“So, Tim from sociology caught me on the way out of class,” he started, and my first reaction was to worry.
Most people had been supportive and sympathetic toward Ezra, but I kept waiting for that one asshole to come out of the woodwork. Because there’s always an asshole in the woodwork.
“What did he say?”
“Offered me a spot with his frat,” he replied. When I stiffened he continued, “I guess they don’t do any sketchy shit there. He said they knew about the things happening in Pi Kappa Epsilon, but they didn’t have enough proof to stop them. He thanked me.”
“You’re a hero,” I said with admiration. “Of course they would want you. They’d be crazy not to.”
He grunted. “But I still told him no.”
“Why?” I wiggled in his hold until I was facing him.
“Greek life isn’t for me. Besides, I kinda love the idea of having more time with you.”
“I love that, too,” I responded, lightly dusting my fingers over his stubble.
“You have glitter in your hair.” He smirked, flicking a flyaway curl.
I frowned. “It’s going to take me forever to scrub this stuff off in the shower.”
“You want some help?”
My lips tipped up in a naughty grin. “You know the answer to that.”
Two and a half months later
“It’s f—fucking freezing.” Kayla’s teeth clacked together as she shivered against me.
I held her tighter, trying to offer any body heat I could. Huddled together in one sleeping bag, I wouldn’t have thought it’d be so cold, but she was right. It was fucking freezing.
The cardboard box we were in—just big enough for the two of us—was supposed to help protect against the chilly wind, but shit. The thin barrier couldn’t change the fact that it was below thirty-five degrees outside.
When Kayla had asked me if I wanted to participate in the fundraiser for Shauna’s place, I said yes, no questions asked. Of course, at the time I didn’t realize we’d be spending the night before Thanksgiving on the streets.
Not that I would’ve said no—anything for Kayla. And this was important to her.
Wanting to help in any way I could, I’d started asking around on campus to see if anyone was interested in participating. Turned out, a few of the fraternities and sororities were big on philanthropy. Many signed up for the overnight, and those who couldn’t still sponsored their friends.
Shauna and the shelter staff were ecstatic. It was the best turnout they’d ever had.
Now, cardboard boxes and tents lined the streets of downtown Cleveland. Cars honked their horns in a display of support as they passed by, some stopping to donate money or offer hot beverages and food.
If only it was like this for the homeless who spent every day and night out here. But that was the whole point of this event. To raise awareness so the homeless would be less invisible.
Kayla gave a full-body shudder, so I tried to distract her with humor. “I guess it would be a bad time to crack a joke about Jack and Rose from Titanic?”
She’d finally gotten me to watch the whole movie, but I had to say the ending sucked ass.
Huddling closer, Kayla huffed out a laugh. “Y—yes. Bad time.”
“What if I told you I finally decided on a major?”
“Really?” She perked up. “Tell me.”
“I think I want to go into social work. There’s not a lot of money in it, but I think it could be rewarding.” Silence. “Kayla? Did you hear me?”
“Are you doing that because of me?” she asked quietly.
I shrugged. Or, I tried to. It was kind of hard bundled up in so many layers.
“You’re a big part of it. You’ve opened my eyes to a lot of things I never saw before. You’re the only person I’d freeze my ass off for.” I attempted to end my joke with a laugh but ended up coughing instead.
“You don’t have to be here, Ezra.” Kayla looked up at me, concerned. “You can go home where it’s warm. After what you went through with the frat, I don’t want you to feel pressure to—”
I cut her off with a swift kiss. “I was kidding. And no way. We’re in this together.”
“But your leg—”
“Will hurt like a bitch tomorrow,” I filled in with a chuckle. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be tonight.”
“I can’t believe Melanie did this for years,” Kayla said sadly. “So many people live like this every day.”
Making a sound of agreement, I held her tighter and stroked her hair with my numb fingers.
The gorgeous person in my arms had no idea how much she’d changed me for the better. I wasn’t kidding when I said she’d opened my eyes.
I’d always thought of myself as an outcast, but over the past couple months I realized something.
This world is full of outcasts.
And maybe we’d all be okay if we stuck together, if we helped each other. Society would be a better place if we replaced judgment and criticism with compassion and action. As Shauna had said, kindness and generosity were better combined.
Eventually Kayla fell asleep, and I was relieved that she’d get to snooze through some of this. In a few short hours, we’d be back inside, warm and full of good food.
But sleep didn’t find me.
I was too busy thinking about the fate of Max, Cameron, and Aaron. Out of all the offenders, they were getting the harshest punishments.
Aaron was able to avoid jail time by pleading guilty for a lesser charge. Still, his plea bargain was good justice. In addition to getting kicked out of the university, Aaron had to pay a hefty sum to cover the damage he’d caused to Pierre, and he ended up with a lot of hours of community service.
Max and Cameron were still awaiting trial for their dirty deeds, which had made national news, and it seemed like the accusations were amounting faster than anyone could keep up with. The latest buzz had been that the judge assigned to the case had a family friend with a daughter who’d gone through a hazing ordeal, so chances were, she wouldn’t be going easy on their sentences.
I didn’t feel bad for them.
It could be a while before all the facts were sorted out, but one thing was for sure—Pi Kappa Epsilon at McAdams was done. Several other members involved in hazing had been expelled, but many were victims themselves. Now it was just a matter of picking up the pieces and trying to move on.
Sighing, Kayla shifted. She wiggled and snuggled closer, but she didn’t wake up. Slipping her hand into my coat, she sought out my warmth.
I tensed, because her fingers were dangerously close to the small box in my left interior pocket. The box that held the symbol of our future together.
I wasn’t going to ask Kayla to marry me yet, and I had zero plan of execution. All I knew was that I wanted it to start with me asking the question and end with her saying yes.
As I thought about the best time and place, I decided on the forest preserve where we’d had our first date. We could do the kayaking event next summer in July, and I could take her to our tower where I would drop to one knee. We’d probably be sweaty, tired, and smelly from river water, but Kayla would still be beautiful as ever and it would be the perfect end to a perfect day.
My lids grew heavy as I drifted off to that happy scenario.
Sometime later, I woke to Kayla lifting her head and stretching her arm. “It’s morning,” she breathed out, relieved. “I need a hot shower.”
Rays of early morning sun shot through the open end of the cardboard box, throwing light on the dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was messier than I’d ever seen it, and her nose was red from the cold.
And my perfect plan went out the window.
Right then, I knew I didn’t want to spend any more time waiting or holding back. We’d wasted too many years doing that.
Now, six months from now, or five years down the road—my feelings for Kayla would only grow deeper.
We were young, and it was crazy, and it was
probably too soon… But seriously, fuck all that.
Reaching into my coat, all apprehension vanished as I pulled out the box and hid it in my closed hand.
“Kayla, I love you.” I pressed a kiss to her temple.
She gave me a sleepy smile. “I love you, too.”
“And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I opened the box, and her jaw dropped. Despite the freezing temperatures, I could feel heat bursting over my cheeks. “Will you marry me?”
Lifting her hand, she trailed a frozen finger over my blushing face and smiled so wide I thought her chapped lips might crack.
Then those lips landed on mine and her warm breath ghosted over my mouth as she whispered, “Yes.”
Almost two years later…
I skimmed my fingertips over the white lace of my sweetheart neckline before running my hands down the fitted bodice to where the floor-length dress flared out at my hips. My hand went up to my hair, lightly feeling all the carefully placed curls that had been swept away from my face and secured on top of my head.
Then my eyes fell to the solitaire diamond on my left ring finger, and I remembered how Ezra had told me he wanted to propose at the forest preserve where we had our first date.
I loved the fact that he couldn’t wait. As far as I was concerned, anytime he asked me to marry him would’ve been the perfect time.
Instead, we made the perfect compromise and decided to get married here.
Today we would make it official in front of the white tower where we first declared our love for each other.
In a few weeks, we’d be starting our junior year at McAdams and moving into family housing for married students. While I would miss Ezra’s apartment, I was looking forward to having a little more space. Babies weren’t in our plans anytime soon, but someday we’d have curly-headed little ones.
A warm summer breeze blew, rustling the heavy white canvas material of the bridal tent, then I heard a deep voice right outside the front flap.
“Knock knock.”
It was Gavin, my man of honor.
“Come in.” Smiling, I went back to admiring myself.
Gavin appeared, looking dapper in his checkered bowtie, suspenders, and crisp white button-up shirt. Because of the heat, we’d decided to go lighter on the guys’ attire. Of course, Pinterest was to blame for the vintage-casual theme, but Ezra had said he didn’t care what he wore as long as he got to be my husband.
“Thirty minutes until the ceremony,” Gavin announced, fulfilling his man of honor duties.
“Are there a lot of people here?” I asked, not so much nervous for myself, but for Ezra.
With everyone staring at us, my shy man was probably going to be beet-red through most of the ceremony. I’d tried to assure him that people would be watching me, not him. Plus, only twenty-five people were invited, so it was already going to be a pretty small gathering.
But that didn’t make him any less anxious.
I’d decided we didn’t need to make a big fuss for the reception. Earlier this morning, we’d already gotten pictures out of the way. There would be no first dance where everyone ogled us. No special cutting of the cake.
My mouth watered, thinking of the two-tier white buttercream cake with chocolate frosting on the inside. On top, there were two large candy rocks covered in edible silver glitter, one with a bowtie and the other with a veil.
I’d only nibbled at a piece of toast for breakfast and now that we were nearing lunch time, I was damn near starving. My stomach rumbled with a mixture of hunger and butterflies. Maybe I was more nervous than I thought.
“Nah,” Gavin replied. “Except for the wedding party and family, it’s just Rocky, Paul, and Shauna.”
A grin spread over my face, because all my loved ones were here.
Over the past couple of years, I’d stayed on at Rocky’s, sticking with the place through the short-staffed times, and Paul turned out to be a model employee. He still lived in the apartment upstairs and after a few months at the restaurant, he started waiting tables. Sometimes for customers’ birthdays, he broke out that yo-yo and it was a huge hit with the kids.
To say Shauna and I had become close was an understatement. She was the mother I never had, and I made trips to Cleveland to visit her whenever I was home on break. She was the one who helped me pick out my wedding dress. John had wanted to do it, but he couldn’t seem to keep himself from becoming a blubbering mess every time we browsed gowns on Pinterest.
Walking down the aisle with him was going to be interesting.
Rob seemed to have a better handle on his emotions at the thought of giving away his baby girl, and that was a good thing since he would be the one performing the ceremony.
“I have to say, it’s too bad Jimmy is married.” Gavin sighed. “He’s a fine piece of man candy.”
I laughed. “Even if he wasn’t, I’m pretty sure he’s a hundred percent straight.”
“What about the other groomsman?” he asked, referring to Jeff.
Ezra’s friendship with Jeff was one of the few positive things to come from what happened with the fraternity. And surprisingly, Ashlyn and Jeff hit it off. Double dates with them were a common occurrence, and even though Ashlyn and I weren’t roommates anymore, we hung out all the time.
“Sorry, Jeff is taken, too. Haven’t you noticed how close he is with my bridesmaid?”
“Damn. I thought he was just a touchy-feely kind of guy.”
“Nope. They’re pretty serious. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pops the question soon.” At Gavin’s silence, I stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm. “Hey. You’ll find your guy someday.”
He nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. While college had allowed him to finally be open about his sexuality, dating was a whole different ball game. He was looking for commitment, but the guys he’d met seemed to be more interested in playing the field.
“Baby?” I heard Ezra’s voice before he slipped inside.
God, he was so handsome. Suspenders were a good look for him. Per my request, he always left his hair a little longer on top so his curls could show. His cheeks were rosy, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the summer heat or from excitement. Broad shoulders gave way to a tapered waist and the bubble butt I loved so much.
He’d continued his mission to be physically fit, but not just for looks. He wanted to be the strongest, healthiest version of himself.
And he was. If he unbuttoned his shirt, I knew I’d see defined pecs and traceable abs.
While I was busy drooling, Ezra shot Gavin a smirk. “You’ll have to excuse us for a few minutes. I’d like to have some time alone with my soon-to-be-wife.”
Oh, boy.
Sexual tension crackled in the air, and Gavin let out an uncomfortable cough while slowly backing out of the tent, ducking down so he didn’t hit his head on the doorway.
Public sex was something Ezra and I had done many times, always in creative locations, but I never thought he’d want to do it with our entire family hovering several yards away.
With trembling hands, I went over to secure the ties on the open flap, but Ezra stopped me with a laugh.
“I wasn’t talking about that kind of time alone, although it’s tempting.” His eyes roamed my body as he held up his sketchbook. “Can I?”
Smiling, I bit my lip. “Of course.”
Ezra took a seat on a padded bench, and I lowered myself into the designated bride’s chair. I leaned back, hands draped over the armrests and one leg crossed over the other. Lifting my chin, I tilted my head toward the light coming through the crease in the flap to give him the best angle.
The artist and his subject. We had this down to a science now. In the past couple years, Ezra had filled several more sketchbooks with drawings of me, some of them X-rated and for his eyes only.
I squirmed a little, rubbing my thighs together as I thought about the last nude modeling session and how he’d taken me from behind against the kitchen counter afterward.
Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for all this to be over so we could just be alone.
I was the luckiest motherfucker alive.
Kayla Reynolds, the girl I thought I could never have, was going to be my wife. After today, she’d be Kayla Johnson. It was almost too surreal to comprehend.
Music started playing somewhere nearby. It was Mackenna, strumming out a simple guitar riff to get warmed up for the wedding march. She’d be singing “Love Never Fails” by Brandon Heath as Kayla walked down the aisle toward me.
Toward our life together.
I was getting a little choked up just thinking about it, so I cleared my throat and concentrated on the elegant lines of Kayla’s neck instead. Her perfectly arched eyebrows. The auburn tendril that had escaped by her ear.
Every now and then, she would lock eyes with me, and I could see a familiar heat there. Sitting still while feeling my gaze caress every part of her face—it was foreplay of the best kind.
I moved on to her collarbone because we didn’t have a lot of time left before we had to get out there.
My nephew, William, wasn’t even a year and a half old yet, so he wasn’t exactly ring bearer material. That honor was going to Pierre, my faithful servant and best friend. I still took him to class with me, even on days when I didn’t need his help. Everyone on campus knew who he was. Hell, he was more popular than any human at McAdams.
After today, he’d be spending a week with my parents so Kayla and I could go on our honeymoon. She didn’t know it yet, but I was taking her to Disney World. For someone who claimed she hated surprises, she was great at being spontaneous.
“Ten minutes!” Gavin called to us.
“Okay,” Kayla called back, unmoving from her position.
Using my finger to smudge the charcoal over her plump shiny lips, I finished the rough sketch and smiled. Even though I didn’t have time to make it flawless, it was the best thing I’d ever drawn.
OUTCAST: A Good Guys Novel Page 26