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It had been a week since Ana's dinner with the brothers and Mark, and her chat with Angel. Currently, she was sitting in the local diner having breakfast and catching up with EZ, who was now officially prospecting for the club.
"So… you're actually a Mayan now…" Ana said, not being able to take her eyes off his prospect cut as he cut into his bacon, trying to stop herself from laughing at his impatience to eat.
"Well I'm not yet, not for a year. And that's if I even last that long Ana," EZ said as he stuffed a piece of bacon into his mouth, savouring the taste after having to eat prison food for 8 years.
"Please EZ you excel in everything, of course you're gonna make it…" Ana said softly, truly trying to hide her disapproval but failing miserably.
Noticing her attitude change, EZ put down his fork to place his hand over Ana's, which were currently cupping her coffee.
"Ana, you need to stop worrying. I get it, but I'm gonna be fine and I got Angel with me. Come on you know he's gonna have my back," EZ said, trying his best to hide that something was indeed off about him joining the Mayans. He needed to keep this deal to himself for as long as possible, especially considering Ana might just kill Mark if she ever found out he had a part to play in it.
"Yeah that's comforting. That boy is a loose cannon! I swear I lost count of how many times I had to stitch him up just in his whole first year of him prospecting alone!" Ana bit back, remembering when it was Angel who was prospecting for the MC. He let his temper get the best of him more than once and often showed up on Ana's doorstep well into the night looking for her help.
Chuckling, EZ wasn't surprised that Ana was dragged into Angel's mess while he was gone. In fact, he was pretty happy they managed to stay close. He'd never tell Ana but he always thought one day she'd wake up and realise her and Angel were a perfect fit.
"Well hey at least you'll be fully equipped to patch me up then right?" EZ teased, earning a hard glare from Ana.
"Ezekiel, I swear to god…" Ana began before noticing the waitress coming over with her waffles drenched in chocolate. Switching from livid to ecstatic, Ana wasted no time cutting into her food. EZ couldn't help but laugh, Ana had always been a sweet tooth and two bites in she already had chocolate on the corners of her mouth like a child.
"You know it's nice to know some things never change," EZ said.
"What do you mean?" Ana asked, not looking up from her plate.
"Well you're still obsessed with chocolate I see."
"Well I have taste, don't I?" Ana said sarcastically before returning a laugh to EZ. She missed this so much in the last 8 years. Just hanging out with EZ talking about nothing and everything, as if they had no problems. While that last part may no longer be true, it still felt like old times. It was something she wasn't ready to give up just yet.
Staring out the window, Ana was met with another reminder of their old life – especially for EZ. Standing right across the road, hopping out of a black range rover was Emily Thomas – or was it Emily Galindo now? EZ's first love.
Following her gaze, EZ looked out the window to catch his first sight of Emily in 8 years. She took his breath away. Turning back to EZ, Ana realised he noticed Emily as well and figured it was probably finally time to talk about the one thing she was avoiding with him.
"You haven't spoken to her at all since have you?" Ana asked as EZ continued to just watch Emily from afar, who was holding her baby as her security was grabbing her bags and stroller from the car. She had no clue she was being watched.
"No," EZ said before turning his head back to Ana. "Wasn't much to say," he replied shortly, rattled.
"You haven't mentioned her much… well at all actually…. I'm assuming you're no longer close?" EZ asked. In all these years Ana had skilfully avoided even the slightest hint of Emily in their conversations.
Having finished her food, Ana pushed her plate to the side before folding her arms on the table and leaning in. "No… after you two broke up Emily kind of went radio silent. I tried but she never returned my calls or texts or anything. I think she kind of wanted to close the door on any reminder of you. Think maybe she sees your dad round once in a while and says hi. But aside from that all I've heard about Emily is through town talk. Seems she went to college and came back a new woman, married to a Cartel boss and a baby soon after," Ana explained. She didn't bother mincing words as she was certain EZ already knew Emily was married with a kid. There was no point trying to hide it.
"Can't say I'm surprised. She took it hard when we I first said we should break up. I'm sorry you had to deal with that fall out," EZ said, trying to push out the feelings that came back up now that he had seen Emily again.
Ana simply shrugged, "Don't be sorry EZ. It's not on you. People change, it is what it is."
"Yeah… well speaking of change. What's going on with this move?" EZ asked, worried Ana may have decided to leave. He'd never ask her to stay but he can't pretend he wouldn't be thrilled if she did.
"Ugh, don't remind me please. It's all Mark and Angel want to fricking talk to me about."
"Angel? You saw Angel?" EZ asked, surprised they'd seen each other since that less than fun dinner last week.
"Yes actually." Ana said with her eyebrows raised, "He came by the bar with Coco and Gilly the night after dinner and ended up apologising."
Dumbfounded, EZ didn't know what to say. "Angel? Apologising? Are you sure? Maybe it was a word that sounded like 'sorry'?" In all the years he's been alive, he's never heard Angel utter a genuine apology.
Giggling, Ana held up her hands in defence. "Hey it caught me by surprise too, but every now and again your brother chills out enough to be nice."
"Yeah to you," EZ practically laughed out. "He's been practically fawning over you for the past 10 years," EZ said without thinking. While he always suspected Ana knew about Angel's feelings for her, they'd never actually discussed it.
Rolling her eyes, Ana simply chose to deny, deny, deny. "Oh, come on EZ not you too. Angel doesn't have feelings for me okay? He just likes to rile me up."
"Oh for crying out loud Ana. Why are you in such denial about it?" EZ responded, his outburst surprising both of them. He finally had enough of tiptoeing around the topic with the both of them.
"My brother has been into you for years okay? And it only got stronger once I went inside and you became the one to watch out for him. Why do you think he's as upset as he is about you leaving?" EZ explained, truly confused as to how Ana could be so oblivious.
"If this is true then why has he never said anything? Your brother has never had trouble talking to women." Ana said. If she was being honest, she could understand where EZ had this idea. But the thing that always made her feel like she never had to worry about Angel's feelings was the fact he never actually made a move on her. The man was confident and if he wanted a woman he'd let it be known and he never had with her. So, she always thought nothing of it.
"Because you never take him seriously, come on Ana he flirts with you any chance he gets, he hates your boyfriend and he is determined to make sure you don't move. What more do you need?"
"He hates Mark because he's a lawyer," Ana said.
"Yeah a lawyer who you're in love with."
Chuckling, EZ couldn't help but continue to look at Ana as if she was a complete idiot as she continued to look at him wide-eyed. It was as if she already knew all this but just didn't want to admit it. Hell she probably did, EZ thought. "I'm sorry but I'm just stating facts okay? Look I'm not saying this to try to hook you two up or anything. I'm just sick of skirting around it because I feel like it's pretty fucking obvious and at least now you know why Angel is acting like an idiot." EZ said matter-of-factly.
Sitting back in her seat with her arms folded like a child who'd just gotten in trouble, Ana looked back at EZ with an annoyed look. "Why'd you have to tell me that EZ?" She simply whined back. She wasn't sure where that left her now, but Ana wasn't ready to deal with it anytime soon.
Author's note – And that's chapter 5! I've actually got chapter 6 in the works and that'll be coming REALLY soon. It's a flashback!
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