The Love You Give

New Player

"They've been gone literally all day," Jacob whined as he lay on Jackson's bed. "They're bonding," Jackson offered finishing a painting that he started soon after he kissed Ezra. "Is that her?" Jace asked spinning a basketball on his finger. "Yeah, the idea just came to me after we kissed." Jace smile and nodded. "Yeah, I had some ideas too until this fucker cock-blocked me." Jace said throwing the ball on Jacob's stomach. "Ow! Asshole!" Jacob threw the ball back, but Jace caught it. "I miss her." They all said in unison and then laughed. They hadn't done that in years much to their Mom's displeasure. She always reveled in the moments where they behaved more like triplets. "One sexy little picture isn't enough," Jackson pouted as he painted. "Agreed. Plus, I don't know where she thinks she's wearing that outfit to but it's not Clarkson." Jacob huffed. "Yeah, absolutely not." Jace joined in.

"You two are hilarious if you think we're going to be able to force her to do anything she doesn't already want to. Ezra isn't like Charlotte or Owen. She's real and actually wants us. She's not in this for our money or the fame, but for us. You're not going to fuck this up like you do everything else trying to take charge and be some dumbass dom." Jackson looked at both of his brothers. "I won't let you ruin this for me. I'll kick both of your asses before I lose her, because something tells me we're a packaged deal. So, don't fuck it up." Jacob and Jace took in their brother's weighted words and sighed.

"Owen's back." Jacob offered. "I ended things with Charlotte." Jace said at the same time. Jackson shook his head. "You both better have a handle on your exes before it becomes too much for her." Jace scoffed. "Charlotte isn't my ex." Jackson laughed humorlessly. "Tell yourself that lie if you want to, but the on again off again rodeo dance you two were doing was very much a toxic relationship." Jace exhaled loudly. "They won't be a problem. We'll make it known that Ezra is ours and that we're happily taken. It'll be fine." Jacob told them, but was trying most to convince himself. "Whatever you assholes say." Jackson said adding more purple to his painting.

Ezra sat with Celeste in a booth in the back of the quaint Italian restaurant and looked over the menu. "Do you see anything you like?" Celeste asked. Ezra nodded. "I think I want a caprese salad and a Supreme slice." As if on cue, the waitress made her way back to their table to take their orders. Celeste placed their orders before taking a sip of wine. "Celeste, is that you?" A slender, brunette woman called out with a smile. Ezra noticed the slight look of exhaustion on Celeste's face when she saw the woman, but it was quickly masked with a smile. "Marjorie Dixon, how are you?" Ezra watched as the two women talked before a tall, brunette teenaged guy walked behind the Dixon woman. "Are you two coming or going?" Celeste asked. "We just got here," Marjorie offered. "Well, join us please," Celeste offered scooting in for Marjorie to sit next to her.

At the mention of us, it was as though Marjorie had just seen Ezra for the first time. "We'd love to." Ezra scooted in and watched as the teenager sat next to her. He was a little too close for her liking, but she didn't want to make a scene. "Marjorie, Mason, this is Ezra Cole. She's my foster daughter." Ezra wanted to laugh at the wide-eyed look on Marjorie's face. "I didn't know you and Jansen were looking to adopt. Why not a baby?" Ezra stopped the eyeroll that was building, but noticed Mason didn't stop his and chuckled catching his attention. "We wanted to open our home to a child in need and there are so many teenagers and children in the system that just need a loving chance."

Ezra felt Celeste sounded like a character off of the Hallmark channel, but realized it was because no matter what she said Marjorie wouldn't see past the Black teenager that she was. "Well, that's nice of you dear. So, Ezra is it, I take it you'll be going to Clarkson with the boys." Ezra smiled just thinking on her boyfriends before nodding. "Yes, ma'am. I start tomorrow." The woman eyed her before turning to Celeste to talk about some gala. "She's a lot less judgmental when she's had some drinks in her," Mason smiled down at her. Ezra returned the smile. He was a good-looking guy with forest green eyes and a chiseled jaw.