Chapter Twenty-Five: Lacey

Before Ezra did, I woke early that morning, sliding out of bed quietly so I wouldn’t wake him and going straight to the bathroom to shower. I felt horrible about last night, horrible that I’d caved to his advances after deciding that the heartbreak wasn’t worth it. I felt like a slave to him, and I hated that. My self-respect dwindled down a little bit with each night I spent with Ezra knowing damn well how he felt about me. We’d be flying out that afternoon to go home, and I was done. Finished.

But my God, it had felt so good.

Been so perfect.

I showered the night off my skin, leaving only memories, washed my hair, and sneaked back into the room to hurry and dress. Ezra slept through everything, including packing my bag, and I strung my backpack over my shoulder to leave the room, taking one last look over my shoulder at the magical condo that had provided us with so many sleepless, sexy nights. But those nights were over. This vacation was over, and it was time to be over.

Carrying my luggage, I went down to the breakfast buffet for a strong cup of coffee and aspirin for my head, making it a point to avoid eye contact with all the happy couples on their Hawaiian honeymoons or vacations. I was just finishing my coffee when Elijah and Ava spotted me in the room.

“Good morning, Lacey,” Elijah said. “Did you already eat?”

“Just some coffee. What about you two?”

“Mother wants us to have a family brunch before we get ready to go,” he said. “You included, obviously. Where’s Ezra?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted with a shrug. “I left him sleeping back in the room.”

“He’s going to be the death of me,” Elijah mumbled. He glanced at his watch and winced, glancing at Ava. “I’m going to go up to the room and wake him.”

“No problem,” she said. “I’ll visit with Lacey. It looks like she could use some girl talk.”

I smiled, relieved to have the company, and Elijah left us to go and get Ezra out of bed.

“Okay,” Ava said, sliding into the booth next to me. “I could tell as soon as I saw you that something was up. “What happened last night? I saw you and Ezra fighting.”

I sighed and finished off my coffee, scooting the mug aside. “After our fight last night, I decided I didn’t want to do this with Ezra anymore,” I told her. “I was sick of it. I deserve better than that.”

“Yes, you do,” she agreed.

“But he found me on the beach, and he seduced me.”

“Beach sex?” she said. “Nice! How was it?”

“It was—perfect,” I admitted. “And I hate myself for it.”

“Don’t down on yourself.” Ava patted my hand, squeezing it gently. “You are both still on vacation, he’s your best friend, and you slipped up. That’s all there is to it.”

I shook my head, looking away from her to focus on the wall for a moment so I wouldn’t end up crying. “Yeah, well, now I have to go home with him and work for him and see him every day, knowing that he doesn’t share the same feelings that I do. And Ava … I don’t know if I can do that. Honestly.”

She nodded, seeming to ponder this. “Have you brought up each other’s feelings since the first time?” she asked, and I shook my head.

“I’m afraid to. Hearing him say that we were just friends, and this was all for fun devastated me. And now that we’ve had sex, I feel like things will never be the same. Now he’s not just my best friend … he’s the guy I fucked and the guy I’ve always loved, and it’s put me in a really shitty position.”

“I get it,” she said, smiling at the server who came to take my empty mug away. “But I believe you can get past this, Lacey. And maybe taking some time for yourself, away from Ezra, is really what you need.”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking, too. But the club needs me, Ava. He can’t do it himself.”

Lacey smiled gently, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Maybe losing you, just briefly, is the wakeup call he needs.”