Chapter 10

Ezra stood along side Simone as they chatted with Ella and Byron Montgomery. The church was elegant. It was much like Hardy's had been. Ezra was glad that Aria hadn't kept to her earlier declaration that she'd get Ezra to plan her wedding. That would have been pure torture for him. Something he couldn't handle.

The voices of his girlfriend and the Montgomery's were muffled as he thought things through once more. He loved Simone. He loved Aria. Did he love Aria enough to let her move on? Did he love Simone enough to marry her? Should he be honest to both women? Ezra closed his eyes and shook his head. He opened his eyes when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You okay, honey?" Simon asked lovingly. Ezra nodded. As the time moved on, realization began to settle in. Aria was getting married. She was no longer going to be single. He couldn't just tell her a week, a month, a year from now how he felt and still feels and expect her to drop everything. He couldn't expect her to leave Jason behind if he let her marry him without so much as telling her of his feelings. He was in love with the woman who broke his heart.

He grabbed Simone's elbow. "We need to talk in private," he whispered into her ear. She turned back to him in confusion but nodded. He led her to an empty room. Closing the door, he kept his back to her.

"Ezra?" she asked. He turned to her. This hurt more than he thought it would. Maybe he should just leave everything alone. He was finally in a loving relationship. He shook his head. He wasn't in love with the woman standing in front of him.

Ezra took a step forward. He opened his mouth to speak but came up empty. He shook his head and looked down. When he looked back up at Simone, a sad smile was on her face. "You're breaking up with me, aren't you?" she asked softly. He sighed and nodded his head sadly. "I had a feeling. You've been distant for a while now."

"It's not you. It's me."

"That's what they all say," she responded with a smirk.

Ezra shook his head and stepped forward. "I'm serious though. I do love you, Simone. You're great. You're everything I ever wanted in a woman." Ezra looked down. "I fell in love with someone a long time ago. I fooled myself into thinking I was over her when in fact I'm not. I never really was. All I managed to do was muffle the voices inside my head telling me that." Simone smiled at him. "I am so sorry," he whispered.

She stepped forward and cupped his face. She smiled. "I love you, Ezra." She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips before walking past him and out the door. Ezra let the tears fall. He heard the door open and close behind him. He turned when he felt a presence behind him.

"The Montgomery's said I'd find you in here," he said. Ezra smiled slightly and nodded. Aria must have invited him. Hardy sighed before sitting down in a chair. "You broke up with her." It was more of a statement than a question. Ezra chuckled. He knew him so well. Ezra nodded as he sat down beside his friend.

They both remained quiet for a little while. Ezra leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He spread his hands apart and shrugged. "I'm in love with someone else."

"Aria?" Hardy muttered knowingly. Ezra looked sideways at his friend and nodded. Hardy heaved a sigh. "Look, I know I haven't always been on the Ezria boat." Ezra gave his friend a smirk before he continued. "But even I can see how much you love the girl. She's no longer your student Ezra. She's no longer sixteen. I like Aria. She's good for you. But if you plan on being with her, I suggest you get your ass in gear. She's getting married in less than twenty minutes and you're in here telling me you love her." Ezra looked at his friend blankly. Hardy groaned. "Go!" He gave his friend a shove. Ezra grinned and rushed out the door in search of Aria Montgomery.