Chapter 38 #2
With my heels, it takes no effort at all to lean up and press my lips against his briefly.
I don’t want to embarrass him by transferring lipstick to his mouth, but he evidently doesn’t hold the same concern.
Instead of a simple peck, he kisses me like we’ve been reunited after days away instead of a few hours.
When he pulls back, the pink color from my lips is smeared lightly around his mouth.
“Ezra, you have lipstick on your mouth. Let me get it off.”
“No! I want everyone to know who you’re going home with at the end of the night. Let me show off my girl.”
My heart thumps rapidly at his claim over me, and my insides melt into a puddle of goo. I secretly love that he wants to show me off, even if I’m still worried about what other people might think.
“Ew, you two are disgustingly cute. I’m going to grab a drink. Do you want anything?” Dakota asks, still glancing in Mr. Solomon’s sister’s direction.
“I’m good, thanks,” I say at the same time Ezra says, “No thank you.”
As Dakota walks away, his grip on me tightens and he leans in to whisper against my ear. “I love this dress on you, but I think it’s going to look so much better on the floor. God, I can’t wait to peel it off you later. But first, let’s go say hi to the people helping to fund the team.”
Almost two hours later, we’ve eaten an amazing dinner and listened to multiple speeches from Vanessa and a few other people from the foundation, as well as Mr. Solomon.
Their explanation of the foundation’s core values, and desire to help kids in lower-income families be able to afford to play a sport, made me all the more excited for Ace to start rugby this summer.
If he decides it’s not the sport for him, he can always try more.
Kids Connection also partners with the local NHL team, the NBA team, and the Minor League Baseball team to run summer and winter programs, and they work with local studios and college sports teams to offer a variety of sports so the kids can find one that brings them joy.
Though the foundation is only six years old, one of their alumni from their basketball program is on track to be a top draft pick when he graduates this month.
In addition to connecting the kids with sports, they offer resources for nutritious meals and the clothing needed to play. They have a tutoring center to help the kids keep their grades up so they don’t drop out, and offer a multitude of different scholarships for education after high school.
I make a mental note to talk to Vanessa to see how I can be more involved in the foundation, because I think their mission is great and I would love to offer my assistance in some way.
About ten minutes ago, the DJ started playing songs reminiscent of a high school prom.
After a brief moment where the party goers were wondering if they should dance, Kendall dragged a woman I don’t know to the dance floor and everyone followed suit.
The floor is covered in rugby players and donors alike, dancing their hearts out.
Even Mr. Solomon is out there, doing the sprinkler.
Silas’s sister, Isla, bounces over to me, dragging me and Dakota to the dance floor, insisting we join her as the familiar intro to “Cha Cha Slide” starts playing. We do the steps through giggles, and I feel lighter than I have in ages.
Ezra slides in next to me, overexaggerating his movements and swiveling his hips in a way that shouldn’t be sexy, but totally is. Maybe it’s the singular glass of champagne fizzing through my veins, or knowing I can openly touch him, but I’ve never felt happier, and I want him badly.
Right now.
The song fades out, and a slow song I don’t recognize starts to play.
Ezra holds out his hand to me, and when I place mine in his, he tugs me to him, pressing our bodies flush together.
The man over the speakers sings about his love, Ezra and I sway to the beat, his hand resting gently on the small of my back.
“Does Dakota know Vanessa?” He whispers, nodding to the outskirts of the dance floor.
I look in the direction of my best friend, finding her cheeks red as she talks animatedly with Mr. Solomon’s sister. Vanessa says something that has Ko biting her lip and subtly shaking her head.
Huh.
“I don’t think so. They might be talking about Ace’s scholarship.”
“That doesn’t look like business talk.”
He’s right, but after mine and Ko’s conversation earlier today, I’m not going to assume anything. Vanessa is a kind and smart woman, from what I’ve witnessed tonight, and I think my best friend would be in good hands with her, but I don’t know Vanessa’s sexuality, so I’m not about to speculate.
“Maybe not, but Ko will start dating when she’s ready. She’s—”
“Miss. Brady, Ezra, can I just say, you two make such a lovely couple,” Dr. Kipp says, patting us on our shoulders.
“Uh, thank you, Dr. Kipp.”
“You know, before Ms. Cross informed me of your relationship, I thought, ‘Branson, those two would make a lovely couple,’ but my wife told me to keep those thoughts to myself. I’m glad you two figured it out yourself.
Love is one of the most powerful forces in the world, and you’re lucky to have found your person in a sea of billions of people.
” He smiles at the two of us before focusing on Ezra only.
“Now, Ezra, a word of advice from a man who’s been married for nearly thirty years and has four kids: happy wife happy life is true, but a happy wife is one who gets to follow her dreams. Make sure you never let her give up her dreams for yours, okay?
I’m not looking for a new Athletic Trainer because they won’t compare to Sutton. ”
“Don’t worry Doc, I plan on keeping her happy for the rest of my life. I’d do anything for her.” Ezra says the last part to me, and it has tears burning behind my eyes.
“Good man. Well, I better go find my wife and make sure she’s not trying to buy all the auction items. Lord knows I’d let her, but we don’t need a year of dog-grooming services when we only have cats.”
As soon as Dr. Kipp is out of ear shot, Ezra and I erupt into giggles.
“Have I told you how good you look tonight?” He whispers in my ear once the giggles have died down.
“Once or twice,” I tease, sliding my hands down his arms.
“Hmm. Let’s get out of here so I can show you a million more times with my lips.”