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Peyton
“You didn’t needto do this.” I said to Aaron as I stared at the gift card in my hands. I hadn’t expected gifts from everyone, but sure enough, when we’d all gathered in the Ford’s big living room, there was a small pile with my name on them. Gifts from everyone except for Ezra. But no one minded he hadn’t bought anyone anything. His presence—although coerced—was enough.
“It’s nothing.” He grinned.
“It’s perfect.” The ball of emotion lodged in my throat swelled. I realized now, sitting here, that the Ford’s weren’t the only ones who had accepted me into their family.
It was overwhelming.
And only made worse by knowing Xander was sitting right opposite me. We hadn’t talked again, and I’d avoided making eye contact. But I felt him watching me. My dress had had the desired effect earlier, but we’d had a close call with Cameron. We needed to be more careful.
“Here, why don’t you open one, Ezra?” Ashleigh said, nudging a small box toward him. I gave her an imperceptible nod, grateful for her attempt at deflecting the spotlight from me.
“Thanks,” he said quietly, plucking up the gift. He unwrapped it with slow, steady fingers. It didn’t surprise me given Ezra’s nature. A strange expression washed over him as he lifted the lid and peered inside the box. “I—”
Apprehension glittered in Ashleigh’s eyes as Ezra struggled to get out his words. I realized then, it was her gift to him. She looked so hopeful… but the light in her eyes extinguished as he set the box down and said to no one in particular, “Thanks.”
Lily frowned, glancing at me as if to say. What the hell was that?
I don’t know,I silently replied by shrugging.
“I’m going to get another drink,” Ashleigh said, excusing herself. Lily went after her.
“Okay then,” Felicity said. “Why don’t we finish opening presents and then the party can really get started.” Her laughter was strained, but it broke the tension.
Poppy and Sofia handed out the remaining gifts, and by the end, everyone, including Kaiden and his mom, had a small pile of gifts at their feet.
“This is… thank you,” Kaiden’s mom said, fighting the tears clinging to her lashes. “You didn’t have to do all of this.”
“It’s Christmas,” Jason grinned. “Of course we did. Now I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ready to eat.”
“Eat?” His wife balked. “You ate all those pancakes at breakfast.”
He patted his stomach. “And now I’m ready for brunch.”
Everyone snickered. Even Ezra managed a smile, his eyes still glued to the door Ashleigh had disappeared through a minute ago. I’d never gotten to the bottom of their friendship… if you could call it that. But she was the only person who still tried to encourage him into our group.
Pockets of conversation broke out around me—the adults; Poppy, Sofia, and Aaron; Kaiden, his mom, and Xander.
“Hey,” I whispered, shuffling closer to Ezra. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes flicking to the door. He looked like a cornered animal, ready to make a dash for it at any second.
“Wanna get some air?”
The reflection of the twinkle lights danced in his dark-brown irises. “Yeah, okay.”
We got up and slipped away without question, everyone too invested in their conversations. I started to head for the kitchen, to where I assumed Lily and Ashleigh were, but Ezra turned for the front door.
“You’re leaving?” I asked.
“I don’t see any fresh air in here, do you?”
Well then.
I grabbed my coat off the rack, shoved my feet into my pumps, and followed him outside.
Ezra didn’t stop until he reached the small wall separating the Ford’s driveway and the trees bordering their property. He dropped down, letting out a thin breath.
