Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I don’t know why I’m so nervous, it’s just a pottery class. It’s throwing clay, not performing brain surgery. It’ll be fine.
I explain away the butterflies that erupt in my stomach when Ezra opens the door, as nerves for trying a new hobby and not something else.
Like the fact I can still feel the ghost of the rough pads of his fingertips against my cheek.
It boggles my mind how Ezra seems to look good in everything he wears. From his rugby kit, to his game day suit, to the black joggers and threadbare gray t-shirt he’s wearing right now. Somehow, he always seems to look edible.
The joggers hug his massive thighs, and I wonder if he has to have them made specially.
Don’t think about his thighs!
My thoughts have been spiraling into the gutter a lot lately. I must be ovulating, or about to, because that’s the only logical explanation for how my body is reacting to Ezra, and the way my dreams have featured a familiar sharp, stubbled jaw and blue eyes.
“Ready to get your hands dirty?” He asks, locking his door. He turns and scans my outfit, his brows furrowing. “Are you sure you want to wear that?”
I glance down at my black leggings and flannel jacket over an old green t-shirt, insecurity swirling in my stomach. “Is there something wrong with it? Does it look bad?”
“No!” He says firmly. “You look incredible, Sutt. They look nice is all I meant, and clay is extremely messy. I don’t want you to ruin any good clothes.”
Oh. That’s… incredibly sweet.
“These pants are actually super old, and I have a t-shirt—that I don’t mind getting messy—on under my jacket.”
“Oh, okay. Good. Then let’s go play with some clay. But first…” He digs in his pocket and procures a small forest green box. “I got something for you.”
“Ezra…”
“Listen, I know you’re going to try and say no, but I saw it and immediately knew you needed to have it. Open it. Please.”
I gently pry the lid open. Tears blur my vision and a gasp rips from my throat when I see the delicate gold chain and shiny ‘S’ pendant attached. “Ezra, wh–what is this for?”
“It’s a reminder that you deserve to be selfish every once in a while. That while you’re figuring out who you are, the only person you should be thinking about is you.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, reverently tracing the pendant. I throw my arms around Ezra, unable to form the words for just how grateful I am. “Thank you,” I mumble into his chest.
“You’re so welcome, Sutt,” he rasps, resting his cheek on my head.
We keep our arms locked around each other for a few more seconds before I finally find the willpower to pull away.
“Let me take this inside. I don’t want to lose it or get it dirty in class,” I say, swiping away the remaining wetness in my eyes. I want to put it on now, but I know it’s not the best time for it.
As I rush inside, and place the box right on my dresser next to my jewelry box, my mind whispers the thought I haven’t dared admit out loud.
The butterflies aren’t from nerves.
“Welcome to Hearstone Studios! I’m so excited to see so many new faces here tonight.
Our goal is to make everyone feel safe and comfortable, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Find a station and take a seat,” our teacher, Hazel, titters as she opens the door to the studio.
Her long, silvery purple hair is held back by a rainbow bandana that matches the pattern on her rainbow overalls.
She has such a bubbly energy about her, I can tell this class is going to be fun.
Ezra and I find stations in the back of the room as everyone else files in.
There seems to be a lot more people than there are pottery wheels.
Did they not count the registration correctly?
A few couples sit together at a station, one of them sitting at the wheel, and the other taking a seat in the chair behind it.
Wait…
“Excuse me, Hazel?” Ezra says, standing to grab her attention. “It doesn’t look like there are enough stations for everyone.”
Hazel blinks, glancing around the room before she laughs softly. “Oh, you had me scared for a minute there. There are plenty of stations. Every couple gets their own.”
“I’m sorry, every couple?”
“Yes? This is the couples pottery class.” She leans in and whispers conspiratorially to Ezra. “I’ve actually had quite a few couples announce their pregnancies after starting the class. Working with clay can be very erotic.” She winks, walking away when another couple flags her down.
Ezra turns to me with wide eyes. I watch his Adam’s apple bob with a harsh swallow.
“Do you want to leave?” I whisper as he rounds the station he was sitting at to stand behind me.
“Do you? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. How did we miss the fact it’s a couple’s class when we signed up?” He doesn’t sound upset, thankfully. If anything, he sounds amused and slightly nervous.
“I did think it was strange that two people could register for the price of one, but I assumed it was some kind of special they had going on…”
“Well, this should be fun.” Ezra laughs.
“So we’re staying?”
“Hell yeah. How bad can it be?”