Page 100 of Bless My Body

with Ezra? What if I don’t want this thing between us to end? What if I want to be the one by his side,

not the boring girls his mom wants him with?

Me.

My feelings for my best friend suddenly feel overwhelming.

I suck in a breath as Ezra squeezes my hand, bringing me to a group of people we haven’t met yet.

I try my best to calm my features, but I’m freaking out inside. I squeeze his hand tighter.

I, Celine Rutherford, might actually want a boyfriend.

Chapter 21

Ezra

T his party doesn’t drag like they normally do, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the leggy

redhead I’ve had on my arm all night. Celine doesn’t say much throughout the event, but she

doesn’t have to. Just her being here is enough.

I see the glances thrown at her all night. People notice her just like I noticed her the first time so

many years ago. She’s hard to miss. I can’t help that my chest fills with pride every time I look at her.

Tonight, she feels like mine.

I think we’re finally done having to talk with people I only see maybe once a year when my mom

calls me over to where she’s standing with a familiar-looking face. I grudgingly squeeze Celine’s

hands and pull her toward my mom.

“Ezra, honey, you remember Melissa?” Mom gestures toward the girl she tried to get me to bring

to this party. I feel Celine tense next to me, and I strain not to roll my eyes at my mom’s not-so-subtle

introduction.

Melissa is a pretty girl, but she’s the complete opposite of Celine, with short blonde hair and blue

eyes. She’s almost a foot shorter than Celine, too. She’s nice, but she fits perfectly into a cookie-cutter

mold. A mold I’m not interested in.

“Yeah. How are you, Melissa?” I ask, trying to be polite. “This is my friend, Celine.” I make sure

to make eye contact with my Mom when I introduce Celine.

“Hi, Celine. It’s nice to meet you. It’s good to see you again, Ezra,” Melissa says.

“Melissa was just telling me about law school. She’s almost finished and about to take the bar

exam.” Mom looks back and forth between Melissa and me with a stupid grin on her face.

“That’s awesome. Congratulations,” I tell her. To her credit, Melissa looks just as uncomfortable