Chapter 26
EZRA
Scarlett’s eyes widen as she stares at my phone, color meeting her cheeks.
I curse under my breath, reading the headline again.
The Modern-Day Voice of Romance in Scandal with Ezra Reed
Photos fill the screen, blurry but obvious. My jaw clenches. “I was hoping they wouldn’t think it was headline-worthy after we dropped the news.”
“How bad is it?” Scarlett’s voice sounds scratchy.
I scroll through the comments, relieved when I see the reactions. “Mostly people taking up for you, calling it clickbait bullshit, and they’re telling the media to leave us alone. Seems like plenty of people would happily trade places with either of us.”
She closes her eyes and exhales, almost relieved. “Thank goodness. I was waiting for the slut rumors.”
“Nah, looks like they’re getting roasted for posting our private moments and are being accused of jumping on a trend. Do you want to see?”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s best if I don’t.”
“Understandable. Nothing to worry about, babe.”
“Yet.” Scarlett smiles, and her shoulders relax.
“Nah, we did it. We didn’t give anyone power over us.”
We put on our clothes, and I lead her into the kitchen. Her anxiety fades the moment our fingers intertwine.
Sunlight spills onto the counters as I flick on the kitchen lights. Willow runs to her food bowl, like she didn’t eat yesterday, but she did, four times. I put kibble down, then pass Scarlett two ibuprofen with a glass of water.
“Coffee is coming right up. Extra strong,” I say with a wink. I push the button, then start working on our breakfast. I heat a cast-iron skillet and place bacon in the bottom. It instantly sizzles.
Scarlett leans against the counter with her ankles crossed and watches me move around the kitchen. I slice a fresh avocado as the bacon fries.
“You don’t have to do this,” Scarlett says.
I glance over at her, catching her staring.
This beautiful woman is in my kitchen, looking at me like I’m her everything. I will be if she lets me.
“Let me spoil you,” I say.
I’m not asking, and she knows that.
“Okay.” She smiles, and my heart somersaults.
The coffee finishes brewing, and I pour her a cup. She blows on it, and steam rises around her face.
I flip the bacon. “What’s on your schedule today?”
“Nothing other than finishing my book. If I push myself today and tomorrow, I’ll write The End. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“The first three chapters were great.” I grab a few eggs and butter, warming up another skillet.
“You’re not just saying that to be nice?” she asks, almost like she doesn’t believe me.
“If it sucked, I’d tell you. It was incredible. I can’t help but wonder what Jordan will do next.”
She chews on her lip, and I find it so damn sexy. “He falls in love. He and Helena get their happily ever after. Spoiler alert, that’s how every romance book ends.”
“Right. But I’m more interested in the journey to forever. I want to know Helena’s heart. What makes her tick. I want to know Jordan’s deepest thoughts and how it felt to fall for Helena. I’m invested.”
She tries to hold back her grin. “When I send the first draft to my editor, I’ll send it to you, too.”
“You promise?” Our eyes meet.
“Absolutely. I trust you.”
“Good. I trust you, too,” I admit, feeling ooey-gooey inside, like I’m made of one of Aunt Millie’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
I load the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate, then spread the avocado on some sourdough. I fry several eggs.
She sighs. “We should probably FaceTime my parents.”
An encouraging grin touches my lips. “You’re calling the shots.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky, and they haven’t heard the news yet. I should warn you about something.” She swallows hard.
“Anything.” I fix our plates, then carry them to the table, where she follows me.
Before sitting, Scarlett stands in front of me and places her palm against my abs, causing me to breathe deeper.
“My parents adored my ex. It took a long time for them to forgive me when I broke it off with Jason, and they compare everyone to him like he’s the pinnacle of relationships for me.”
It’s the first time she’s said his name. I slide my hands around her waist and pull her close. I lean down and capture her lips again.
“Once they meet me, they’ll forget he ever existed.” I pull her chair out for her, and she sits.
Her eyes give away her amusement. “Confident.”
“You’re damn right about that. I know what I bring to the table as a lover, a partner, and a friend,” I confirm.
She shyly smiles. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you before.”
“I can tell.”
All she does is snicker, then she stands. “Let me get my phone. Better to do it now than later.”
Scarlett sits at the table next to me. “Do you think we’re rushing things?”
“The sooner I meet my in-laws, the better,” I say with a wink.
“You’re cute.” She taps the screen, setting the phone against her coffee mug as the call connects. It barely rings once before her mom answers. She looks just like Scarlett but older, with silver streaks in her dark hair.
“Good morning!” her mom says, green eyes sparkling as she glances between us. “And you must be Ezra! We were actually expecting a call from you this morning.”
Scarlett’s dad appears over her mom’s shoulder, offering a familiar smile. “Morning, kids. So, uh, interesting way of telling us about your new relationship.”
Scarlett’s cheeks turn pink as she shifts beside me, and I can tell she’s growing nervous. I grab her hand under the table, offering support.
“Things just happened, and I’ve been writing so much while here. You know how I hyperfocus when I’m in deadline mode. I’d lose my head if it weren’t screwed on.”
Her mom laughs. “Your aunt Linda sent me screenshots of your post and comments. Then my yoga group was gossiping about you two.”
“Oh no.” Scarlett groans, hiding her face in her hands.
I squeeze her knee under the table and lean toward the screen. “Sorry you had to find out from Aunt Linda.”
Her dad laughs. “Better Aunt Linda than my other sister.”
Her mom agrees with a nod. “Wow, look at you two. You’re both…glowing.”
Scarlett’s face is beet red. “Don’t embarrass me.”
Her dad laughs. “We saw you’re a potter, Ezra. That’s interesting.”
“It is. Being an artist is a rewarding job,” I tell them with a grin, surprised they didn’t mention my father first. It’s what happens with most people.
“Of course, we had to do our research and learn who our baby girl was in love with,” her mom says. “You look happy, Scar.”
Scarlett smiles so wide, she might as well be sunshine. I wish I could bottle it up.
“I am. I’m very happy. Things are still very new, but great. I’m excited to see where it goes. I just…I dunno, I thought maybe I’d have privacy.”
Concern is on her parents’ faces. “Ezra seems like he can handle the spotlight with no issues.”
“I can,” I say with a grin. “Some would say I was born for it.”
This answer satisfies her folks, and Scarlett notices.
“Now, when can we expect you both for dinner?”
“Soon,” I say, and Scarlett’s eyes go wide.
Her dad chuckles. “Don’t feel obligated to make any special trips. Finish your book, relax some, then come visit. We love you.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” she says. “Love you, Mom! We’re going to eat breakfast now.”
“Bye! Nice meeting you, Ezra,” her parents say over each other.
We end the call, and Scarlett’s pretty eyes meet mine. “You’re good.”
“Pretty sure they love me now.” I reach for my coffee.
“Who doesn’t?” She picks up a piece of bacon and it’s the perfect crispness.
Before I can respond, loud shouting from the front of the house makes me freeze.
“Did you hear that?” I ask.
It continues, and I move down the hallway toward the living room with Scarlet trailing behind me.
“Oh no,” Scarlett whispers as she catches a glimpse of the sidewalk full of people with cameras. “Are those paparazzi?”
I peer through the blinds, shaking my head in disbelief. “Yep. And Millie’s out there yelling at them.”
Millie stands on my front porch, her back to the door, waving a bright pink pastry box like it’s a weapon. She’s shouting at the photographers lined up along the street.
“Go on! Get! Get outta here,” Millie hollers, pointing toward the road. “You’re vultures, every last one of you. Leave my nephew alone!”
Cameras click, capturing every animated gesture Millie makes. The woman doesn’t believe in wasting food, but she might start throwing pastries if need be.
I swing open the door, pulling her inside.
She’s huffing, her cheeks flushed with frustration as I shut the door behind her. “Those nosy jerks have zero manners. You’d think they’ve never seen two people dating before.”
Scarlett is both amused and embarrassed. “Hi, Millie.”
Millie’s face softens, and she holds out the pastry box with a kind smile. “Good morning, sweetheart. I brought stress-relief cookies.”
Scarlett laughs, taking the box and setting it on the table. “You’re my hero.”
Millie glances between us, hands resting on her hips. “You know, I’m still a little salty about this news breaking. Imagine the look on my face when I heard about my favorite nephew’s new girlfriend from TMZ instead of from his own mouth!” She moves toward me, grabbing my cheeks.
“Millie, I’m sorry. The paparazzi showed up out of nowhere, and we had to post something before—”
She waves me off. “I get it, I get it. Doesn’t mean I have to like learning the news along with the whole world.”
“It was two in the morning,” I explain. “You’d have cussed me out.”
“You’re right.” Millie nods. “I think you two need to get out of here. There are people along the sidewalk on the other side of the house, too. Here you go.”
Millie reaches into her pocket and pulls out a set of keys with a seashell on the chain, then drops them in my hand. “Escape to the beach house.”
I swallow hard, knowing Millie hasn’t visited the home since her husband died. It was their special place, where they’d go to get away from all the noise.