Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 57139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57139 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Ezra nodded slowly. “Data doesn’t lie. And Vex seems like the one who’s going to come out the clear winner… in more ways than one.”
I bit my lip. “I’m sure he’ll say all the right things.”
Ezra leaned forward, plucked a cinnamon roll from the plate, and placed it on his own. “He’ll know all your favorite foods. The things that make you laugh. The things that make you cry. And on paper, he’s just… perfect. Why didn’t it work out again? I mean, potential sexual orientation aside?”
I cleared my throat and, for once, told the truth. “Because he reminded me of my best friend. Only… he actually wants to bang me, you know?”
Ezra froze mid-reach.
Dad burst out laughing. “Yeah, I always wondered why you two never hooked up. Then I realized there was no sexual charge. Good riddance. Last thing this family needs is a tech-savvy social media lover.”
Ezra didn’t miss a beat, yelling, “X!”
The sneezing started up again, punctuating every bite and half-baked argument for the next thirty minutes. Until Grandma Blue graced us with her opinionated presence. Then the sneezing stopped, the alcohol consumption went up, and I started feeling a migraine. And Ezra, bless his soul, was the one that had to sit next to her.
And I didn’t feel sorry for him at all, nope. Rather, I lifted my glass and saluted him. Payback’s a bitch.
CHAPTER
NINE
EZRA
…And to set the record straight I had a very extreme reaction to cabbage and yes I did tell you about it multiple times but you ignored me because you said you hated vegetables and that I was boring…I still miss you though, do you by chance still have the Frey shirt I loaned you?
— Ken
The brunch table continued to be utter chaos a half hour later when Harper’s Grandma Blue decided to finally show up. Yes, that was her nickname, no, I wasn’t told why she was called it, but when I asked the question at my first brunch I was met with silence and Harper’s dad making a cross in front of his chest like someone had died, so I left it alone. Blue it was! I checked my phone for more updates and started in on another bite of sausage when I heard the throat clearing, actually no, it was more of a felt before I heard, like the winds swiftly changing or the earth stopping it’s turn a bit to make room for whatever grandma was about to say.
Grandma immediately started in on critiquing the filming schedule like she was running her own network. “It’s hard on you, Harper, I know it’s summer but you should be having fun too!”
She was right beside me, but yelling in Harper’s direction, even though the other end of the table wasn’t that far. I twitched at the volume.
Harper glared. “You did in fact put me up to this so I could keep that lovely apartment of my dearly departed aunt at such a discounted price and also you know, inherit it in the will when you croak, any day now or should I pencil you in for some time next week?”
Grandma Blue blew her a kiss. “And you wonder why you’re my favorite, you flaunt my impending death like a peacock while your father just quietly marks his calendar in his office and turns to religion.”
Harper choked on a laugh, we all knew that despite this little feud she loved her to death. Grandma Blue was thankfully healthy as a horse, my bet was on everyone at that table passing before that woman, it was in her veins, in her blood, she was determined to outlive us all and drive us crazy in the process. Me. Drive me crazy in the process. Despite that fact, Grandma often asked me how my hobby with my little trinkets was coming along—trinkets being computers and programming. I think she cared somewhere deep down, even about me.
“So,” Grandma said, adjusting her sunglasses like a mob boss. “My money’s on the doctor, Aaron right? But if you surprise me with Ezra, I won’t be mad.”
“Grandma,” I bit back a warning and tried not to groan. It was always the same with her, only this time it was too close to home. I reacted the same way outwardly, but internally there was a damn storm brewing. She shared a knowing look with me. Damn it, I forgot I wasn’t supposed to look directly into her eyes. Medusa of Grandmas. I glanced to Harper, thankful she was inhaling another cinnamon roll and ignoring Grandma Blue. Belatedly I wondered if she was going to wear the dress on the second ‘dating my ex’s’ date tonight. I didn’t think I could handle it if the cinnamon rolls created another dress mishap. I could feel my control slipping just thinking about it. Needing to look anywhere but Harper, I made the mistake of looking back to Grandma Blue, who had been watching my every move. Shit.