Frozen in Time

Chapter 21

I had to get out of there. There was only one place I could go right then.

There was no need to knock in a emergency like this, I pulled the key from under the mat and unlocked.

When I walked in the place was just how it was when I left. Sheets shuffled on the bed, pillows on the couch were in the floor, and the TV was paused at the credits of our movie.

I could hear the shower running.

I sat down on the bed and just waited for him to come out. Waited to be able to pour my heart out to someone I trusted.

It was ten minutes later when the water shut off, but twenty minutes until he came out. I could hear him shaving. I could smell the aftershave coming through door frame.

He walked out with towel around his waist and a smile on his face.

"Hey," the smile went away instantly when he saw the tears on my face,"what's wrong?"

He sat next to me and took my hand in his. It was warm and soft.

"It's Alison," I could barely make the words come out.

His hair dripped with water onto his cheeks.

"She's-She's- She's dead," I couldn't talk anymore. I just started sobbing.

He pulled me in and held me close.

We sat there in silence for awhile. Just us holding each other.

Finally when I was consoled he tried to make me feel better, "I thought you were coming over to return my shirt."

I looked at him and smiled, "your never getting that shirt back!"

"I hope I never do," he said.

He said it like a promise. Like a forever.

He stood up and grabbed some clothes out of his drawer. He walked back into the bathroom to get dressed. The door was left open a crack. I could see him getting dressed.

His biceps flexed as he pulled a t-shirt over his head, grazing his abs. He pulled his pants over his boxers making the sound of cloth rub together.

Ezra picked up his comb and started to comb his hair back.

"No!" I shouted.

He looked at me confused.

"I like your hair all messy," he smiled at me and started walking toward me.

"I have a question," I stated as he sat down next to me.

"Shoo,"

"When I first met you said and I quote 'your smart, you've traveled' you didn't say your beautiful,"

"I didn't say it because I thought the look in my eyes was saying enough!"

I rested my head down in his lap as I replayed that day in my head.

"Would you love me if I wasn't beautiful?" I asked.

"You could be Frankenstein and I would still look at you the same way I am right now. I would still love you as much as I do today. Your beauty has nothing to do with my affection for you. Lucky for me it's just an amazing bonus," he smiled at me as his face got closer to mine.

Our noses touched and he said,"do you want some breakfast?"

I playfully shoved him knowing he fooled me. I was ready for a kiss.

"Yes please, but I'll make it!" I said.

" I thought you liked my cooking?"

"I do, but that makes me want to prove to you how good of a cook I am!"

"Oh a little competition I see?"

"No," he started walking toward me his hands out. He looked like he was challenging me to a dual.

"I challenge you to a cook off!" he said.

"Your on!"