Page 37 of Wrapped in Red

If you had told me this would happen, I would never have believed you, but apparently, we were officially official. Kind of. He had posted a picture of us on his Instagram account this morning, and our followers were going crazy. Because, of course, he had to tag me. I didn’t mind, though. I had been trying to find the right guy for years when he had apparently been there the entire time. I just had to open my eyes.

“Look, CC.” Ezra held up his phone. “People think we’re adorable together.”

I smiled. We hadn’t come out as a couple. Please knew he was my best friend because I had been posting things with him for years.

“You’re adorable.”

Ezra shifted around so that he was lying on his back. “You’re not chopped liver, baby.” He stared up at me with those doe eyes. I was happy to see the freckles appearing back on his face now that the bruises were slowly fading.

“@LeeFord_Careyfanis super jealous of me. He’s been your fan since you started racing.”

“I bet.” I chuckled. “He’s probably going to stalk you now.”

Ezra gasped. “Are you saying your fans are stalkers? Is that what this is? Should I be worried? Because I was looking at Watts’s account, and his fans are super happy for him. They love Holt.”

“You’ve been looking at Watt’s Insta?”

“Holt, too. He’s cute as hell. I can see why you tried to get into his pants.”

I felt warmth creep up my neck and over my face. “I didn’t...I mean...I liked that he reminded me of you, Ez.” This was embarrassing.

“Baby, you tried to date him because he reminded you of me?” Ezra climbed up into my lap. “That’s sweet. I want to meet him. When do I get to meet him? You’re going to introduce us, right? I bet we’d be great friends.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Are you embarrassed of me?”

I wrinkled my nose as I shook my head. “What? No. I just think it’s a bad idea.”Because I know you.

“So, I don’t get to come to your races? Are you going to keep me hidden away here like some sort of queer Rapunzel? Should I grow out my hair for you, CC?” He batted his lashes.

I sighed. “Ez, stop being so dramatic.”

“Look,” He shoved his phone in my face again. “I want this.”

He pointed to a picture of Watts and Holt at the last race of the season in Phoenix. Standing on pit road, they were smiling happily, right hands over their hearts during the national anthem while Holt leaned into Watts’s side. Yeah, I wanted that, too.

I grabbed his phone and tossed it onto the couch next to me. “You want that? Fine, come to Daytona with me. Better yet, come to the awards banquet with me next week. You’ll have to get all dressed up. I’ll be in a tux, and we’ll walk down the red carpet together. I know you watch it every single year; you told me. You always watch, trying to catch a glimpse of me while criticizing all the outfits, hair, and makeup.”

“I don’t do—”

“What was that, princess?”

“I don’t have anything to wear.”

“We both know that’s bullshit. I can take you shopping, or, better yet, I think you should make something.”

Ezra worried his lip between his teeth, then his eyes lit up. “I could.”

“Something so sexy everyone will be too busy staring at you to notice anything else. That tiny and sexy-as-hell waist. Seriously, you have no business having a waist that small.” I pressed a kiss to his nose as he stared at me.

Ezra’s pupils dilated. “You think my waist is sexyandtiny?”

I reached down to grip both sides of it. “So much,” I whispered.

“You really want me to be there?” he murmured.

I could see his mind working as he thought about it. How long had it been since he made something to wear?