Page 72 of Beautiful Trauma
“You’re welcome, Henry. Ready for the movie? I choseBuffy the Vampire Slayer.”
I straddled his lap and set the remote control aside. “Not yet.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I have so many emotions building inside me, Ezra. I feel like I’ll burst if I don’t let them out.”
“Baby, you’ve come to the right place. I know just the thing.”
“I just bet you do.”
“Wow, this is swanky as hell,” Beatrice said from beside me. She’d asked me to attend the dinner as her friend, and I jumped all over the chance. I liked her personality and quick wit, but I adored the way she respected Ezra. He’d chosen his assistant well.
We looked around at the elegantly dressed people socializing and drinking before dinner. I hoped like hell Ezra wasn’t drinking. I had a sudden image of me diving across the room and knocking a downright filthy martini from his hand. I stifled the laugh until Ezra could laugh about it with me.
“I feel like a fish out of water,” I confessed. I’d strode into the place with confidence until I saw all the people in attendance. I expected a few dozen, but it looked like there were at least a hundred people or more. I didn’t spot the one I wanted to see most though.
“You look so handsome, Henry,” Beatrice said.
“Thank you, Bea. You look really pretty tonight.” She’d been a nervous wreck when she picked me up at my apartment but had relaxed during the drive to the country club.
“I’m ready for yoga pants and an oversized tee,” she said. “Add in a glass of wine and a smutty romance book, and I’d call that the perfect night.”
“It does sounds great,” I admitted. “Well, I wear shorts to yoga instead of tight pants, but the rest is great.”
“You’re so funny, Henry.”
“I try.” I bent my arm and offered it to her. “Shall we mingle, milady?”
“Yes, milord,” Beatrice said, slipping her arm through mine. “There are a few other teaching assistants hiding over there in the corner. I can hear their knees knocking from over here.”
“Sounds like the best place for us to be.”
We joined the other assistants standing off to the side and struck up a conversation about our week. I could feel Ezra’s eyes on me, but I didn’t dare turn around and search the room. My emotions were running too high, and I’d give us both away. Instead, I chatted with my new friends, and after a few minutes, I no longer felt nervous.
When they announced dinner was ready, our little group followed the larger one toward the dining room. I spotted Ezra walking with Regina, or Dr. Bronson, as I knew her. He was completely at ease with her, laughing at whatever story she was telling him. If Ezra wasn’t the one keeping a watchful eye, then who was? I turned my head slightly to the right and locked gazes with Prescott Stone. He raised his glass in a silent toast, but I couldn’t tell if he was admiring my suit or being a dickhead. Both were a big probability.
Ezra was seated at the far opposite end of the dining room as me. Our eyes connected briefly for a second before someone approached him to say hello. I couldn’t stand there staring at him with puppy eyes, so I took my seat and really threw myself into enjoying the night. By the time dinner ended, most people were hitting up the lovely bar for more drinks and either mingling on the grounds or gathering in groups to talk some more.
I’d had two glasses of wine at dinner, which was more than I was used to drinking. I wasn’t drunk, but I was warm and feeling a bit buzzed. I just needed a few minutes in cooler air, so I stepped out the French doors and onto the large patio off the back of the country club. There was a set of stairs in the center and off both sides leading to different areas of the sprawling property. I heard hushed, angry voices coming from the steps leading toward the impressive flower gardens. I recognized Ezra’s voice and knew I should go back inside and mind my own business, but he was my business.
I treaded lightly down the steps until I could get close enough to make out who he was talking to and what they were arguing about, although I had a pretty good idea.
“You’re making a fool of yourself, Ezra,” Pres hissed. “You can’t keep your eyes off him while he doesn’t seem to even notice you’re here.”
“Keep your voice down, Pres.”
“Did you buy your boy his fancy suit?” Pres asked. “Didn’t he own anything nice enough to wear? Or do you just like playing dress-up?”
“Shut the fuck up and stop calling him my boy. What’s the matter with you?”
“What kind of future can you possibly have with this kid? You jeopardize your job if anyone finds out. How long do you think he’s going to settle for being kept a secret? He’s an unsophisticatedchild, Ezra. You need amanyou can be proud of.”
“That’s you? You’re themanfor me?” Ezra asked snidely.
“I love you, Ezra. I have for a very long time,” Pres said, making bile churn in my gut. “Why can’t you see we’d be so good together?”
“Listen to me very carefully, Pres, because we’re not having this conversation again. I love Henry. I want to be with Henry. I don’t care if you approve or not. I would be honored to enter any room with Henry on my arm. My family adores him, and I want a life with him. I’m sorry if that hurts you, Pres, but I’ve never led you on. I’ve never pretended to have romantic feelings for you.”