Page 7 of You Need to Beg

“You’re Ezra Johnson,” Emma gushed and he grimaced. He glanced at me, his expression filled with disappointment. I frowned as he began to back away.

“I am,” he said almost regretfully, “and I really have to be going.” As he reached the end of the aisle, my heart tugged.Go with him,a voice said in my head. I silenced it swiftly.

"Do you really have to go?” Emma said quickly, "We could get you a coffee or a tea, we have some special edition books that you might want to-,"

"No, really," he insisted before turning to me, “thank you for your help today. You were amazing,” he said. He smiled at me and turned away, but not before I caught something raw in his eyes. I've tried and failed to find the right words to describe that look. The best word I've come up with so far is...yearning—a yearning look.

“Oh my god!” Emma said, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turned to look at her. She knew. Of course, she knew. It was written all over my face. I HAD SEX EMMA; I HAD SEX IN YOUR PARENT’S STORE WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER.

“I know,” I winced, “I’m sorry, I-I just got carried away.”

“You should be sorry. How could you not tell me theEzra Johnsonwas in the store,” she proclaimed, “You should have called me right away!”

“Umm,” I looked back at her with a frown.

Her eyebrows creased as she regarded me. “No,” she said, shaking her head, “No, Ken, I know you live your life in the clouds butreally? Ezra Johnson? Ezra Johnson? There’s no way you don’t know who Ezra Johnson is?”

I looked back at her confounded. “I don’t,” I said quietly. I could still feel the echo of his penis in my vagina, the bruise of his kiss on my lips, but I had no idea who Ezra Johnson was.

“He’s the founder of Treet. The man who’s going to save the planet, Britain’s shinning jewel? The richest man in the UK, one of the richest in the world! He was the youngest billionaire before Kylie came and stole that title. Oh let me guess, you don't know who the Kardashians are either?" she said, throwing me a telling look.

I did know of them, but I didn't answer her. Instead, I sauntered out of the aisle and made my way towards the frosted bay windows that opened up to the streets.

“I really wish you would have said he was in the store," Emma rambled behind me, "I could have so pitched my beauty app idea. Had I been just alittlebit prepared."

I looked out through the window and caught sight of his back. As if he knew, he turned back briefly and smiled at the shop.

Fuck.