Page 71 of Wrapped in Red

“I just...I feel out of place, Carson.” I fingered the chain around my neck.

“You look beautiful.” He stopped and turned to face me. “Did I tell you that tonight? I don’t care. I’m saying it again.”

I bit my lip. “Yeah, but I just don’t feel like I am.”

Maybe someday I would get over howhebelittled me when we were out, but tonight was not going to be that night. I felt good when I put on my green and black top, stared at how the pants I wore flattered my waist and hips, but now? Now I wish I had just worn something similar to what CC had on. Plain slacks and a sweater.

“Ezra, what’s going on with you? You’re never unsure of yourself. Do you want to go home? I’ll just say hello to Watts and Holt. Then we can leave. I’ll take you back to our place and eat your ass. You like that idea; I can see it in your eyes.” CC dragged his thumb over my bottom lip.

I felt a tug on my other arm before I could answer him. I turned to see Leo smiling at me with big blue eyes. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help. Andy’s here,” he whispered, leaning forward, his ears bright pink. “Please, Ezra?”

“Yes, of course.” I wasn’t feeling confident with myself tonight, but I felt like I could help Leo somehow. Or, at least, I hoped that I could.

CC pressed a kiss against my forehead. “Go do your thing, boo.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ezra

Leo was a bundle ofnerves as he dragged me away from CC. His brows were furrowed low, and he chewed on his lip. I remembered my first crush. How scared I was about talking to him. William Bryant, a boy a year ahead of me in high school. Tall, dark, and so handsome. He was on the football team and never spoke a word to me while we were in school, but he certainly taught me how to kiss and gave a mean hand job.

“Where?”

I turned to lean against the wall with him, but before he could point this Andy Olson out, I spotted his father, Maverick, the drummer from Mulligan Downtown. He was hard to miss with his stark white hair and electric green eyes. Standing next to him was a giant man, his husband, Jackson, who I knew was the coach for the Carolina Panthers.

Leo leaned into me. “You see him, right? I mean, he’s not as big as his dad, but he’s tall, too.” He buried his face against my arm. “He’s just so perfect.”

Andy Olson was tall for fifteen. Broad shoulders, dirty blond hair, and cute, for a teenager.

“He’s looking.”

I giggled when Leo buried closer into me. Was this what it would be like if my parents actually let me spend time with my brothers? It made me feel sad at a time that I shouldn’t be.

“Please tell me he’s not.”

“Afraid he is, boo.”