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Walking away from her for now kills me. I don’t dare look back at her. I barely manage to lock the door behind me with a key I made from her set. She needs space and clarity that isn’tsurrounded by fruity cocktails, sun and the opinions of her best friends. Not that I don’t have reason to trust Mia or Jade. I think they’re perfect friends for Ocean. I want her to choose me on her own though without any outside influence. My drive to the airport is long and many times I contemplate turning around. Big picture. I have to think of the big picture. I take out my phone and pull up Caleb’s name.
Me
Don’t forget to get those receipts. I want to see image proof in 24 hours.
Caleb
Yes, boss.
I leftOcean alone for four days. I didn’t call. I didn’t text. She had Kyle message me three times asking about her recording time, her grocery delivery to the house and lastly about what time her car would arrive on Sunday to pick her up for the award show. She never reached out to me and I’ll admit the silence drove me crazy. I sat in meetings being more worried about my phone than my client. Two of the nights I was gone, I contemplated just going back and following my other plan, which was to just make love to her until she agreed to everything I said and wanted.
Every day was dark and every night I was kept awake. Until last night on my way home when my phone pinged with all the information I had asked Caleb for. Receipts from the girls’ trip to Aruba and the one trip Ocean made on her own to the store while I was gone. I scanned the list up and down, feeling my heart ready to drop at any second. Caleb also sentme confirmation logs and security video he watched of Ocean’s doctor’s office. She never went. And not once did she buy a Plan B pill. Blood rushes in my ears and my heart beats erratically. This is a good sign.
Dressed in a black tux and white shirt, I show up to her house half an hour before we have to leave. Her makeup and hairstylist team is still here and I can hear the commotion from the living room where they must be set up. I enter the room and more than one head does a double take in my direction. Kyle looks up from his phone and nods his head at me.
“Mr. Hamilton.”
I nod back and smile at Elga, her resident fashion director. She’s been styling Ocean since she moved on from BNE. “Hi Elga.”
The older woman comes at me with her arms open. “Ezra, dear boy, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in ages.”
I shrug and slide my hands into my pockets. “I’ve been traveling a lot lately.”
She pats my cheek. “Well, it’s good to see you. Are you here to help Ocean’s team tonight?”
I shake my head and let a playful smile tip my lips. I lean toward her as if sharing a secret. “I’m here to take her. I’m her date.”
The woman’s eyes widen, but she smiles and winks. “She looks beautiful. She needs a man like you on her arm.” Yeah, tell her that.
“Where is Ocean?” I turn to Kyle and he points upstairs.
“Her room, getting her fancy shoes on.”
I take the stairs two at a time, the overwhelming urge to see her again, touch her, pulling my gut. I find her room and stop just inside the doorway. Her long hair is swept back in a large bun at the nape of her neck. Flowered earrings adorn her ears and the dress…Elga knew what she was doing. Ocean looksstylish and old school glam in a white dress that is full and flares from her hips. It’s long in the back and short in the front, showcasing her smooth, tan legs and the fuck-me heels she’s currently trying to step into and buckle. They’re seriously tall with multiple straps that are blinged out.
“Need help, princess?”
Her eyes shoot to mine and light up when she sees me. “Ezra.” She stands from her bent position, one foot bare and the other in her shoe, but it’s not buckled. “What are you doing here?”
I cross the room until I’m standing in front of her. Her lips sparkle, and her eyes are smokey, the color turning her irises to the color of coffee. Two diamond necklaces drape around her neck and a large chunky bracelet is on her wrist. She’s perfect.
“I’m your date tonight, Ocean. I told you I’d be back in time.”
Her bottom lip wobbles before she sucks it between her teeth. She glances off to the side, but I see the sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Hey, baby.” I lift my hands to her face, cradling her cheeks and running my thumb under her eyes before the tears can fall. “Don’t cry.”
She draws in a shaky breath. “I thought you were done.”
“Done with what?” Confusion fills my voice.
“Me.” Her arms open wide. “Us. I felt so terrible when you left, Ezra. I thought you didn’t want to talk or to hear from me.”
“Ocean, what have I been saying since I found you again? I want you. I am never leaving again. I was mad. You were mad. You wanted space and I wanted to give you the time to think everything through. To respect that boundary you drew. I gave you a lot to think about. I’m not happy you fled to Aruba instead of talking to me, but I’m not leaving you ever again.”
I gently kiss her cheeks, her forehead, before brushing my lips across hers, being mindful of her makeup. A sob breaks in her throat and she grabs my wrists with her hands.
“I don’t want space. I just want you.”
