Chapter

Hey Olly,

Wow. Just wow. What do I even say? Thank you for last night. I had such a good time. Help yourself to anything in my fridge. No need to lock the door on the way out. This is Foggy and everyone leaves everyone's place alone. Just make sure you click the door closed, because I don't want Tabby getting out.

Good luck with everything, and who knows, maybe next time you're in the Sacramento area, Rebecca can convince me to go see you live.

Ezra

Disappointment washes through me. I don't know what I was expecting. It's not like Ezra was going to write that our one-night stand was so fucking epic that it was life-changing. Although, that's what it was like for me, right?

Ignoring the fact that it was the most mind-blowing sex I've had, but our chemistry was off the charts. We clicked. Our banter, the shared smiles. I know he felt it. If so, why is he running from it? Or hell, maybe it is one-sided. Fuck. How many times did Oscar tell me we had chemistry? The man was delusional. And what about me, am I making last night more than it was?

With one last glance around to make sure I have everything I came with, I head into the bedroom, pet Tabby on the head, and then make my way out of the apartment. The sun is high in the air and the morning fog is completely dissipated. I check the time on my phone and notice it's almost lunchtime.

In the light of day, the alley looks completely different. Luckily, I remember the direction I came from. Unfortunately, I don't think I can walk through the back door of the bar at eleven in the morning. Instead, I make my way out of the alley and turn the corner, happy to see the main street that is the life of the town.

It dawns on me that the apartments in the alley are all attached to various businesses. Does Ezra own his own shop or does he just live above one?

People leisurely walk around as they chat and meander into stores and eateries. Once I spot my bike right where I parked it last night, I walk over to it and slide my hand across the seat. Further down the street a bookstore called ‘Books, Beans, and Buns' catches my eye. Across from me, I notice a place called Blue Star Diner. My stomach takes that moment to grumble.

Ezra and I burnt a ton of calories last night. A smile tugs at my lips. God, I needed to see him again. I wonder if my aunt knows who he is. Pulling out my phone, I shoot her a text.

Olly: Good morning. Are you free for lunch anytime soon? I'm hungry and would love to take you out.

Aunt Tessy: Sure thing. The boss and I close up shop and take lunch between noon and one. Want to meet me here?

I chuckle, remembering how much my aunt gushes about the little shop she works in. My aunt doesn't need the money to survive, but loves fashion more than the normal person. When she started working for a fashion boutique, she said she met her platonic soulmate when the shop owner hired her.

Olly: Sure. What's the shop called again?

Aunt Tessy: Beauty and the Boutique. It's several doors past the bar you went to last night. It has a bright yellow sign. You can't miss it.

Sure enough, I spot the boutique's bright sign, but since I have some time to kill, I wander into the bookstore instead. I'm shocked when I spot a big selection of LGBTQ+ Romance, and at one point the owner introduces himself. He looks a little gruff in a sexy leather jacket and biker boots, but he's actually a happy, down-to-earth guy.

By the time ten minutes until noon rolls around, I'm ravenous and ready to pick up my aunt so we can get lunch. I walk into the boutique and I'm shocked. While all the other stores on this street seem to have a sweet homely feel, this one is bright, modern, and stylish with its unique jewelry and up-to-date, modish clothing. It's obvious the owner stays up with the latest fashion trends.

I even spot a lingerie corner in the back that looks like they might cater to both men and women.

"We'll be with you in just a minute." My aunt's voice filters from the back.

"No rush, Aunt Tessy, it's just me."

A sharp-looking suit catches my eye, and I can't be sure if it's just the way it's displayed on the mannequin or if the fit is really as nice as it looks. Either way, it's fun and unique. The suit jacket and pants are pastel yellow and paired with a white silk dress shirt. The stitching, though, is what makes the suit truly unique with a light blue design weaving through the whole thing.

My eyes keep wandering back to it, and the more my gaze lands on the outfit, the more intrigued I am that a mere suit can get such a reaction out of me.

Being in Arcade Lake over the last decade, the guys and I have come a long way. No longer needing to budget for cheap clothes on the road, we can now afford the best brands. We might be able to get away with the occasional band shirt or some ripped-up Vans or Converse while on tour, but when we did photo shoots, we were expected to wear fashion-trendy clothing.

As I stare at the suit, appreciating the details in the design, the more I realize I want to wear this suit to my Dee Rama Magazine photoshoot next month.

"Thank you for your patience. That suit is one of my favorite designs. I—"

That voice.

I turn around and come face to face with a shocked-looking blond. Ezra. He's here. The damn smile I seem unable to fight when I'm around him reappears. He's stunning in a pair of brown skinny jeans and a black-and-white striped shirt. His hair is styled in a messy, faux bedhead that makes me want to run my fingers through it and tug. He looks like a male model who should be walking the runways in Paris, not someone in a small town.

"Did you say you designed this suit?" I turn back to the outfit I was just admiring.

Ezra nods in my peripheral view.

He steps in so close to me, his arm is leaning against mine. "I did," he says. "This piece I made specifically for a fashion show I was hoping to get into. But I recently found out that there will be a theme, so the chances of that theme lining up with this suit are slim."

"So, does that mean you've decided to sell this piece?" I tenderly trace my fingers over the outline of the sleeve, but I don't actually touch the material, just hover right above it. "If so, I want to buy it."

Ezra's ocean-blue eyes follow the path my fingers take. He seems almost lost. Mesmerized. And I'm suddenly hoping he's thinking of last night. Ezra's gaze meets mine. "You don't have to buy it. You don't owe me anything."

"Owe you? Ezra, are you kidding? This suit is amazing. I tried to walk around the store, just to browse, but I kept getting pulled back to this suit like a magnet. If you designed this, then you are truly talented."

A sweet blush dusts his cheeks. "Thank you, Olly." He practically purrs my name.

As if my body is completely in tune with his, I feel my own cheeks heat. I'm in so much fucking trouble with Ezra Strum.