Chapter 27
Aria's pov
Pulling up to the soccer field, I put the car in park and turned to see Malcolm invested in his phone and Oliver playing with his dinosaurs. It's been a long morning already with Oliver not wanting to listen; making us run a little behind schedule and Malcolm's just in a grumpy pre-teen mood. Hopefully, the boys will be better after soccer and not be worse. Looking at them both, I realized how much they both look like Ezra when he was at their ages.
"So, you guys have everything?" I asked.
"Yeah mom. I made our lunches and put our gear in the car last night." He said and I realized making their lunches never crossed my mind.
"Ollie, you need to listen to the coach and Malcolm today. I do not want to get a phone call about you not listening, and I will see you two after practice." I said.
"Okay mama." Oliver said.
"I love you both and have fun. Also, don't get hurt." I told them.
"No promises, but we'll be fine. Don't worry about us mom." Malcolm responded.
"Honey, I'm your mom. I worry about you two twenty four seven." I said.
The boys rushed out of the car, running towards the field where their team was waiting. Oliver really hadn't been interested in even trying out for soccer until we mentioned Malcolm was on the team as well, then Rosie wanted to be on it because Oliver was. Watching the boys, I realized how much they look like each other. Damn Ezra has some really good genes. I quickly put the car in drive and drove off, towards Ezra's house. Luckily for me, Sabrina told me that Ezra took today off, so this won't turn into a whole thing in front of the town. But there's so many things I want to say…. But how am I supposed to say it?
"I just want to be with you." I practiced out loud.
"That sounds way too cliché." I said.
"You and me, no one else stands a chance." I tried again.
"God, that sounds worse." I muttered
"For the past six years, no one stood a chance against you… or even against us. We both know how this ends; you and me together until we die."
God, it keeps getting worse and worse with each new line! Why is it so hard to figure out what I'm going to say to Ezra? It's not like it's one sided here; he still loves me too and wants us. All of a sudden, I realized that I was already turning onto the street and pulled up in front of the house. I quickly killed the engine, removed my sunglasses and looked into the rearview mirror then down at my navy drawstring floral blouse. God, I've never been this nervous to see Ezra before. Not even when I visited him after he got shot.
"Come on, it's not that hard." I told myself.
"Just get out of the car, walk to the house, knock then tell Ezra how you feel." I demanded myself.
Taking a deep breath, I quickly got out of my car and quietly shut the door. As I walked up the sidewalk to the porch, my brain racked around to recall what I was going to say… wait do I even know what I'm planning on saying? Memories from when we first bought the house up until the last time I walked out the door to start another year in New York fought with my memory. What if Ezra isn't even home? God, I'm being ridiculous, I can hear the baseball game playing in the living room. Stepping onto the porch, I stared at the door.
"Come on Aria, knock!" I muttered.
Raising my hand to knock, I quickly dropped it to my side and walked back to my car. Maybe tomorrow will be a better time to tell him. As I reached to open my car door, I stopped. This is ridiculous, I'm a damn adult here! I graduated NYU with a four year old, had a stalker for half of my high school education. Learned my father never loved me and that I have multiple sisters from him…. One being my stalker, yet I can't tell the man I love that I want to be with him?
"Pathetic." I said to myself.
All but running back to the porch, I raised my hand again but dropped my hand again and slipped it into my back pocket before turning back around. What if he doesn't want me or even us anymore? Ugh, I need to stop thinking! He's been fighting for me… for our relationship, he wouldn't just stop and not tell me. But, what if there's already another Nicole?
"Damnit Aria, someone's going to think you're crazy." I muttered.
"Wait a minute, I've been talking to myself to who knows how long… I probably already am crazy."
Walking back towards the house, I held my breath. I won't breathe until I knock on that door…. Or faint, hopefully it won't come to the latter. Stepping back onto the porch, I stared at the door for a third time. Before I could even lift my arm to knock, the door opened and I saw Ezra standing there in his Phillies hoodie. Seeing him in the doorway, I could finally breathe again.
"Hey." Ezra said softly.
"I made a list of reasons why I shouldn't be with you and Josh. There were a few reasons not to be with you and only one reason why I shouldn't be with Josh." I said, walking past him into the house.
"Has he hurt you? Because I swear-." He started asking concerned until I cut him off.
"No, he.. he isn't you. Making these lists were useless because you are the one I want to be with Ezra. It has always been you and always will be." I said softly and he took my hands in his.
"I broke up with Josh before the trial. In my mind, I knew I wanted to be with you; but after everything we've been through, and the times you broke my heart… I was scared of you breaking my heart again." I told him
"Hurting you was something I never meant to do. We can make it work again Ar." Ezra said.
"But what if we can't? What if it turns out that we're just fooling ourselves?" I asked quietly, looking into his eyes.
"That's why I think we should see a couple's therapist. And I know we can make it work again, because I believe in us more than anything else." He said softly, brushing some hair behind my ear.
"So do I." I whispered.
All of a sudden, he gently cupped my faced and pressed his lips to mine. I rested my hands against his chest before sliding them up and wrapping my arms around his neck, not wanting this kiss to end. God, we're finally back together…. The way it was meant to be.
AN – I know this was kind of a short chapter, but I just wanted to leave this on a cute and happy note. The next chapter will pick up literally from here and let me just tell you this- it's cute, romantic, maybe even a little sexy.
