Dakota didn't know who he was at first when she was in the elevator going up to her place. His hair was dark now. She thought he was someone new. then when he turned, she saw that look, a lonesome look, and she could hardly breathe.
Ezra now had brown hair. She hurried to get off the lift and climbed the last few stairs to her apartment. Where was her mind lately? She lived more at Nav's than she did at her place. Of course, she worked a nine-to-five shift these days. Things were cozy, and life was good, but then it hit her that not everything was perfect. He said nothing. She couldn't say a word.
"I..I don't want to be a bad person," she said later to Frankie, who saw her in the hall and asked her in for tea.
"You're not," Frankie assured her. She brought out the Earl Grey, cheese, and grapes. It felt more like a mini meal than just tea, but it took Dakota's mind off this mess with Ezra.
"I just..you know, I'm not one to break up, you know," Dakota's face tensed as she craddled the hot cup of tea with both hands, sitting on Frankie's comfy couch. "They..they break up with me, first."
Frankie let a smile slip. "Don't you think you have a right to break up, if you want to?" Frankie's eyes lit as if she knew confidence, a hidden confidence that even Dakota had. "Ezra is not a baby." She shrugged. "It's not like you are texting him to send him over the edge. He's got friends. They'll take care of him."
Dakota sighed with a nod. She knew Frankie was right. "It's just that Delia, I don't know."
"Hey, I heard from Fiona that Ezra is seeing someone. Sounds like she might be someone Delia would know." Frankie told her, sitting on the other side of the couch. She popped a grape in her mouth and went back to sip her tea.
"How do you know?" Dakota felt as if she'd been selfish in letting Ezra go so quickly.
"I guess, I don't really know, but it's winter, and she seems to be keeping Ezra company."
Frankie gave Dakota that 'Let it go' look, and Dakota knew she was right. Still, she wondered if he was all right.
"His hair is brown now," Dakota said, pondering Ezra's life now. She'd known him so well. He was a stranger now. "I wonder what that's about?"
