The Love You Give

Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

"Well, we best be on our way," Celeste said with a smile as she left a tip on the table. "Us too! Mason is singing the National Anthem at the NFL game next Sunday and I want him practicing!" Marjorie clapped happily. "You can sing?" Ezra raised an eyebrow mischievously. The look on Mason's face told her he hated the idea of singing in public as much as she did. "Yes, he can. I don't know why he doesn't join Glee Club at the school, but whatever." Marjorie mumbled on.

Mason saw the smirk on Ezra's face and wondered what she was up to. "It was so nice to meet you Marjorie. I don't know if I'll be able to sing or not for the gala, but if I do, I would love for Mason to join me for a song or two." Celeste and Marjorie were over the moon. Mason mouthed "I will kill you" to Ezra causing her to laugh and pull him in for a one-sided hug. Standing that close to her, Mason couldn't help but put his arm around her. She looked up at him with a smile on her face and he was speechless. "Picture perfect." Ezra heard a snap and looked at both Marjorie and Celeste with their phones out. Before Ezra could interject Celeste was grabbing her by the arm and leading her towards the door.

"Celeste was telling me so much about Ezra, Mason. She's a really smart and beautiful girl." Marjorie beamed as they made their way to their car. Mason knew that just meant Ezra had something his mother deemed valuable. "You make sure you show her around school and introduce her to the right people." He nodded absentmindedly as he took his mother's phone and sent himself the picture she took of them before deleting it from her phone. The last thing he needed is her spreading lies that Ezra Cole was his new girlfriend. He planned on making that a reality, but on his terms not hers.

"So, you and Mason Dixon," Celeste began as they drove back home. "There is no me and Mason Dixon. Also, Mason Dixon, really?" Celeste laughed loudly. "I know. The name is atrocious, but he really is a sweet boy. I saw the way you two were flirting." Ezra shook her head vehemently as they pulled into the garage. "I was not flirting. He was not flirting. No one was flirting." They got out and Ezra made a move to go to the trunk, but Celeste pulled her forward. "We have staff to do that, honey." Celeste pushed her into the house towards the kitchen. "You need to rest from your long day of flirting." Ezra glared at her before all of the air in her body left her. "Who was flirting?" Jacob asked as soon as they walked into the kitchen. "No one!" Ezra said a bit too loudly. Jace and Jackson eyed her suspiciously. "Don't be modest, Ezra. We ran into the Dixon's and Mason couldn't keep his eyes or hands to himself."

Ezra wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole right that instant. Jackson looked calm, too calm, while Jacob looked irritated at best. Jace was on terror level 10 as his ears reddened in anger. "Celeste, you're exaggerating. Mason is just a nice guy like many other nice people in my grade that I will meet tomorrow. Nothing special." Celeste waved her off. "I do hope you two will sing together at the gala. That will just make the event a success, I know it." The boys looked at them in shock. "I'll think about it," Ezra whispered before making a move to head upstairs. She was immediately blocked by Jace. "What are you boys doing here? You're never together." Jacob thought quickly. "We just missed you. You've been gone for a while."

He offered a subtle pout that even made Ezra want to hold him. "My baby boy," Celeste said falling for the trap. "Is this true? You all missed me?" Jace and Jackson nodded in agreement as they joined their mother in an embrace. Ezra thought the moment was cute, but wasn't going to stay down there to get chewed out by the guys once Celeste took her leave and scurried out. She opened up her room door to find all of her bags neatly set with velour hangers on her bed. "This place is unbelievable." She whispered to herself as she began unpacking bags and hanging items. She was almost done when she heard her bedroom door open. She knew they were in her room and exhaled loudly as she made her way out of the closet to hang up the remaining dresses.

"You're not wearing these." Jace said pointedly as he looked between her and the three dresses on her bed. "First of all, last time I checked your name wasn't Evan Cole. Since you're not my father I'd refrain from trying to tell me what to do." Ezra said angered. "He's not your Dad, but I bet you he wants to be your Daddy." Jackson joked laughing at himself. "Gross," Ezra shook before grabbing the dresses and placing them on hangers. "So, you had a grand ole time with Mason Dixon, huh?" Jacob asked looking right at her. "I enjoyed myself, yes." Ezra said calmly before hanging up the dresses in her closet. When she came back out, she saw Jacob holding out his phone and stared at the picture of her and Mason. "You look like you enjoyed yourself alright!" Ezra rolled her eyes. "I don't have anything to do with your rivalry. Mason is just a nice guy and I need all the friends I can get."

They all shook their heads. "He told you we don't like each other?" Jace asked surprised. "Yeah, said you're the Colts and he's the Patriots." They rolled their eyes at that. "I don't know nor care why you four hate each other. It has nothing to do with me." Jace pulled her into him. "It has everything to do with you. You're our girlfriend and you can't be seen with the enemy." Jace was too close for Ezra to think rationally, but she had to get this thought out why she still had it fresh on her mind. She pushed away from him and stood in front of them. "We can only be a couple in this house, away from your parents." They looked at her confused.

"Mason told me how your mom and his know everything that happens in this town and school. If anyone at school knew we were dating Celeste and Jansen would find out and I can't do that to them. I won't. So, if you no longer want to be in this secret relationship I understand." She looked down at her fingers and smiled sadly at the fresh white nail color with gold specks. She felt hands move her dreads to the back before tilting her head up and stared back in Jackson's blue eyes. Their eyes were all the color of the ocean, but different sections. Jackson's currently mirrored a coral reef and she wanted to dive in. "We will take you however you'll have us. We want you to know us, Ezra, and we want to know every beautiful thing about you." She smiled at him before standing on her tippy toes and kissing him. Her hands found their way into his shoulder-length hair and massaged his scalp as their lips became one.

They kissed like that for a few moments before Jace was pulling Jackson off and taking his place. Ezra smiled up at blue eyes that looked like the ocean when the sun was at its highest peak. "You're stuck with me, Princess." She snickered at him. "You say that now." He crashed his lips against hers taking her breath away. Their tongues glided against one another in the sweetest of kisses. Ezra realized Jace was the roughest externally of her men, but the gentlest internally and when it came to her. The kiss was cut short as Jacob moved Jace out of the way to stand in front of Ezra.

"I won't tell you what to do like that idiot, but I will say I don't like you hanging out with Mason." Ezra heard him and nodded. "Now come give Daddy a kiss." Ezra made a gagging face. "I'm never calling you that, sweets," she said as he wrapped her arms around his waist. "That's fine, sweetheart, that's Jace's kink anyway." He leaned in to kiss her when Ezra heard the sound of heels and shoved Jacob forcefully down to the ground.