A Test of Faith [bxb]

13. If I Can But Endure

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Ezra asked, pacing my room as I sat quietly on the bed.

"It worked. You're here, aren't you?" The Hales were satisfied when I said that I'd asked Evelyn on a date. After they left our family dinner, they'd told Ezra he would be allowed to hang out with me alone — after they had warned him against sinful acts, of course. I'd be a good influence, they said, and I could put him on the straight and narrow.

Ezra rolled his head back, gripping at his curls frustratedly. "Luca, you're going on a fucking date."

"It's not a big deal."

Ezra hadn't answered my texts after dinner. Instead, he opted for showing up at my house the following morning after my parents left for work. Not that I was complaining; we had the house to ourselves.

He used that opportunity, though, to tear me a new one. And not in the way that I wanted.

"How is it not a big deal? We're together, for fuck's sake!"

I knew that I had made the right call, but my heart grew heavy at the hint of pain in his wavering voice. "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you beforehand, but I couldn't."

Ezra released his hair and looked down towards where I was sitting. With a sigh, he plopped down next to me and laid on his back. "I just... shit, Luca. I wish we could've talked about this."

"I know. But I had to do something. We were losing," I mumbled, laying backwards.

A strong arm wrapped around me, pulling me into his chest. I took a deep breath, taking in his familiar smell. It wasn't the pine and sweat from our time at the outing; it was a faint earthiness, an addictive warm scent with a touch of vanilla, and I pulled him closer to savor it.

"People already think you and Evelyn are soulmates," he said.

"I don't like her, and she doesn't like me. I literally had to beg her to go out with me," I admitted.

Ezra's fingers wound themselves in my hair as he sighed. "It just... it sucks that your first real date isn't with me. When you're with me."

I smiled, resting my chin against his chest to look up at the boy. "Technically, you haven't officially asked me."

He furrowed his brows, looking down at me. "Asked you what?"

"To be your boyfriend."

Ezra rolled his eyes, biting back a grin. "You're ridiculous. Lucas Michael Wilson, will you be my boyfriend?"

I had been joking, but that didn't stop the butterflies that grew in my stomach at those words. "Take me on a date first."

He sat up, forcing me to roll off his chest and into his lap. "If that's what it takes, I think you're already spoken for."

"Today, then."

He cupped my jaw, caressing my cheek as he looked down at me through thick lashes. "Would you still go with Evelyn tomorrow?"

I leaned graciously into his touch. "I have to. You know that. If anything, I can explain the situation."

"No way," Ezra said through pinched brows, removing his hand. I grabbed his hand before he could retreat, though, bringing it to my mouth to place gentle kisses on his knuckles.

"It won't be like before. She's not like that," I mumbled against skin.

"No, Luca."

"Okay, I won't if you don't want me to. Just one date," I said between kisses, bringing my lips up to the tips of his fingers. "And then I come back to you." I kissed the pad of his index finger, leaving my lips on its tip while I looked up at him through my lashes.