Not when I finally got the all-clear from my doctor to completely resume normal activities.
That all-clear means I’m hunting a certain history teacher with a penchant for puns and a sassy streak which will bring meto ruin.
When I walk into the house, there is music playing which leads me right to the kitchen. Ezra is there, singing along softly as she finishes loading up the dishwasher while a tray of lasagna sits on the counter waiting to be put in the oven.
The moment she shuts off the water after rinsing the last bowl and putting it in the dishwasher, I’m right there to pull her into my arms.
“Titus,” she screeches while her wet hands land on my chest.
“Hey, Teach,” my voice is exceptionally chipper.
Her giggle has my heart beating hard in my chest. Fuck. I love that sound. The look on her face tells me she knows exactly why I’m so chipper.
“Hello to you too,” she drawls as her hands slide up my chest and wrap around my neck.
“You aren’t going to ask?” I can’t help but push a little.
When I wiggle my eyebrows, she presses her lips together to stop herself from smiling. I can see it in her eyes though. I can always see it in her eyes.
“Ask what?” The way she tilts her head and bats her eyelashes has my head tipping back as I laugh.
The song changes and I start to sway to it, but then it’s not enough for some reason. I twirl her away from me and then pull her back. The startled oomph she makes morphs into tinkling laughter, and I grin down at her as I lead us while we dance.
“What are you doing?” The question falls from her lips breathlessly.
“That’s not the right question,” I tease her.
“But a valid one,” she deadpans while dancing with me. As she looks up at me, her eyes soften and her voice drops into something conspiratorial, “This is a side of you no one else sees.”
“This side of me only exists because of you,” my voice is filled with sincerity as I stop our steps but keep us swaying in place. “Because you give me peace, a home, something to fight for and to protect. It’s all because of you, Ezra.”
I lean down and press my forehead to hers. Her blue eyes search mine, like she’s desperate to see something there. For a moment, I’m at a loss as to what she could be looking for.
Then it clicks.
My Ez is afraid.
“Since you won’t ask, I’ll tell you,” I keep my words soft, every one of them brushing over her face as I talk.
She sucks in a breath and then closes her eyes slowly, almost as if she’s saying goodbye to something. My hold tightens and I bring her even closer to my chest. Her hand brushes over that spot on my cut, the one she had patched for me.
I wasn’t expecting her to take care of it or even think about it. But she fucking floored me.
If I hadn’t already been in love with her, that moment would have done it.
But I fell in love with Ezra a long time ago. I didn’t even know it when it happened. I certainly ignored any twinges of it for a long fucking time. But it was there.
Steady.
Strong.
Waiting.
Now she’s in my arms and I’m never letting her go.
“I know,” her voice is shaky and I fucking hate it. I watch as she braces herself before forcing her tone to stay even, “Since you’re healthy and I’m not in danger anymore, I should probably start packing up and heading back to my place.”
“Ezra,” I growl her name, the sound curling around her with a dangerous warning.
