Page 17 of Friends That Heal Us
“That sucks because you know who I miss?” I ask in my normal tone of voice.
He lifts his head with some excitement in his eyes.
“Myself,” I say and walk up the stairs out of his sight.
As soon as I walk into my room, I shut the door behind me and wait to hear his next moves to make sure he doesn’t follow me up. My chest rises and falls with shallow breathing. Anger still simmers within me.
I lean against the door and listen for him, but his steps become distant until I hear the door shut.
I walk into the bathroom to splash water on my face to help calm myself down. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, like I did this morning. How in a matter of hours did my eyes go from bright to dull? It’s Zayn. I know it is. His presence wears me down to nothing. This morning I had energy. Energy that I haven’t had in months. All of it is gone in just minutes of me being around him. I drop to the floor—my back against the door and my knees pulled up to my chest—and tears begin to flow.
CHAPTER NINE
EZRA
I couldn’t waitto close up my shop today. All day I’ve been counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds. Probably not a good thing for being a business owner. But all I’ve wanted all day was to see her. To be in her presence. So here I am, all showered and cleaned up, heading to her house. My body jitters like I’m going on a first date. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way.
As soon as I pull up to her house, nerves dance around my stomach. I walk through her open garage and head inside. The smell of sweetness hits my nostrils, but I halt in my steps as soon as I see the kitchen. Dirty dishes and flour are all over the counters. Usually by this time of day she’s done baking, and all cleaned up. I stand here listening to the silence in the house until I hear sniffling sounds.
I walk closer to the stairway, and the sniffling increases. She’s crying?
I follow the sounds up to her bathroom. I try to open the door, but it doesn’t budge. Something is in the way. Her cryingstops once she realizes someone is here, and I realize it’s her sitting against the door.
She slowly opens the door. Her rosy cheeks are wet from her tears. My eyes widen as I step closer to her and wrap her in my arms, not saying a word. I know she’s tired of hearing people say this and that, and their actions never follow through. I know all she needs right now is someone to prove to her that she’s loved. She shakes in my arms, and I kiss the top of her head. Her arms squeeze me tighter.
My eyes catch sight of the bathtub. I release her, walk to the tub, and turn the water on.
“What are you doing?” she asks with a broken voice.
“I’m running you a bath.”
“Why?”
I glance over at her. “Because you need it.”
Her mouth parts. “Do I stink?”
A small chuckle comes out. “No. You could never stink to me. But a warm bath will help you feel better.”
Once the water is at a decent temperature, I step away and let the water fill the tub. “I’ll be in here,” I say, shutting the door behind me and taking a seat on her bed.
A few minutes later, I hear the swish of the water from her getting in.
“Ezra.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to come in?”
My heart thumps against my chest. “In the bathtub?”
She giggles. “No. In the bathroom.”
“But won’t I see you?” My voice trails off. “You know. Naked?”
She giggles once more. “I put bubbles in. You won’t see anything.”
I step back into the bathroom hesitantly until I notice white bubbles surrounding her, covering her to her neck.
