Page 14 of Bless My Body

and brings me into a hug. His arms tighten around my neck, and I bring my arms up and around his

lean torso.

I hate to admit that I’ve missed him. It sucks not having one of your closest friends around to talk

to every day. Yeah, we text and call each other, but it’s not the same.

I close my eyes and let myself relax into the hug. He smells like fresh laundry, which is such a

nice change from all the stupid boys I’ve been around lately. Usually, my nose is overwhelmed by

some kind of Axe body spray layered on so thick that it feels like I’m choking on it.

“Missed you, Red,” Ezra says.

“Missed you too, shithead.”

I hear Stella and Ozzy come up behind us, so I reluctantly release my arms from Ezra. It feels so

good to be in his arms again. Not in a sexual way, but in a comforting way. I don’t hug many people,

but he’s one person I willingly hug every chance I get.

“Welcome home, Ezra,” Stella says as she comes up to take my spot in his arms. An unexpected

twinge of jealousy floats through my body seeing another girl in Ezra’s arms. Even if it’s my best

friend, who is literally obsessed with her boyfriend.

I’ve never felt jealous of Ezra with other girls before, so I’m not sure why my stomach is twisting

up now. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen him in so long. Yeah, that must be it.

Ozzy comes up and gives Ezra one of those man hugs with the back clap thing. Ezra grabs his

garment bag, and Ozzy grabs his other bag. They take them upstairs to Ozzy’s old room, where Ezra

will be staying since I took over his old room.

We all meet back on the couch, and Ezra sits next to me. He casually puts his arm around my

shoulders and pulls me into him. It’s just like old times.

In my freshman year of college, Ezra and I would sometimes end up being the only ones in the

house. Stella was sneaking around with Ozzy, and Wes was sneaking around with Hazel, so it left

Ezra and me alone in this big house. We would chill on the couch all night, watching movies and

stupid TV shows.

“So, what’s new with you guys? Are you ladies ready for graduation?” Ezra asks.

“I’m going to grad school, so it doesn’t really feel like graduation to me,” Stella answers first.

Ozzy kisses her head. He’s so proud of her, and it’s disgustingly cute. I’m so glad my best friend

found her person.