Page 76 of Wrapped in Red

“It’s fine, really.” I stood back up. “Look.” I pointed to the closet. “Ez left some clothes here. If you want to check and see if anything fits, you’re more than welcome to borrow it for your date. Just make sure you take care of it. He might want it back. I’m going to talk to your brother for a minute.” I motioned for Noel to follow me.

Noel leaned against the kitchen island when we went into the room. “You want to tell me what happened?”

“That’s not important.”

“It’s because of me, isn’t it? Because we were talking at the party? I thought Ezra was past that.”

I let out a long breath as I tried to figure out how to tell him the truth. “Yes, but it’s more than that. Ezra is complicated. In a good way.”

“But you love him, right?” Noel asked. When I nodded, he nudged my arm. “Go get him. Don’t worry about Leo, I’ll take care of him. You and Ezra spoiling him the way you have been isn’t going to go over well for me.”

I grinned. “He reminds me of Ezra. Dramatic, feisty, and different. He’s going to be a heartbreaker.”

“He and Andy haven’t stopped texting since the Christmas party.” Noel chewed on his lip before he leaned closer. “Should I, I don’t know, give him the sex talk?”

I snorted. “He’s fifteen. He’s probably had that talk already. Maybe tell him about lube and condoms. Yeah, condoms are super important.”

“I have condoms, and since I plan to bottom, I’ve done plenty of research on lube. You don’t have to educate me on anything,” Leo announced from the doorway. He was holding a couple hangers of clothes in each hand. One of them I recognized as the outfit from the banquet.

I turned to look at Noel, who was suddenly as red as the bow on the Christmas wreath that hung on my door.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

“What? I’m a fifteen-year-old gay kid. You think I didn’t look that up? Also, there is so much porn out there. It’s not like I haven’t seen things.” He held up his arms. “Which one?”

I stared at the blue skirt and top, remembering how I peeled Ezra out of his panties. How he felt in my arms that night. How gorgeous he looked.

“Not that one.”

“Why?” Leo’s brows dipped as he turned to look at it. “It’s so pretty. You know what, though? Andy said we were going to go skating. I should just wear jeans and a sweater. This would be too much.” Oh, thank God. “I saw a top that might work.”

He rushed off, and I turned to Noel. “You’re in big trouble with him.”

“I know.” He shook his head. “Also, a bottom? I don’t know anything about bottoming. I tried it once, and it was the worst experience of my life. God, how did we get here?” He sighed. “Do you need my help? Do you want me to reach out to Ezra? Try to talk to him, assure him that there’s nothing going on between us?”

“Thanks, but I’m going to see him when I get back to my parents. Whether he likes it or not. He’ll talk to me. Then I’m going to put a ring on his finger and force him to come back to me.” I just hoped it would work.