Page 110 of Bless My Body

“Thanks, Son. I appreciate you making the trip up here.” They shake hands, and then Mr. Sanders

directs his eyes to me. “It was lovely meeting you, Celine.”

“You as well,” I say, taking his outstretched hand. His mother moves past me to hug Ezra. She

whispers something in his ear that’s too soft for me to hear even when I’m standing right next to him.

She pulls back from him, and they both look a little tense. She turns to me and nods once before

taking her seat again. I raise an eyebrow at Ezra, but he just shakes his head.

I turn my head toward Mrs. Sanders and say, “Thanks for having me.” She can be rude all she

wants, but I won’t give her a reason to say any of her issues are my fault.

Ezra and I turn to leave. He walks down the hallway in front of me. Before we reach the entrance

hall, I feel a hand wrap around my arm. Mrs. Sanders’ harsh whisper snakes through my ears as she

says, “Be careful, Celine. You aren’t right for him, and you know it. Why don’t you just do everyone a

favor and leave him alone? Let him find someone who is good for him.” She releases my arm and

disappears down the hall before I even have a chance to respond.

Not that I would have responded. My mind feels completely blank after hearing those words

spoken out loud. Sure, I’ve thought them myself. But hearing someone else say them hits a little

differently.

I swallow and do my best to hold my head high as I walk to meet Ezra at the door and follow him

out to the car. As we pull out of the driveway, it takes a lot of effort not to throw up a giant middle

finger to this house.

Ezra and I stop at IHOP to indulge in all-you-can-eat pancakes. We’re both quiet at the table,

which is unusual for us. One of the things I love so much about being friends with him is that we

always have something to talk about. But things are just off.

I want to tell him what his mom said to me on the way out, but I decide against it. I don’t know if

it’s because I don’t want him to get mad or because I know she’s probably right.

I should leave Ezra alone. He deserves to have someone willing to give him everything. He

deserves the world, and as much as I want to be the one to give it to him, it scares the shit out of me.

Ezra comes from a family that expects marriage and kids, and I don’t know if I want either of

those things. He could find plenty of other women who, I’m sure, would love to become the next Mrs.

Sanders and breed a bunch of miniature Ezras.

The thought alone—Ezra with another woman—makes my heart crack, but I know I can’t go