Chapter 19
Conleigh
I wake up to the sound of hangers moving furiously on the rack. I peel back my eyelids reluctantly as my body protests, in desperate need of more sleep. My eyes flutter demanding more sleep.
I crack one eye open as I struggle for coherency. Ezra is here.
“What time is it?” I croak.
“Early. I just needed to grab some of my stuff. Go back to sleep,” he says, all without turning to look at me.
My jaw hurts as I go to rub my eyes. The night before comes rushing back at me. Ezra. Holden. Wren. Men are jerks and right now, I think I hate them all.
“Where did you sleep last night?” I ask, not sure why I care or why I am bothering with speaking to him.
“The office,” he grunts in response.
I watch as he starts packing up a bag, and I feel guilty when I shouldn’t, but this was his place well before it was mine. I’m the one who should be finding a new residence. I wish I could afford an apartment of my own. I don’t want to go back to the dorms either though. I’m sure as fuck not going to live with my mom.
I don’t know what I’m doing. “Ezra, you don’t have to do that. This is your home. I plan to find my own place. Just—we can both sleep here until we figure things out, okay?”
“No, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine. I promise,” I tell him weakly. Once upon a time I loved this man. He was my best friend and things are happening so fast I don’t know which way is up. “Right now, I think we could both use a friend.”
He laughs dryly. “A friend.”
“Why not?” I shrug as I get out of bed. I go over to him and put my head on his shoulder, missing the way this once had made me feel—safe.
He exhales. “Okay.” He turns to face me and strokes my sore cheek. “I’m a lousy shit.”
“Yeah, you are, but we both pretty much suck at the moment.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Con.”
I did but he doesn’t know that. I should tell him, but I won’t. I can’t. The words hang on the tip of my tongue.
I change the subject. “So, who is Wren to Holden?”
“His brother.”
“And Reese?” I press.
“His wife.”
“Wren’s?” I ask, hopeful. I have this terrible sinking feeling in my stomach as Ezra studies me.
“Holden’s. It’s a long story and not mine to tell. Its fucked up, but Reese and Holden were together from junior high until his freshmen year of college. He married her right out of high school. Wren’s band started gaining popularity and well…Reese was their manager and when they hit the road, so did she.”
Wow. “So…um her and Holden are still married?”
“As far as I know. Why the sudden interest?”
“I’m not really. Just curious. Wren said he was going to be staying here for a few weeks.”
“Really?” Ezra appears skeptical.
I nod, and he shakes his head, muttering, “Whatever. Just steer clear, it’s a bomb waiting to go off. I have to get to work. I guess I will see you later.”