Page 89 of Friends That Heal Us
“Yeah,” they both reply at the same time.
“We even got our first apartment together,” Brianna adds.
Hearing that makes my heart sting. I always wanted to move out and live with Rya. Living with your best friends always sounds so exciting. But we never got a chance to since our lives took us in different directions. I never regretted it because I was always happy and content moving in with Zayn. Now that I look back at it, I’m glad we never lived together. Finding out how deceitful she’s been without me realizing it, who knows what else she would’ve dug her claws into.
“That sounds so fun. I wish I could move out and live with my friends,” Liv says.
“Why don’t you?” Cami asks.
“I have to pay my parents back for the semester of college they paid for and I dropped out of.”
I take another forkful of ham fried rice and think about how Brianna and Cami live together, finding it a little surprising I didn’t notice the matching addresses on the paperwork they filled out. All three of them get into a conversation about school, and it makes me happy to see them getting along.
“Did you go to college?” Brianna asks me.
“No, school was never for me. I barely completed high school.” I snort out a laugh.
All three girls’ eyes grow wide.
“Really?” Cami says.
I nod.
“This is cool to see how far you’ve come.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty proud of it myself.”
“Is this what you’ve always wanted to do?” Liv asks.
I shake my head before I answer. “No. After high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I kind of just fell into this.” I take a drink of my water and look between Cami and Brianna. “What got you two into culinary school?”
They both start howling with laughter. “We moved out together and couldn’t cook at all,” Cami says.
“Like at all,” Brianna adds, rolling her eyes. “To the point where we even burned water.” All four of us chuckle. “We started watching videos on how to cook, and then it led us to going into culinary school.”
“We had so much fun doing it together. We actually want to open up our own place,” Cami says.
“I never would have guessed. You two caught on so well,” I say.
It’s amazing what hidden talents people have, and you never know until you try. I never thought I could cook or bake. But getting married so young and not having money to go out to eat every night forced me to teach myself. Just like them, one thing led to another. I enjoyed it so much I turned it into a business.
We sit together, eating and talking among ourselves. Everything feels light and almost normal. Getting everyone together was a good idea. It’s helped keep my mind off the things that have been tugging at my heart for far too long. Laughter and conversation fill the space. I let myself sink into it all. Because behind each smile of mine, I know sooner or later I’ll have to face what I’ve been avoiding.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
EZRA
A coupleof weeks have gone by since the dinner at my parents’ house. I’m not sure if it’s what my dad said, but since that dinner, Violet has been keeping her distance from me. Even after my dad’s comment at dinner, I could tell it changed her in a way that I can’t put my finger on. I saw them talking outside after dinner while I helped my mom clean up. My mom told my dad to apologize to her for what he said because she could tell it didn’t sit right with her. I know he meant little by it, but the words he spoke are true, and maybe it was just too soon for her to hear that.
Whatever it is, I can’t push her, but for my sake I need to know what is going through her mind. My thoughts won’t stop running with my own questions. I’ve done it before, and it drove me crazy. I can’t do it again.
I think her moving out of this place will help…not only for me but for her too. I can’t see anyone going through what Violet has been through and still living in the same place that she shared with her ex. But I also need to know where she stands. I thought I could give her more time, and I want to give her more time, butI can’t hurt myself in the process. And living under the same roof she shared with Zayn is killing me. I’ve been looking at places to get an idea of what’s out there, but if Violet wants to do this with me, I would want her to look at places with me.
Violet said she changed her hours at the bakery to close at three. She hired more bakers, and I know she’s been training them in the evening, but she has still been coming home later than I thought she would. I never want to question her because it’s not my position to, but it makes me wonder if she is avoiding me. And if so, I’d rather leave and make her feel more comfortable when coming home. But also I don’t know if this place is causing her not to want to come home.
I’m about done cleaning up the kitchen when I hear the back door open and then soft footsteps.
“Hey,” I say, looking up from wiping the counter off. “Are you hungry? I made dinner.”
