Page 53 of Payoff Pitch
I shake my head and croak out, “No. I’m so sorry. I don’t deserve you.”
Without another word, he turns and walks upstairs. I take a few long, deep breaths. I should get dressed and call an Uber, but I slide down the wall and let the tears continue to fall. I’m so ashamed of myself. I’ve hurt an innocent man.
He returns a few minutes later with an oversized sweatshirt and enormous shorts. “I’ve had too much to drink to drive you home, and I don’t want to put you in an Uber alone at this time of night. If you’re comfortable staying here, I’ll make up my guestroom for you and drive you home in the morning.”
I reach for him, “Ezra—”
He steps back. “It’s fine. I get it. You’re not into me.” He drops his head. “You never will be.”
“I want to explain.”
He shakes his head. “No need. It only makes this worse.”
He hands me the clothes, and I quietly and quickly slip into them. I have to roll the shorts ten times to get them to stay up. “Thank you. I understand if you don’t want to talk. Can we watch a movie or something? I don’t want to say goodnight to you yet.”
It seems that much colder to simply go to bed. I want to spend time with him. He’s still my friend. I can’t lose that.
He sighs. “Sure. What do you want to watch?”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
He turns on a movie, and we silently sit down on the couch together. I barely remember any of it before I pass out.
I wakein the morning enveloped in warmth with something very hard poking my ass.
Blinking my eyes a few times, I realize that I’m on Ezra’s sofa, he’s wrapped around me, and he doesn’t have a shirt on.
This feels nice. Why can’t it be enough for me?
I’m contemplating falling back asleep in the security of his arms when I hear music blaring and the song “I Just Had Sex” by The Lonely Island begins playing. I giggle as I lift my head to see Cheetah standing there with a big smile, holding his phone up, singing and dancing along with the lyrics.
Without having to open his eyes to see who it is, Ezra groans. “Go away, Cheetah.”
Cheetah chuckles. “I’m just glad your dick still works. Though sex is easier when you’re naked in the bedroom, not clothed on the couch. Has it been so long since youhad playtime at the farm that you forgot how the hokey pokey works?”
Ezra starts to answer, “We didn’t—”
I cover his mouth with my hand and interrupt, “We didn’t even make it to the bedroom before we tore each other’s clothes off and went at it.” I nod toward my dress on the floor. “And the only farm analogy appropriate here is that Ezra is an animal in the best way possible. I got cold during the night and grabbed a sweatshirt that smells like him.” I inhale it deeply. “Hmm. So good.”
Cheetah lifts an eyebrow. “Ezra Decker an animal in the sack?”
I nod and Ezra sighs. “I forgot that we had plans for this morning. We need to run Bailey home. Go wait outside. We’ll get dressed and meet you in your car.”
“Fine, party pooper.”
He walks out and I turn around in his arms. I look up at him and run my fingers over his handsome face. “I’m really sorry about last night, Ezra.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t have to lie to Cheetah.”
“Yes, I did. You can tell the guys whatever you want about last night. I’ll go along with it.”
“Does it really seem like my personality to brag about my sexcapades like Cheetah does and Layton used to before Arizona?”
I twist my lips. “I suppose not.”
He begins to stand, but I hold him close and sink my nose into his chest. “I don’t want to lose our friendship. You mean a lot to me, Ezra.”
He relaxes and hugs me back. “You won’t. You mean a lot to me too. Tanner is a lucky man.”