“Uh, I guess I always am. Why?”
“I don’t know. Just curious. I could look out for some places for you, if you want.”
It’s actually ... nice of him.
And confusing. I swear, he’s giving me whiplash. He was a jerk before, but now he’s offering me pizza and helping find a space for a restaurant? I don’t understand him.
“I’m not really looking.”
“Why not?”
Because I’m scared,I think to myself. “Because it’s not the right time.”
“That’s what everyone with a dream says. They always push it off until it’s too late. You shouldn’t do that. You should go after what you want. Don’t wait. You never know when you won’t have the chance again.”
I know deep down he’s right, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still not ready.
So I don’t say anything. I just watch the streets go by before he eventually pulls into a modest neighborhood. It’s not one I’m too familiar with, as it’s something that went up shortly before I moved away.
“I’m just up here,” he says.
He pulls into the driveway of a newer ranch-style house, and I can safely say it’s not at all what I was expecting. I figured he’d be in one of the townhomes or an apartment. Definitely not a white-picket-fence-worthy house with an oversize two-car garage.
“This is nice,” I say as he puts the car in park.
He shrugs. “It’s home. Needs a bigger garage, but it’s not bad.”
“Bigger? How many cars do you have?”
“Five.”
“Five? I don’t even haveonethat runs!”
“A problem for another day. Now come on. Let’s get inside before the pizza gets cold.”
His hand brushes against mine as he grabs the box and pushes open his car door. If he feels the electric jolts, too, he doesn’t show it. He just gets out of the car and leaves me sitting there, the folder clutched tightly in my hands.
I take a deep breath, trying to ignore what a bad idea this was, then grab the handle.
Only it’s not there—the door’s been wrenched open, and Ezra is standing there.
I peer up at him in shock because, well, Iamshocked. I didn’t think Ezra had a single gentlemanly bone in his body.
Enigma. That’s what he is. There’s no other way to describe him.
“Did you change your mind?”
“Hmm?” I realize I’m still sitting in the car, staring at him. “Oh, right.”
I climb out, Ezra stepping back to give me space, and I almost wish he hadn’t.
No, no. Not that. I’m annoyed by him, remember? Be annoyed by him, Summer!
But I’m not, even though I wish I were. He’s so hot and cold, but so are my feelings toward him, and I just wish we could each pick a lane and stay there.
Maybe tonight will be the night we get back on track and strike a balance.
I follow him into his house, and as soon as we step inside, I’m hit with the same scent I always am when I’m too close to him, but this time it’s everywhere.
