Ezra drove home after agreeing to meet Clare at the Brew in a few hours. He turned the key in the door of his apartment and pushed it open. He walked inside and saw Aria sitting on his sofa. Complete with a pie on the table in front of her. He was so surprised that she was there that he couldn't think of anything to say. Aria stood up. She was wearing a white dress with lace detailing and a black belt. Her hair was straight but messy and slightly over one eye.
"Pie?" Aria asked Ezra as she fidgeted with her fingers.
Ezra continued to put down his laptop bag and keys on the kitchen counter. He made his way over to Aria.
"I thought we could talk. I go back to Savannah tomorrow." Aria continued to fidget awkwardly and Ezra stayed silent.
They both sat on the sofa and looked at each other. Aria sighed. She started picking at her nail varnish when all of a sudden Ezra put her hands into his and kissed them. Aria smiled.
"Look, Ezra. I had a day out with my mom and I realised what's really important. She's still not out of the woods yet. It's made me see life from a different perspective." Aria's eyes started to well up. "You never know what life has in store for you. We could end up having a really short life… What I'm saying is –"
"I know what you're saying, and I understand." Ezra sighed. "This is why we broke up in the first place, so that you can live a more fulfilled life." He frowned.
"No, Ezra. You don't know what I'm saying. I've spent the last few months without you and even though I've grown and I've experienced things and that's great… There's been something missing from my life and I really think that the thing that was missing was you." Aria smiled. "My time with you was complicated, I'm not going to lie about that, but it was amazing. You make me happy and if it was to be my last day alive I would want to spend time with my family, my friends… and you, Ezra. It will always be you." Tears streamed from Aria's face as she spoke.
Ezra wiped the tears from Aria's cheek and looked into her eyes.
"Do you feel the same way?" Aria looked up at Ezra hopeful.
"Aria, I will never stop loving you." Ezra said as he leaned in to kiss his love.
Aria grabbed Ezra and softly kissed him. She started to cry a little more and felt relieved that he felt the same way as she did.
"I don't know how this will work with us being so far away from each other but I'm willing to try and make it work." Aria said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Wait…. Are you asking me out?" Ezra put on a fake shocked face.
"Ezra!" Aria laughed and hit him on the arm.
"That hurt! If you keep this up I might say no!" Ezra laughed and pulled Aria in closer to him.
They looked into each other's eyes intently and smiled.
"I love you, Aria."
"I love you too, Ezra."
Aria turned round to sit on Ezra's knee while he held her. Being in his arms was such a content and loving place to be. They stayed there for hours, talking, laughing, watching old movies and eating pie. They talked about the future and how they would do long distance. There was a knock on Ezra's apartment door. Ezra walked to answer the door.
"Hey, I thought I'd drop off your bonus cheque and walk you to the brew for our book-date!" Clare said once Ezra opened the door.
Aria looked over to see Clare standing in the doorway.
"Clare, I'm so sorry, I forgot we had a meeting. Can I take a rain check?" Ezra asked
"Oh… Sure" Clare said as she looked over Ezra's shoulder to Aria sitting on his sofa. "You have my card."
Clare smiled at Ezra and said goodbye. Ezra locked the door behind her and looked at the cheque she had given him.
"Who was that?" Aria asked, folding her arms.
"That was my publisher's assistant, we were meeting tonight to discuss my book." Ezra was still examining the zeros on the cheque.
"She said a date, Ezra." Aria's suspicion grew the more they talked. "Ezra! Were you going on a date?"
"What? No!" Ezra replied, still staring at the cheque.
"Ezra!" Aria grabbed the cheque from Ezra and looked at it. "Wow. Was this for the date or the book?"
"It wasn't a date." Ezra held Aria by the waist. "It was a book meeting." Ezra took the cheque from her and put it in his pocket. "They really love the book."
"I can see that, they're throwing zeros at you!" Aria smiled. "Are you sure I have nothing to worry about?"
"Aria, we just spoke about how crazy I am about you, do you really think you have something to worry about?" Ezra teased Aria. "Promise."
"Okay." Aria smiled as she rested her head on his chest.