Jake wandered into the Annex and found Ezekiel right where he knew he would. The thief was going over blueprints of another museum. You’d think with all of his free time, he’d have cased every museum and stolen all the things that needed to be stolen. Jake didn’t bother to scold him about it.
“So Cassie told me something interesting,” Jake said as he wandered up to the table.
The thief didn’t even look up from the table. “What?”
“I don’t know. It’s pretty crazy.”
Ezekiel internally sighed, but knew Jake too well at this point. He met the older man’s eyes. “What did she say?”
“She told me that she told you she liked you.”
“I’m Ezekiel Jones. I’m awesome.” He rolled his eyes. “Of course she likes me.”
“I think she meant it in a different way.”
Ezekiel held Jake’s gaze for a while before dropping his eyes. “Well, I didn’t get that when she told me.”
“She said you ran out of there pretty fast. What? Ezekiel Jones get scared?”
“How many times do I have to tell you?” Ezekiel traced his finger along one hallway, committing the landmarks to memory before rolling the blueprint up. “Ezekiel Jones doesn’t get scared.”
He started towards the Back Door.
“Except he’s running,” Jake chuckled, his arms over his chest. When he watched Ezekiel slow before stopping, he couldn’t help but smirk.
Ezekiel turned around and huffed. “Look, what Cassandra said is between herself and me. I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
Jake glanced down at the ground, adjusting his stance, as he said, “Well, she told me so that I could talk to you. Since it seems you refuse to talk to her.”
“Oh, you’re the messenger now?”
Jake scowled at Ezekiel’s cynical tone. “Jones, from what I understand, Cassie really likes ya. Only God knows why. But I figured you felt the same way.”
Ezekiel refused to drop eye contact this time. Jake wasn’t going to win. “Fine, you want the story?” He shifts his weight onto his other leg. “I told Cassandra that I’m not really looking for another mistake.”
“And I’m not saying that being with Cassandra would be a mistake. I’m saying that I know I’d end up getting my heart broken. It’s already going to kill when she… and we’re only friends. What happens when it becomes more? I’ve invested my feelings before and it just hurts trying to fix everything afterwards.”
“So what? You’re just never going to date anyone ever?”
“Flirting is better than dating. No one gets attached and I don’t get hurt.”
“Except you’re already attached and you’re only hurting yourself and Cassie by not being with each other.”
“I’m fine with being friends.”
“She bares her soul to you and you just want to be friends? Cassie’s not going to be with anyone else. God and Cassie know how long she’s got and she doesn’t spend her time with anyone but us.”
“So what? Date her out of pity?”
“Not pity. Because you both want to.”
“Not if it ends in heartache.”
Jake stormed around the table. “Jones, listen to me. Love ain’t easy.”
“I thought it was family.”
“Life ain’t easy. There are risks you take. You’re a risk taker.”
“About things that aren’t going to hurt me!”
“YOU COULD END UP IN JAIL!” Jake exclaimed.
“That’s not going to hurt, because I never get caught,” Ezekiel snorted. “Look, I like Cassandra, fine. But I refuse to be hurt if I can avoid it.”
Jake shook his head in dismay. “Well, she wants you to know that she’ll wait as long as you need her to.”
“You think I’d lie about Cassie? Not to her. And frankly, not to you either.”
Jake’s stare was too intense. Ezekiel needed to get out of there. It was almost as bad as when Cassandra had said those words to him. He backed up while simultaneously setting the Back Door. Then he disappeared through it and Jake could only sigh.
“Thanks for trying,” Cassandra said, entering the Annex.
Jake looked over his shoulder at her. “He’ll come around.”
She shrugged. “It’s all I have to give.”
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