Chapter 38: Scotch Tape

Another week slowly floated by, but in those passing days, Ezra and I didn't have much time to spend together. I wanted him– of course– but I kept urging myself to be in the sole company of Chris and Renee at lunch when noon hit.

Many times did I try to blame the lack of enthusiasm on my body's strifes and the gloomy skies. However, I knew that my distancing was an indirect act of avoidance. When we were with each other, it was short-lived. I couldn't handle knowing that there was something behind the distant stare in his eyes that I caught before Ezra realized I said something to him.

When I felt it was appropriate, I would ask him if he was okay.

"Everything is fine."

Lies.

It was the longest I ever held my tongue with him, and I was lucky to have sincere distractions to take up my time whenever I didn't want to think about being shut out. Faith's open daytime schedule benefitted my need to talk to someone outside of work.

My phone was in my hand most times, and when Faith sent me messages, we looked at funny web comics or pictures of cute animals doing cute things. Though, it was unfortunate that the better distractions came in the form of her troubles. Her band's manager didn't take her quitting so well, and tried to hold Faith's temporary instrument contributions hostage.

In the middle of sending Faith another terrible but humorous solution, I received a text from Ezra asking if I wanted to see him.

I didn't respond, but I did make sure to check my queue before venturing to his office.

Before the door closed in full, I huffed, "Why did you ask that question?"

"You've been distant from me," he answered, and he held the same frown I did.

"That's not fair. You know how my brain works."

Ezra threw his head back and stared at the ceiling in defeat.

I neared his desk and went on, "It's a vicious cycle, Ezra. You won't tell me things that I suppose I have no right to know, so I am just trying to deal with it."

"I won't involve you in unimportant matters," he droned.

My cool was gone. "I'm 'distant'? These vague answers that you give are what kill me, Ezra. You had a man spit on you and you still expect me to just let it go."

Ezra was red in the face. It was obvious that he had relived the moment, but, still his answer was unsatisfactory. "Yes, I do."

Exhausted, I shook my head, "Ezra..."

He leveled his head again. "Ada, I just want you to trust that I have everything under control."

"Do you Ezra? Are you sure there nothing that I can do?"

He shook his head, and reminded, "I already told you what I wanted you to do for me, Ada."

I laughed in frustration, "And I'm doing that, Ezra. I'm being myself– worrying about you and wondering why you have been emotionally drifting from me."

"I'm not drifting."

Are you serious?

I sighed, "Your mind is somewhere else half the time. We don't live in a world with no problems, you know this."

"You and I have no problems."

My fists shook from frustration. "Yes, we do, because there is more to us than just you and me. There's factors like family... a part of you that you seem to refuse to speak of."

Ezra didn't look me in the eye after he had proclaimed his untruth. His fingers scratched at his chin before he rubbed and pinched his lower lip.

Green eyes finally arrived to the destination I wanted them to be at, when he said. "I don't want any problems between me and you, Ada. I am happy with what we have."

"I would be too, but alas there are things bothering you that I can't help with because you won't let me," I factually concluded.

Pinched, he proclaimed, "Ada. I will shield you from any issues that do not involve you because I care about you."

With my face turned away, I rubbed my eyes and returned, "I care about you too."

My answer removed him from his seat. Without rush, he approached my side and waited for me to regard him.

Once I did, Ezra continued, "I know you care about me. That's why I want you in my life. You listen to me... most of the time."

His last words ended with a grin, and I was mad that he made me smile for a second.

Ezra's attention drifted around my face. "Ada, I miss you."

I miss you too, dammit.

Needing to reinvigorate my senses, I took him into my arms. His scent combined with his heat did me good. What made the moment even better was when Ezra crooned, "The Willoughby account still needs your help."

Lifting my head to rest my chin on his chest, I smiled with suspicion and he reiterated, "I'm telling you Ada... there are no problems. Leoné Investments is still standing."

Seeing Ezra's confidence made me realize that it was all I really needed to feel secure with him again. Trusting in others words had been the hardest lesson for me to learn in the last years, and I was punishing him because of my past. With how quickly things had transpired between us, I realized that we had reached the point where I had to let time take control of everything again.

Ezra wanted me to trust in him, so I did. I would know what I needed to know when he was ready to tell me.

Pulling from my embrace, he rubbed my shoulders and said, "There was a second reason I wanted you to visit me right now, because I have something I've been meaning to give to you."

"Yes! Is it my favorite panties?!" I cheered with excitement.

Ezra scoffed with a raised brow, "Hell no."

My excitement vanished. "Why? You haven't done your laundry yet?"

"I've done my laundry on time," he smiled.

I pouted, "When am I getting those back? They're my favorite."

He answered against my ear, "Unfortunately, they're my favorite too."

Blushing, I gawked at Ezra's naughty smile and crossed my arms. It had been well over a week since he and I fooled around, and I desperately wanted to let him know that I missed him... on his couch.

"But, if you really want them back..." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden key, and dangling underneath it was an RFID key.

I turned my head, but kept my eyes on him. "Wait. Are you serious?"

He smiled big. "It's only fair, yes?"

"Are you really giving me keys to your apartment?" I whispered.

"Well, right now they've yet to be 'given' when you won't take them," he slyly noted.

I can't believe this! He's serious! What?!

I opened my palm and he lightly placed them in my hand. In awe, I joked. "It's about damn time considering you've had a copy of mine for how long?"

He was blushing with embarrassment, but he knew I was sort of kidding when I planted a big kiss on his lips.

"Mmm, is there more where that came from?" Ezra whispered.

I waved my brows in confirmation and hissed, "Oh yeah."

"And you're feeling better now?" he asked when he looked down to my stomach.

I nodded fervidly to create more excitement that a stupid alert from his computer intercepted. I growled in anger, annoyed that we had less distractions back when I would butt heads with Ezra.

"Tonight?" I murmured in hope.

He confirmed. "Tonight."

*

Someone should have reminded me that I was being too ambitious in a city where the weather would decide to shit on many of our hopes and dreams. We knew that the weather wouldn't improve for another week, but the lack of storms during the day contrasted the sleet pounding against the window I glared out of at 9PM.

"Ada, don't be mad, there is always tomorrow," Ezra tried to console over the phone.

I whined, "But, but I wanted to see you."

"You are not going to leave your apartment tonight," he said firmly.

Harrumph!

My face was tight until I turned away from the window. I zipped over to the cat that was cleaning herself on my bed. I swept up Cinna Buns and put her into the bathroom with her food and water before I shut the door.

"Ada, I heard a door, and you're too quiet. What are you doing?" Ezra noted.

I panted, "Are you busy right now?"

He griped, "I never thought I'd be telling you that you are forbidden to come over the day I give you keys to my apartment."

"Just answer the question, Frenchman!" I laughed.

"No, Ada. I am not busy," he shot back. "What are you doing?"

"Opening my computer," I slyly answered, and the pause I heard on the other end was of no surprise.

Minutes later, I giggled into my laptop's camera, "You still want to complain now?"

Ezra continued to twist his face, though his eyes smiled at the screen.

"Why is my sugar cookie pouting?" I teased as I mimicked his face.

"Because I really thought you were planning on escaping the confines of your apartment to come here in this dangerous weather."

I crossed my eyes and scoffed, "Ezra, I'm dramatic, but I'd like to live to see another day so I can do things to you in person again."

"And I'm not a sugar cookie," he swiftly added before sticking out his tongue.

I tugged the skin under one eye and also showed my tongue. "Sure aren't, you sourpuss. I guess there is no hope for having a little fun over Skype then."

He immediately straightened his face, "Wait. Wait..."

I crossed my arms in a pout, but I was laughing on the inside since Ezra's attention blatantly shifted to the cleavage that I had pushed up in a camisole.

"Still sour?" I grinned.

His lips were slightly apart when he shook his head.

Stretching my arms above my head, I asked, "You look distracted."

"You're a cruel woman, Ada Young," he practically drooled.

"And we both know you're hard-headed, Ezra Leoné," I winked. "So, lemme see!"