more coffee and staring atSeinfeldreruns.
I waved a hand. “Actually, don’t answer. I’m assuming in your sordid past, things like this were normal. PR firms, networks, spin doctors?—”
The more I talked, the paler he got. By the time I stopped, he looked like he was about to throw up.
Oh. Oh no.
This wasn’t part of his plan.
It wasn’t like he wanted to come out of hiding.
Wait.Whydid he come out of hiding?
“What?” I asked carefully as I set down my coffee mug and study him. The kitchen light is making those damnshots of goldstand out in his glorious hair and I have to blink to refocus.
His face dropped. “That’s a very suspicious look you’ve got there. And I don’t like how it’s making my arm hairs go straight up. I don’t have many, and I need them to look masculine after being accused of shaving.”
“Shaving your arms isn’t a crime, you psycho.” I stepped toward him. “Neither is the lack of body hair.”
He backed up until he hit the dining table, one hand knocking a candle to the ground. His eyes flicked to my mouth—then back up again. “Did you want to grab a flashlight and tie me up in the dark corner for this investigation, Officer?”
Damn it. Why did he still have that low, raspyjust-woke-upvoice? And why did he have to look that sexy standing there cornered? I needed his neon glasses and a bucket hat stat—anything to block the pretty.
“Why did you do it?” I demanded. “Why take Vex’s place? You had an actor lined up, right? He bailed, so what—you stepped in out of the goodness of your heart?”
He bit his bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth. Classic Ezrathinking face.
“Stop that,” I snapped. “Stop sucking.”
His lip popped free. “What?”
“Asexual my ass. You ooze sexual tension like cutting into a wagyu steak and you know it. Why did you do it? Why help me?”
His expression shifted—from panicked to laser-focused. He shoved away from the table, walking me backward until my spine hit the cold steel of the fridge.
“Are you saying you’re upset?” His voice dropped low, dangerous. “That you had someone who actually knows youshow up for your date, so people wouldn’t think you were a fake?”
He leaned down, breath hot against my neck. “Admit it—you’re glad I saved the day. Did I think people would recognize me or care? No. That was a lapse in judgment. Even geniuses like me get one every decade. So we deal with it. We’re already best friends. You’ve proved you can be a creative artist. Now you just have to follow through with the final dates. What could possibly go wrong?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re not my type.”
He laughed. “I’m everyone’s type.”
I smirked. “What’s next, you gonna take off your shirt and show me your six-pack? Or pull your pants down again?”
His nostrils flared. “Youpulled my pants down. Remember? In front of your parents?”
