Chapter 12
twelve
JO
Unknown
Hi Jo, this is Ben. Belle mentioned you would be the best point of contact if I wanted to schedule a meeting with everyone to explain . . . everything.
Our phones have some fancy software on them that makes them pretty much unhackable. You don’t need to pretend, Ezra.
Ezra
Right. Belle mentioned that. Force of habit, I guess.
So . . . meeting?
I glare at my phone before peeking over it to look at Maverick.
He’s sprawled on the couch with Kai, playing some video game that involves shooting aliens or something.
He’s been better the past few days. Not happy exactly, but he’s been able to sort through his emotions.
Which I, unfortunately, know means he would want to hear Ezra out.
The most selfish part of me wants to lie and push Ezra away.
Keep Maverick by my side as long as I can.
The problem with that is, even if he’s with me, he would never be mine. I’d just be hurting both of us.
I sigh loudly, catching the attention of the guys. They both stare at me, waiting for an explanation.
“Ezra texted me. He wants a meeting.” I keep my voice neutral.
Maverick may have had to sort through a whole range of emotions, but I’ve only had one.
Anger. I hate Ezra for how he’s hurt the people I care about.
I hate him for every tear I’ve watched fall from Maverick’s honey-brown eyes.
There’s nothing he can say to excuse the pain he’s caused.
“Up to you,” Kai says to Maverick, whose wide eyes are bouncing between us.
He sucks in a steadying breath and nods. “Yeah, okay. Just not here. I don’t think I want him in my space yet.”
I agree, but that makes it harder for me. I have to find somewhere we won’t be overheard or recognized because I know he’s counting everyone’s houses as his space. It’s where he feels comfortable and safe.
“We could video conference,” I suggest. I like the idea of being able to hang up or mute if it gets to be too much.
“No. I think I need to hear it face to face,” Maverick says, Kai nodding in agreement.
“Jason’s house is empty,” Kai says, talking about Cal and Belle’s dad. “He’s at some tech conference in Seattle.”
“He wouldn’t mind?” Maverick asks.
Kai shrugs. “Doubt it. Belle has a key.” He pulls out his phone and shoots off a text to, I’m assuming, Belle. “Good to go,” he says less than a minute later.
I plaster on a fake smile and text the information to Ezra.
Ezra
Does tonight work?
I hold in a frustrated groan. I hate when people I like want something last minute from me. And I don’t like him.
“Tonight?” I ask the room.
“Cal can conference in, so that works,” Kai says, having apparently already been texting him about it. I don’t know when he got so proactive, but I hate that he picked now to show off his new skills.
“Great,” I say and even I can hear the fakeness in my voice. Maverick looks at me with a frown, but I ignore him. I quickly text him the address.
7pm. If you’re late, we leave.
Ezra
Who under the age of fifty sends a thumbs up emoji?
Maverick and Kai have already turned back to their game, but I can see the worry creasing both of their foreheads. No matter what Ezra has to say tonight, it won’t be good, and it’s going to change everything.