Page 66 of Don’t Forget Me

I let out a shaky breath before finally saying, “I do too.”

He was happy to heart that. I knew he was. Because there was a light in the ocean depths of his expression. Then, suddenly, his joy faded almost immediately.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “You don’t seem sure.”

I couldn’t help but snort, cracking into laughter. He stared at me. His pupils seemed to rip open my soul.

“Are you serious?” I questioned. “What kind of question is that?”

As I laughed, he looked away. I think he felt embarrassed by the soft way in which he portrayed his fear. I stepped closer, setting a hand on his cheek. Then slowly, I redirected his gaze toward me.

“Why did you push me away?” he asked, his tone telling me how much it pained him that I had pushed him away instead of pulling him in.

“It was a reflex. I only meant to take care of myself, and I didn’t consider you. I’m sorry,” I confessed.

A thought passed through his face.

“Believe what I say,” I implored. “I…I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. When I realized that you probably felt the same way, I just—I lost it. No one has ever thought of me the way you do. No one’s tried to understand all the messed-up parts of me. You… You’re different. In every imaginable way.”

He remained pensive, staring at me for what felt like an eternity. His hand began to snake around my waist.

“It’s impossible not to have feelings for you. You understand me. You comprehend my pain. I’ve never told anyone about my past. But you, you knew what to do when my father did that to me. You saved me. Who knew what my father would’ve been capable of that night? He’s sent me to the hospital before. And it seemed as though that would be my fourth time visiting A&E. It was like you arrived at the time when I needed you most. Someone to fight with, someone to talk to, someone who enjoyed my company despite your arguments,” Ezra explained.

“I thought I hid my affection quite well.”

“Let’s just say you’re a horrible liar,” he chuckled.

I gasped, my hand on my chest.

His shoulders shook as he laughed. “Truth is, I’ve never felt like this for any other person. This peace whenever I’m around you. A certainty that it was you that my soul had been waiting for. If we were to part ways forever, I know that there will never be another like you. And I don’t intend to test that theory.”

A smile crept onto my face. A breeze began to flow between us, my hair danced before my face and I was glad for it. He wouldn’t see just how happy I’d been to hear him confess his affection for me. His warm fingertips brushed away the strands from my profile. Gently, he set the palm of his hand on the side of my face.

“May I?” he asked.

I couldn’t find the right words, so I closed the space between us. Wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer to me.

I felt like my heart would explode as I felt him give in, tightening his grasp around my waist. He brought me closer to his chest, then his hands spread across the back of my dress until he found the ends of my curls. Ezra coiled a strand between his fingers.

He parted the kiss with a wide grin. “Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

I giggled, aching to feel his lips again. I pushed myself onto the tips of my toes and kissed him again.

thirty

EZRA

“We could definitely add that line into the scene. I can’t believe I never thought of it before,” Lysandra exclaimed.

I found it odd to hear her being loud with excitement, although I knew she was ecstatic because we were officially filming. She had also been much more flexible than usual. Most times, she would almost fight me if anyone ever suggested a change to the way the book was being adapted. She truly wanted her voice to come through the script. But today, she was different.

It was strange, especially after the way she ran away from me at the party a few days ago. I knew her mind was chaotic, and her moods were similar to the turns and dives of a rollercoaster. I found it hard to be on the same page as her sometimes. I almost never knew what approach to take.

Lysandra’s dark hair swayed as she turned to me with a wide grin on her face. The muscles in my face didn’t hesitate as I returned a grin to her. She looked back to the scene that had been unfolding. It had become a bit difficult for me to concentrate on directing this film when she was right beside me. Flashing me with her good looks and enchanting smile. I hoped no one noticed how much of an effect she had on me. I could be taken out of the project if someone were to report back to Zack that Lysandra was making me lose focus.

Zack only hated two things. Commitment and losing money. Although I didn’t mind if this project fell through, I knew Lysandra’s heart would be broken, and Zack would hate me for losing a fortune from this movie.

My friend never outgrew his greed. Luckily, I could say that I had. After losing the woman of my life five years ago, I realized just how right she was about me. I was used to having everything go my way, I was used to spending any money that I desired; I never thought that my greed could hurt others. Until I met her.