"Hey there." Ezra said, sitting next to her on the bed.
"Hey." Billie said, looking up at him. Seeing her face made his stomach turn and his heart feel like a knife was being stabbed directly into it.
"Thank you for the room. All the flowers. The effort. It is so beautiful." Billie said, sitting up.
"I wanted you to feel comfortable." He said.
"I don't know how to thank you. I mean, you barely know me and went to save me. I should have told you where I was going. I was just so scared." She began.
"Stop." He interrupted. "There is absolutely no need to apologize to me. Or explain yourself. And I wasn't going to sit here and not go and find you. You are all I think about since the first night I met you. And no one, no one deserves to be attacked like that." He said. "I was happy to be there. And I feel so guilty about leaving you alone so he could hurt you." He put his head down. She gently touched his face and turned his gaze toward her.
"Don't you dare feel guilty. It wasn't your fault." She said. He nodded, but she knew he didn't believe her. He blamed himself.
"I think I am feeling well enough to go home now. It's been two days. I have taken up your room and enough of your time." She said.
"No. No way. You are not going back home. I won't even hear of it. You are staying here. I've stocked the closet and bathroom with anything you could possibly need. I am sending Andrew in the morning to gather your belongings from the house. You are here now, where I know you will be safe. Paul is going to stay for a few weeks and I've hired extra security." He said, standing up and walking to the door.
"Wait. But I…" she began to protest.
"No. I won't hear of it. That's final." He said as he walked out.
She sighed and laid back onto the bed.
"One more thing." He said as he peeled his head back in. "Dinner is ready. You need to eat. Come downstairs when you're ready."
She smiled and nodded. This was her life for a little while, better get used to it. She thought, shaking her head.
She got up slowly and walked to the bathroom. She turned on the light and looked in the mirror. She gasped as she looked at her reflection. "Oh my god." She said, running her hand along the swollen bumps and bruises. She felt her heart sink into her stomach. She felt ashamed and angry. She couldn't go to dinner like this. She looked around and saw a large, glittery bag filled with various types of new, unopened makeup. She pulled out some concealer and slowly began trying to cover up what she could, while fighting back sobs.
A knock on the door startled her. "Billie." It was Ezra.
"I'll be just a moment." She said.
He opened the door and walked in. She tried to hide her face from him. He saw what she was doing. Without a word, he walked to her, turning her to face him. He picked up the concealer and sponge and began helping put it on over her bruises. He gently blotted and applied it, tears filling his eyes. She looked at him as he continued, and when he was finished, he put it away and kissed her forehead.
She began to speak but no words came. This man, this beautiful man was showing a care for her that was like nothing she had ever imagined possible.
He left her to finish getting dressed and she knew then, right then, that she was madly and irrevocably in love with him.