Chapter One Hundred and Eight

Chapter One Hundred and Eight
Ezra 

Alana and I haven’t even made it out the front door since this morning. Our lunch plans got taken over by our need for each other. We spent most of the day in bed making love on and off, only stopping for breathers, drinks, and snacks. It had been incredible, but now we are completely exhausted. 

I left Alana in bed to recover as I run us a bubble bath. I take the time to give my mom a quick call. I hadn’t spoken to her since I sent her a text before I came here to tell her I was going away for a little while, and I would call her when I was ready. My family have no idea what happened. My mom has tried to call me a couple of times, but I wasn’t prepared to talk to her; now I am. I won’t tell her about Alana being pregnant; we decided to keep it between us until after the twelve-week scan. I don’t know how my parents will react to the news. I think my mom will take the news better than my father. 

I take a deep breath before I hit the call button. It rings only twice before she answers. 

“Ezra, where are you? Are you okay? I have been worried sick after the text you sent.” She whimpers. 

Guilt takes over me when she does. I shouldn’t have let her worry about me. 

“I know, Mom. I am sorry. I am okay now. I am in Scotland with Alana. Have you spoken to Bella’s parents?” I ask. 

I don’t know if Bella has even told her parents. If she did, would they have told mine? 

“Ezra, why are you in Scotland with Bella’s due date so close?” I can hear slight disappointment in her voice, she believes I have left Bella and my daughter. I guess they don’t know. 

“Because the day I texted you is the day I found out Cora isn’t mine, Mom. Bella lied to me! Cora is someone else’s baby. Apparently, he wasn’t ready to be a father, and Bella didn’t want to be a single mom, so she decided to use me.” 

My voice is full of emotion. Yes, Alana is pregnant with my child, but I am still trying to overcome the fact that I thought Cora was mine, and she isn’t. It still hurts. 

“What? Oh God, Ezra. I am so sorry. How could someone be so damn cruel?” She sobs. 

I sigh and run my fingers through my messy hair. “I really don’t know, Mom. I never thought she would stoop so low.” 

“What a bitch!” Mom snarls. 

Her use of language takes me aback. My mother doesn’t curse unless she is fuming, right now, she is. I hold back a chuckle because it isn’t the time to laugh. 

“Yes. I will be okay in time.” 

“I hope so, Ezra. She is such a horrible woman! I am happy you have Alana by your side. When are you coming home? Are you coming home?” she asks softly. 

“I don’t like to think of the mess I would be in without Alana by my side, Mom. I will be home. I don’t know when because I am going to stay here with Alana for a little while. I have made a few calls to ensure the business is handled. I need to be away from LA for a little while,” I reply honestly. I don’t know when I will return, but it won’t be anytime soon. 

“You take the time you need, my boy. You know where I am if you need me.” 

We chat for a couple of minutes before I say, “Mom, I am going to go, but I promise I will talk to you soon.” 

“Okay. Tell Alana I said hello. I love you, Ezra. Try not to let what Bella did to you ruin that good part inside of you. She isn’t worth it.” 

“I love you too, Mom. Goodbye.” 

I hang up the call. I feel a little better after talking to her. I will try to do better in the future when it comes to communicating with my parents, mostly my mom. 

I wait for the bath to finish running and add some cold water. I stroll back to the bedroom and see that Alana has fallen asleep. I am not surprised. I sit on the edge of the bed next to her and stroke her hair.

“Alana, sweetheart, our bath is ready,” I say and kiss her softly. 

It takes her a second, but she comes to. “Sorry, my love, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” 

“You don’t need to apologize. It allowed me to run you a bath and call my mom.” 

Alana sits up. “You finally called her? Did you tell her what happened?” 

“Yes, I did. She was not happy. She called Bella a bitch, and my mom doesn’t use those words often.” I chuckle. 

“She is only speaking the truth. I am proud of you for finally calling her. Does she know where you are?” 

“Thank you, beautiful. She does. She asked when or if I am coming home.” 

“And what was your answer?” Alana whispers nervously. 

“I said I would be back at some point, but I don’t know when.” 

I would happily stay here, but there is a lot to fix back home first. I don’t know what Alana wants either. 

“You can stay here with me for as long as you want. Forever, even, I really wouldn’t mind.” She snickers and kisses me softly. 

“I know we still have a lot of things to work out, and we can, later. For now, all I want is to share a warm bubble bath with my beautiful fiancée. I can call you that officially now! But I think you need a perfect proposal first, and you will never see it coming,” I say brightly with a massive grin. 

“It sounds perfect, babe. You don’t need to propose again, Ezra.” She smiles and caresses my cheek. 

“I want to!” I exclaim. 

Alana deserves a better proposal than the one I gave her. We no longer need to hide it. We can be open, enjoy our engagement, become parents, and finally marry.

I jump to my feet and offer Alana my hand, which she takes. I help her out of bed, slip my arm around her and guide us towards the bathroom. 

“Please be careful climbing into the tub, bright eyes,” I swear, I see her roll her eyes when I say it.

“I will be fine, Ezra.” 

I stand close to her as she climbs in. Yes, she is capable of doing it on her own, but my protective instincts are in Super Daddy mode. Once she settles in safely, I slip in behind her. She rests against my chest, and I drape my arms over her and kiss her shoulders.

“Why do you insist on being a vampire around me?” She giggles.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say innocently. 

Alana dips her head back to glance up at me. “Really? You don’t see the hickey and bite marks on my breasts, stomach, and probably thighs, no?” 

“Nope! You are imagining them, sweetness.” I smirk.

“Asshole!” she snickers.

“Come on now, bright eyes, don’t pretend you don’t love when I brand your skin,” I say smugly and boop her nose.

Alana sticks her tongue out at me and laughs before she turns her attention away from me. I laugh and nuzzle her neck with my face. I trace the marks on her body with my fingers. She closes her eyes and moans softly as she shudders under my touch. I pull away because I don’t want us to get carried away. She needs to rest, her body needs a rest. I rub her tummy and smile. 

“You are going to be obsessed with my bump while it grows, aren’t you?” 

I chuckle at her question because she is so right. “Yes, very much so. I would apologize in advance, but I won’t be sorry at all.” 

Alana laughs. “I thought so. I don’t mind. Though, I will apologize in advance for the mood swings, which are probably on the way rather soon.” 

“I will take whatever you toss my way, bright eyes, because you will carry and protect my baby as they grow inside of you. I will be right by your side whenever you want to yell, rant, or cry.” 

“Promise?” she whispers. 

“I promise, sweetheart,” I reply and kiss her shoulders. 

Alana sighs in contentment and places her hand over mine. “I love you, Ezra. And I am happy we can finally be together without hiding it from the world.” 

“I love you too, bright eyes. Yes, me too! No one can stop us now,” I say confidently.

Never again am I allowing anyone or anything to get in the way of us, not after everything we have been through to get here. They can try, but they sure as hell won’t manage.