Page 55 of Fractured Hearts

I nod even though she can’t see me, sniffling and wiping at my eyes. “Thanks, Willa.”

“You don’t have to take my advice. If you want out of there, just say the word and I’ll get you somewhere else that’s safe.”

“I think,” I say and then pause to take a calming breath. “I think I’m going to talk to them. If there’s a shot I can be with Maverick, even if that means sharing him, I need to take it. Hopefully, my heart will figure out that Ezra can only love me as a friend in time.”

“Will you let me know how it goes?”

“Yeah,” I grumble, already not looking forward to the conversation. There’s no way this is going to go well for me.

“Oh, and would you mind giving Ezra this number? Declan didn’t get a phone with the rest of us because he decided he liked being unplugged, but he’s been wanting to talk to Ezra.” Her voice holds a note of annoyed fondness, and it causes a pang of jealousy.

“I will.” After thanking her again and hanging up the phone, I think I’ll have time to decide what I want to say to Maverick.

Joke’s on me.

fifty-one

MAVERICK

“Um, so I heard you scream about hearing us ‘bumping uglies,’” I say awkwardly. I can feel how hot my face and neck are. Once I heard her say that, I immediately came here to apologize. I should’ve knocked, but instead I stood there listening to the rest of the conversation. Well, Jo’s side anyway. “I’m, uh . . . I’m sorry about that. It was rude of us,” I say to my feet, unable to meet her gaze.

“How much did you hear?” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. I finally look up and see her cheeks stained a pretty pink and her eyes wide.

“Not enough to entirely understand. I know you heard us last night, and I know you don’t want to be a third wheel.” I feel like a fucking asshole. I know how Jo feels about me, and I should never have done anything with Ezra knowing she was in the same house. She’s my best friend, and I was insensitive.

“I was talking to Willa, and she had an idea I was thinking about bringing up with you. Well, you and Ezra I guess,” Jo says. Her hands are both picking at the comforter over her legs. She’s nervous. Jo is never nervous, and that has alarm bells ringing in my head. Before I even think about it, I’m sitting beside her and grabbing her hands.

“Talk to me. Please.”

“Are you and Ezra together?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “Last night was a moment of desperation and release of all the horrible emotions that came with the day before. We talked about it before he went to the basement. I still think we need to get to know each other again before we make the decision.”

Jo nods, chewing on her lip while she thinks. “Do you have any romantic feelings for me? And if you do, would you want to be with both of us?”

I don’t say anything, staring at her in shock. That was the last thing I was expecting her to say. I’ve always made sure to push down any feelings that weren’t friendly towards her because I knew they wouldn’t last once I found Ezra again. At least I thought I knew, but here she is, offering me everything I could ever want. And what can I say?

I’m a selfish man.

fifty-two

JO

Maverick is quiet for so long that I assume he’s trying to figure out how to let me down gently. What I don’t expect is for him to lunge across the bed and seal his lips to mine. I kiss him back, a choked sob escaping my lips. My heart is beating in my throat and his is fluttering under my trembling hand. He’s kissing me. Maverick is kissing me.

His hand cups my cheek and tilts my head so he can deepen the kiss. I get so lost in the glide of his tongue against mine, his taste, the feel of his body heat, and the smell of him, that it takes me longer than it should to pull away. But I do. Because I have to. Because we need to talk.

“Wait,” I gasp, breathless. “We need to talk about this with Ezra, too.”

I wish we didn’t. I wish it was just Maverick and me, and there was never any Ezra to come between us. But even as I think that I feel guilty. I don’t wish that. Deep down in the depths of my soul, I wish to have them both. I know that isn’t possible. But if I can have Maverick and keep Ezra as my friend, then that’s what I’ll do. I’m sure we’ll find a way to coexist once my heart catches up with what my brain already knows. Ezra isn’t attracted to women. It’s not fair of me to put my feelings on him, so I need to keep them to myself.

“Of course, angel,” he says, smiling sweetly and caressing my neck with his thumb. I can’t tell if he’s not at all worried about how this will go or still too blissed out from last night to care. I’m worried. I’m verging on a panic attack, or maybe just packing up and running away. What if Ezra says no? What if this isn’t something he wants? Then Maverick will have to choose. And Maverick will always choose Ezra.

“Right now?” I ask in alarm as he stands and holds out his hand to me. “Uh,” I say, looking down at myself. I’m in a crumpled shirt and that’s it. I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.

Oh god.

I made out with Maverick with morning breath!