Page 35 of Friends That Heal Us
Ezra leans in closer. “You’re a worthless piece of shit that can’t handle the consequences of your actions, so now you’re trying to take it out on everyone else.”
Zayn takes a bigger step, and then everything moves so fast.
One minute they’re both standing face to face, and the next Ezra’s fist crashes into Zayn’s face with a loud thud, knocking him to the ground. He growls in anger, wiping the blood pouring out of his nose. He doesn’t stay down. His eyes blaze with fury,and with a wild snarl, he pushes himself up and lunges at Ezra, driving his shoulder into his chest and shoving him into the wall. Another loud thud followed by a grunt comes from Ezra. Ezra’s hands shoot up, pushing Zayn away, and he stumbles back.
I hurry and step between them with my arms out. “Stop!” I shout. I look between the both of them and then back to Zayn. “You need to leave.”
“What! He’s the one who hit me,” he says, standing back up.
“And you’re the one who cheated on me with his wife. Stop twisting all this around and leave us alone,” I yell.
Ezra steps closer, crashing my hand into his chest. I push against it to stop him from going any further.
“No one wants you here, Zayn. Leave!”
“This is my house,” he says with his fists at his sides. Blood drips from his nose onto his shirt.
“You weren’t man enough to go in on this house with your wife. So it’s not yours,” Ezra yells.
Zayn snarls as he steps in closer, his chest puffed out and eyes locked on Ezra. His movement shoves me right between them, my body caught in the middle. The heat of everyone’s anger radiates around me, suffocating me.
Ezra’s jaw clenches as his arm shoots forward. With one swift, protective motion, he plants his hand hard against Zayn’s shoulder and shoves him back, pulling me out from between them.
His breathing is ragged as he says, “I can’t believe you, Vi.”
My head jerks back and my brows knit together. “Me? I did nothing. This is all on you.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he says, stepping around us as he heads out the door.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EZRA
The door slamsbehind us with a loud thud, making my throbbing body feel even worse. How the hell did he get into the house? I changed the locks and the garage code.
“Are you okay?” I turn to her, placing my palm on her cheek, which is now wet from her tears.
She nods slightly as she stares back at the door Zayn walked out of.
“Hey, come here,” I say and pull her against me, my arms wrapping around her tightly. She buries her face in my chest and her silent sobs convulse through her.
“Did he hurt you?”
She shakes her head while sniffling.
Hearing and watching her cry tears me apart. I wish so badly I could go back in time and make her mine back then. That way, none of this would ever have happened. Zayn would never get his chance with her and never have been in the position to hurt her like this. I hate how helpless I am. I’m trying my best to be there for her, but she feels so deeply even if she tries to hide it.
Her sobs die down as she lifts her head from me and says, “I’m sorry. This is stupid. I shouldn’t even be crying.” She wipes the tears from her eyes. “I always keep it together when he’s here, but right when he leaves, it all comes out.”
“Don’t be sorry. You’re braver than you give yourself credit.”
“Yeah?” she asks, gazing up at me. The wetness in her eyes makes them sparkle even brighter. Even her tears can’t dim that light.
“Yes,” I say and kiss the top of her head. A small smile forms on her face. I release her from my hold and ask, “How did he get in if I changed the locks and garage code?”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I asked him to come pack his stuff. I don’t know why I thought he would without making a scene.”
“I can pack it up and move it out for you.”
