"Good morning." Ezra said, pulling Billie into his arms. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek. It was their morning routine now, snuggles and morning sex. She had been there a couple of weeks and she had settled in extremely well. They shared a room and had spent the entire time together, talking, reading, the pool and hot tub, enjoying different foods. Her face was getting better and she was ready to get back to her life again.
"I called Paula. I'm going to start back at the diner next week." Billie said as Ezra was walking out of the shower.
"What?" He asked, seemingly taken aback.
"My face is much better. We haven't heard from Sean. I can't keep staying here. I feel badly about it. You don't need me here distracting you from you own life and job." She said, pulling on her pants. He seemed angry. Hurt even. He didn't say anything as he got dressed. She was worried he was mad at her.
He left the room and went to his office, leaving her to spend the day alone.
She hadn't heard from him for several hours. She changed her clothes and went down to the dining room for dinner. She saw nothing was set and the room was empty.
"He is waiting for you on the terrace." Emma said with a smile.
"Alright. Thank you." Billie said. He must be mad, she thought. He doesn't even want to eat dinner. She walked out onto the terrace and found it set up with candles and flowers. It was a breathtakingly romantic spread. He was standing at the end of the table, in a fitted suit that made him look like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine.
"Ezra. I thought you were so mad at me." She began. He walked over to her and smiled. He took her face into his hands.
"You never have to worry about anger with me. I needed to think, yes. But I will never show you anger." He said.
"Alright." She said softly. "What did you need to think about?" She asked.
He sat down next to her and poured them both a glass of wine.
"What you said this morning, about leaving." He said.
"Yes." She remembered.
"I didn't like it." He said.
"But you know it needs to happen, right?" She asked.
"Perhaps." He said. "But I didn't like it." He clenched his jaw and looked at her intensely. She gulped her wine.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"Don't be. You're absolutely right. You should get back to your normal life. Your job. Your friends." He said.
"Right." She said, nodding.
"But there's just one problem with all of that." He said, sitting upright and turning to her.
"What's that?" She asked.
"I'm in love with you." He said, looking directly into her eyes.
She felt the air leave her lungs and become stuck in her throat.
"You are?" She asked. She could barely get the question out of her mouth.
"I am. And now you see why you saying what you did this morning poses such an issue for me. You see, Billie, I don't think I can even imagine what it would be like to be without you after these last few weeks. I've never been happier. I look forward to each day, waking up in your arms. How we will spend our day. What stories you will tell me, what corners of your mind I will get to experience. The parts of you that are an everyday adventure. No. I don't think I can go back to the way it was. That's what I was thinking about today." He explained. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. She felt her heart much her burst with the love she was feeling for him.
"Ezra, I love you." She said softly. He smiled and put his head down. After a moment, he looked up at her, his eyes welling.
"Move in with me. Live here. That's all I'm asking. You don't have to work but if you'd like to continue to do that, of course you'll have my support. I'll have Andrew drive you there everyday even if you'd like. Live with me, Billie. I built this house knowing it would serve a purpose. And when I met you, it became so clear. I want to share it with you. Please. Move in with me." He said.
She smiled and shook her head. "I don't know. It's all so surreal. You know? It's like a movie. I don't feel it's real. How can it be?" She asked. He leaned in and kissed her.
"I am real and so is this. It's real. And I want a life with you that's real." He said.
She smiled and put her head in her hands. "Are you sure?" She asked. He let out a deep laugh.
"Of course I'm sure! I'm pouring my heart out here!" He said with an exasperated smile.
"Then yes! Yes I will move in with you." She said.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
"This is all I ever wanted. To find a home in another human being." He said.
"Me too." She said back.
"Let's eat. I'm starving. Emma, more wine! We are celebrating!" He exclaimed, raising his glass. They ate dinner and made love for hours that night. Billie walked out onto the balcony after Ezra had fallen asleep. She looked out into the desert night, filled with stars to see one falling across the giant black sky. She looked back at the insanely beautiful man, both inside and out, peacefully lost in dreams. "Too late." She whispered. "My wish already came true."