"Hey. I'm heading out." Billie told Gabe, Pete and Abby.
"Heading out where?" Gabe asked.
"With Easton. He invited me to dinner." She said.
"Lily, who is this guy? Really? Do you even know? I mean, is he trustworthy?" Abby asked.
"Yes." Billie said. She felt he was, in her gut. It wasn't an easy thing to explain but she did trust him.
Gabe rolled his eyes. Billie grabbed her purse and walked out, finding Ezra where she had left him.
+++++++++++++++++
"Where are we going?" Billie asked.
"To my home in Tucson." Ezra said. Billie felt a little nervous. They had stopped at her house so that she could grab a few things.
"Ok." She said. "I was just wondering what to bring."
"Just be comfortable." He said. She wanted to laugh. That wasn't possible. This was weird. It felt weird.
"Look. I just want to know that you're not taking me somewhere to murder me or something. This whole telling me who you really are thing is a little…"
"Odd." He said, finishing her sentence. He sat in her couch and looked as beautiful as any one human possibly could.
"Yeah." She said.
"You're right. It is. But I'm not taking you to my house to kill you. I think you know that." He said. He was right. She didn't feel scared or even the slightest bit apprehensive around him. "And I think taking you there would be better than just talking to you about it. You'll understand more when we get there." He said. Then a thought hit her. Maybe he worked for mobsters or was a drug dealer or something and that's why he had the nice cars and shoes. For show. Maybe his house was at a motel, like hers a while back. Or maybe a trailer or shack. She looked at him and wanted to let him know it wouldn't change anything. That she had escaped a life she needed to and that he could, too.
"Listen. I don't care if you have a shit house or apartment. I mean, maybe these cars and shoes are for show? Maybe you are doing things that aren't reputable? I want you to know it won't change me wanting to get to know you. It's ok. I won't see you any differently. I, I have a past and I got away. I started a new life. It wasn't easy, it still isn't. I struggle financially, I'm lonely, scared. But I did it. And you can too, you know? And I can help you." She said. His face lit up and he smiled with a laugh that sounded like butter rolling out of his mouth.
"You think I'm a drug dealer, don't you?" He asked. She looked at him, confused. He realized he was on the edge of offending her when she was trying to help him, so he stopped smiling and took her face in his hands, leaning close to her and looking deeply into her eyes.
"I am not a drug dealer. And you saying what you just did makes me want you even more. You are truly an angel. My god." He said. "And those worries you have, being afraid, alone, none of that will be there anymore. I'm going to take it all away and give you the break you deserve. You should have. A good person like you should never feel that way."
She didn't understand.
"Let me show you my life, my world. And you can decide where we go from there. If you still want to be my friend. Because I want to be yours. I'm not saying I don't need you and what you're offering, but the help I need is much different than you think." He said.
"I want to be your friend, too." She said. His eyes looked into hers. "You are the most beautiful human I have ever seen. Your eyes are like fire and the sea and honey." She said without realizing the thoughts had escaped as words. "I'm sorry." She said.
"No. Don't be. Compliments from you feel genuine." He said. "I like them."
"Because they are." She said. He smiled and backed away.
"Let's go." He said. She nodded and smiled.
"One more thing before." He said. "It's Ezra."
"What is?" Billie asked.
"My name. It's Ezra. Not Easton. Easton is a middle name. Ezra Easton Ahmed Esposito." He said with a bow as he kissed her hand.
"Oh." She said. "That explains the tattoo."
She said, blushing. "It's, it's nice to meet you formally."
He smiled and nodded and took her hand, leading her to the car.
Why did that name sound familiar? She thought, looking over at him.
He smiled and started the car, pulling out of her driveway and headed to a place that would change her life, forever.