Page 23 of Wrapped in Red

“Give me a second to get myself together,” I warned when I saw his reflection behind me.

Was I jealous of him being with other men? I shouldn’t be. Hadn’t I had a boyfriend yesterday? Shit, I had no right to get upset at him. I spun around to find Ezra watching me with hurt and confusion in his eyes.

“Talk to me, CC.” His brows dipped as he worried his lip between his teeth. Guilt was written all over his face. “What are you thinking right now?”

I want to break all their faces. Everyone who touched you before me and the ones who would come after me. Because no matter what we were doing now, there would be others. But I had no right to say that. Ezra wasn’t mine.

“Maybe I should just leave.”

“If that’s what you want.” His voice sounded sad.

I didn’t, but what else could I say right now? “I’m sorry—”

“No, don’t you fucking dare!” Ezra exclaimed. The way he stomped his foot was cute, even though I knew he was trying to show dominance. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Instead of pushing me away, I wish you would talk to me, but you’ve never been good with your words, have you?”

My lip curled up over my teeth. “Have you? Where were you for the last year, Ez? I waited for you, but it was just crickets while I floated along, wasting away without my best friend. I won races, changed car owners, tried to date, and yet, nothing. I needed you. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead.”

“You could have called me!”

“The phone goes both ways, princess. You’re the one who ran out on me, or did you forget that?”

“Stop calling me that, Carson. It makes me sound helpless. We both know I’m anything but.”

I growled. “Really? Have you looked at yourself lately?” The hurt in his eyes had me instantly regretting my choice of words, but I couldn’t take them back now. “Fuck it, I’m out.” I stormed into the kitchen to grab my coat, only to hear Ezra right behind me. “You’re not going to stop me. I’m bigger, stronger, and faster than you.”

An angry laugh bubbled up from his throat. “You think that’s why I’m following you? I just want to make sure that I get my key back before you go.”

“What?” It felt like a punch to my gut.

“Pretty sure you heard what I said, but if you need me to repeat myself, I want the spare key to my apartment back before you walk out the door,” Ezra spat.

I gritted my teeth. “Fine.” I yanked my keyring from my pocket to remove it. I wanted to throw it at him, toss it over his head in a fit of rage, but instead, I slapped it down onto the kitchen table.

“Maybe one of your fellow camboys can use it the next time he comes by to pay you a visit.” The harsh intake of Ezra’s breath made me instantly want to take it back. “You know that I didn’t mean that.”

“We both know you did.” His dark eyes looked defeated as he turned away from me. “You can see yourself out.”

“Ez, wait.”

But he didn’t turn around.

“Please, I’m sorry.”

His shoulders slumped forward. “Me, too, boo, but you already said it. You can’t take it back now.”