Page 41 of Friends That Heal Us
People can only endure so much before they become numb to other people’s actions.
I remember all the nights I stayed up worrying about my marriage and my friendship. I always questioned whether it was me. Both Rya and Zayn would blow me off when I questioned it. Zayn blew me off with not only our friendship but even when I went to him questioning my marriage. Soon enough, I stopped going to them and sat back and watched everything play out. Maybe if I had left Rya, this wouldn’t have happened. Violet wouldn’t be hurting like this.
But then would I have gotten a chance with her? I’m an ass to think like that because all I want is for her to be happy. But I want to be the one to give her that happiness. I need to figure things out with her and see if what Rya said is true because it’s hard to believe what comes out of her mouth. I’ve bitten my tongue long enough. I tried asking her before Rya had to make her unwelcome appearance. I haven’t wanted to make things more confusing for Vi, so I’ve held off. But I need to know. It’s not a want at this point; it’s a need, and if she needs me to step back, I will.
Once I reach Violet’s room, I see the bathroom door closed. I lightly knock. “Vi,” I say softly.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?” I hear water swishing around.
“Yeah.”
I twist the knob and walk in. The smell of vanilla swirls in the air. I catch sight of her rosy cheeks raised high, smiling at me.
“What?” I ask. I’m glad she’s smiling; it’s a change from the tears.
“I was so angry I put myself in the bath, and now I feel better.”
I chuckle as I slide down to the floor, leaning my back against the wall.
“Your mom was right. Bathing when you’re mad or sad helps a lot.”
I chuckle again, then smile and nod my head. “I’m glad it helps you.”
“When was the last time you took a bath?” she asks, while moving bubbles around with her hands so they’re not so close to her chin.
I shrug my shoulders. “Not since I was a kid.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Really?”
I nod, bringing my legs up to my chest and resting my arms on my knees.
“I thought this would be like…your thing or something?”
My lips turn downward. “The older I got, the less I thought of a bath.”
“Being with Rya seems like you would take a lot of baths.”
We burst into laughter, and the sound echoes through the bathroom.
I shift my gaze away from her, trying to build up the courage to ask her again.
“What’s wrong?”
In all the time Rya and I lived together, she never noticed when something was wrong. Yet in this short time, Vi can see it and sense it. Somehow it makes me feel seen in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. Or maybe ever.
I clear my throat. “When Rya said you confessed your feelings to her about liking me during our senior year…” I pause, my eyes locked on hers. She looks at me with a soft expression, as if she has been waiting for this moment. “Is that true?”
She nods. “Yes.”
I stare at her for a moment. My brain is still processing thatshe liked me.The words echo in my head. My chest tightens from the confusion of all my other questions.
“So you never knew?”
Her question pulls me out of my scattered thoughts back to the present and I shake my head. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
The bubbles move up from her shrugging her shoulders. “I thought you might not have felt the same way since we’re best friends and have known each other pretty much our whole lives.”
