Chapter 51
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.