Page 15 of Moonflower

“Just thought we’d surprise you,” Ezra says, pressing his lips to my temple. The simple action has butterflies taking flight in my stomach even though I know it’s nothing more than an innocent show of affection. “Halloween is our holiday, you know?”

I melt into him, nodding. “It is. I . . . I don’t know what to say.”

“How about that you’re happy to see us?” Wilder tugs me from Ezra roughly, spinning me around so I’m facing him. “It’s been, like, six months.” He pulls me tightly against him, but not before I take in his black and red cape.

“Are you . . . are you Dracula?”

“Actually,” Wilder says in a matter-of-fact tone, “Dracula was the doctor. I’m dressed as Dracula’s monster.”

My laugh is involuntary, even as I roll my eyes. I’d tell him it’s a horrible joke, but they both know it’s the type of thing I love. So instead, I bury my face into his chest, inhaling deeply. God, I’ve missed his smell. No, everything. I’ve missed everything about him. Both of them.

“Thank you for coming,” I mumble into his costume.

I’m only able to bask in Wilder’s embrace for another second before my mind ruins it. I shouldn’t be surprised. I ruin everything.

Matt’s angry accusations resurface. This is how you’re breaking up with me? he asked. Too scared to do it yourself, so you had them come kick me out. Seriously, Cora?

Everything clicks.

Pulling away from Wilder, I glance between him and Ezra. “What did you do?”

Ezra grimaces, but Wilder grins. Nervousness has my stomach twisting in knots as I step away from both of them. My back hits the bookshelf as I realize I already know the answer to my question.

“You . . . you kicked him out of my apartment?”

“Yup.” Wilder moves with me, crowding me against the shelf.

What the hell? “Why would you do that?”

“Do you love him?”

No.

“You kicked him out without knowing the answer to that?” I snap.

Wilder’s grin widens. “Oh, I know it. Just want to hear you say it.”

“I didn’t want to break up with him.”

“Don’t believe you.”

“I knew this was a bad idea,” Ezra mutters.

“Then why did you go along with it?!” I yell, throwing my hands up in the air.

Wilder catches my wrists, pulling me into him. His fingers intertwine with mine, and he presses his lips to my knuckles while holding my gaze. It may be dark in here, but there’s no mistaking what I see in his eyes.

“Wild, what—” The rest of my sentence lodges in my throat, and I can’t seem to force it out.

I can’t do this. Matt was my distraction. He was my excuse to not run back home and destroy what I have with Ezra and Wilder. But now . . . now they broke up with Matt for me, and they’re here. They’re fucking here. Why . . .

“Why are you here?” I whisper.

Neither of them answer. Keeping my hands in his, Wilder presses me further into the bookshelf so his body is flush with mine. His lips feather over my neck, and I gasp. This is different from how he normally touches me. This is electrifying. Sensual.

It’s a struggle to keep my breaths even. He’s warm and hard and unmoving, and my body reacts to him like it always has. Like the three years that I’ve barely seen him didn’t happen. Like I can have him when I know I definitely can’t.

“What are you doing?” My voice is trembling.

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