He still stayed. After a pause he pulled away from the wall. “I’ll start loading the other boxes in the car.”
He walked away, the sound of his heavy boots muffled by the carpet, and then I heard the front door close.
Once the drawer was empty I grabbed my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash from the shower.
In the kitchen I grabbed the tape and secured the flaps of the box. It felt symbolic somehow. Like I was taping up the wound Braden had left on my life.
I’d begun stacking the boxes by the door when Ezra ran inside. He rested his back against the closed door and his chest rose and fell as he gasped for breath.
What the hell did he do? Run up all three flights of stairs?
“Braden,” he panted, waving a hand to point out the door, “is here. He saw me.”
My eyes widened.
“Shit,” I cursed.
Not only did I never want to see him again, but I also didn’t want to deal with his bullish behavior. He’d be intolerable since he saw Ezra.
I squared my shoulders. “We haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We haven’t,” Ezra agreed. “But I wanted to beat him here to tell you so you were prepared.”
At that moment the door began to move behind Ezra’s back and he stepped away so it could swing open.
Braden’s large frame took up the whole doorway as he stared angrily at me.
I kept my chin held high, refusing to cower in his presence.
Ezra stood beside me, his hand grazing my waist like he was trying to remind me that I wasn’t alone.
Braden’s eyes flicked down to where Ezra’s hand sat, and let out a growl as he stomped forward. He raised his arms, as if he was going to physically push us away.
“I can’t fucking believe this,” he spat, glaring at me like I was a disgusting piece of scum stuck to the bottom of his shoe, “not even a day later and you’re with him. I always knew you two were fucking.”
Ezra growled, ready to barrel forward but I put a hand on his shoulder to halt him. He looked down at me and I shook my head.
This wasn’t his fight.
It was mine.
“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, Ezra is my friend. F. R. I. E. N. D. The definition being, a person attached to another by feelings of affection. Not attached by a penis and vagina, which is apparently your definition.” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “Don’t try and put your transgressions on my shoulders. I’ve been nothing but faithful to you. Now that I know you’re nothing but a cheat I completely understand your insecurity.”
He stared at me, baffled. His face began to turn red. “Insecure? I’m not insecure.”
“Of course you’re not.” I patted his chest in a placating manner.
He grabbed my wrist and something in me snapped. My right arm shot out, my closed fist connecting with his jaw.
“Oh motherfucker!” I cried, clutching my fist. “That hurts!” I fanned my hand around like that alone would remove the sting of pain.
Braden started towards me, whether to offer assistance or not I didn’t know, because Ezra stopped him from approaching me with a withering glare. “I’ve got her,” he spat at my ex-fiancé. “I think you’ve done enough, don’t you?”
He turned me into his arms and inspected my fist. The skin around my knuckles was red and throbbed painfully. “He has a hard head.” I defended my pathetic punch.
Ezra twisted my hand around looking at it closely. “You can wiggle your fingers?” He asked.
I did.
“It’s not broken and I don’t think it’s sprained either, so that’s good news.” Lowering his voice, he whispered, “He’s going to have one heck of a bruise on his face to try to explain.”
“Really?” I brightened.
The pain in my hand would be worth it to know that my asshole ex was walking around with a black eye.
He nodded and I heard the freezer open. When I looked over my shoulder I saw that Braden was getting a bag of ice for his face. I hoped his face hurt as bad as my hand. He deserved worse than that, but I’d settle for this.
Ezra let my hand drop and took a step back. “I think we should go now.”
I nodded. I was done here. There was nothing else I needed, or wanted, to say to Braden.
When I turned around fully I saw that Braden leaned against the kitchen counter, holding the ice to his cheek. He seemed resigned and I was glad that I wouldn’t have to argue with him about it anymore.
Ezra grabbed two of the last three boxes and waited by the door.
I grabbed my keys off the counter where they’d been left yesterday and took off the key to Braden’s apartment.
I swallowed thickly as I looked down at the key, remembering how happy I’d been when he’d asked me to move in. Now, my happiness seemed so silly.
I held the key out to him. “Here,” I waved it at him.
He took it with his free hand, his fingers grazing my hand. His touch had once filled my body with a pleasant warmth and now I felt nothing.
We stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, neither of us knowing what to do or say.
Finally I shrugged and said, “Well, goodbye.”
He nodded once and I knew I’d been dismissed.
Ezra stepped outside and I grabbed the last box.
The door had almost closed behind me when Braden cleared his throat and grabbed it, holding it open so he could peer outside at me.
He stared down at me from his looming height and his lips twisted. “I’m sorry,” he finally said, and I reeled back in surprise at his apology.
He eased the door closed before I could react.
I turned to Ezra, gaping like a fish. He looked just as surprised as me.
“That was interesting,” he muttered before starting down the stairs.
I nodded my head in agreement even though he couldn’t see me.
I followed him over to his car and we put the last of the boxes into the trunk.
“Thank you,” I told him yet again. Something told me I was never going to run out of reasons to thank Ezra.
He tipped his head in acknowledgement of my words.
“I’ll meet you back at the house,” I said, tossing a thumb over my shoulder to point at my white Jeep Wrangler.
“Oh, wait.” He caught my arm to stop me from leaving. He shoved his hand into the pocket of his jeans and rummaged around. His tongue stuck out adorably from the corner of his mouth. “Ah, there it is.” He held a key up.
I outstretched my palm and he placed it onto my hand.
“What’s this?” I asked, closing the fist of my uninjured hand around it.
“The key to my house.” He shrugged, shoving his fingers through his unkempt curls. “If you’re staying with me then you need to have a key.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I frowned, squinting up at him. “I really don’t want to be in your way.”
“You’re not,” he assured me, “don’t worry about it.”
That was easier said than done.
He leaned against his vehicle. “I have to make a couple of stops before I go home.”
“I need to go by the store,” I mused.
Arden was manning my store today, so it was really unnecessary for me to swing by, but I always liked to check on things. My store was my baby in many ways and I wanted to keep things running smoothly.
“I’ll see you later then.” He flashed me a smile before turning to get into his SUV.
I waved goodbye, even though he couldn’t see me, and crossed the lot to my car.
When I started the car the radio was loud enough to give me a headache. That’s normally how I loved to listen to it, but right now I craved silence so I turned it off.
I backed out of the parking space and ended up behind Ezra at the exit.
He turned right while I turned left.
My store was about fifteen minutes from the apartment; so it didn’t take me long to get there.
It was located on the walking mall with an antique store to its left and a pizza shop on the right.
I didn’t know what had possessed me to decide to open a clothing store. One day I just woke up and it felt right. So, after getting my degree I went for it. People thought I was crazy, but it worked.
Sew in Style was my baby, a complete labor of love.
It had been scary going out on a limb and starting a business at my age, but I’d done it. It also helped that my best friend was a rock star and had been willing to loan me the money to start up. Ezra had already been paid back months ago, and he never brought up his helping hand in my business. In his eyes I had done this on my own.
I parked on the side of the building and grabbed my purse as I headed in the back.
I set my bag on a working table and stepped out into the store.
Arden was one of my two employees, and she stood by a rack speaking with a woman about a green and white polka dotted dress. Arden spoke softly, her long red hair curling down her back. She was pretty, with fair skin and a smattering of freckles across her face. The day she’d walked in here asking about a job had been my saving grace. Even though the store wasn’t hers, I knew she loved it as much as I did. She’d been working here for the last year and over that time we’d become friends.
When she saw me she lifted her hand in a small wave before returning her attention to the customer.
I busied myself straightening a few racks of clothing.
The woman decided to buy the dress and Arden rang up her purchase. Once the woman left Arden turned to me with her hands on her hips.
“What are you doing here?” She asked. “Shouldn’t you be working on last minute details for your wedding.”
I flinched and held up my left hand, wiggling my fingers. “I’m not getting married.”
Her mouth fell open. She scurried forward and grabbed my hand like she thought the ring was going to magically reappear.
“What happened?” She took a step back, trying to look remorseful even though I knew she wasn’t. She, like everyone else, hadn’t hid her distaste of Braden. She’d said once that he reminded her too much of her ex-husband. She’d gotten married young, just out of high school, and then got pregnant only for her husband to bail. She’d remained strong through it all, and I admired her for that.
I turned around and began to refold some shirts on one of the tables near the front of the store.
“He cheated.” I said the words fast, like ripping off a Band-Aid.
Arden followed me, her lips downturned in sympathy. “Are you okay?”
I smoothed the wrinkles out of the shirt and stood up straight. “Yeah,” I held my head high, “I am.”
My pride had taken a major bruising, but I really was okay with all of this. It had been eye opening.
“Well, that’s good,” she said, although her tone suggested she was doubtful of my sincerity.
“This is a new beginning,” I stated.
She leaned her hip against the table. “We’ll have to get dinner soon if I can manage to get a sitter for Mia. I think we both need some girl time.”
“That would be nice,” I agreed, moving through the store.
There wasn’t anything else for me to fix. Arden was always on top of things.
“I guess I’ll head out.”
“I have everything covered,” she assured me.
“Thanks.” I flashed her a grateful smile.
She reached her arms out and hugged me briefly. “The best is yet to come,” she whispered in my ear.
I closed my eyes, hanging onto those words and praying that she was right.
IT FELT WEIRD being in Ezra’s house by myself. I knew he would want me to make myself at home, but it wasn’t my home.
I’d been here for hours and he still hadn’t come back. It was late afternoon now and I’d spent the whole day making phone calls to cancel everything associated with the wedding, as well as to let my family know. My dad and brother had both offered to castrate Braden for me. I turned down their offers, as tempting as they might be. When I told my mom, she said, “Oh thank God.” I would’ve been more hurt by her words if I hadn’t come to see what an asshole he was. Emma hadn’t said much when I told her. I got the impression that she was afraid, “I told you so,” might pass through her lips while she was trying to be supportive.
I heard the roar of a car and rolled off the couch, hurrying to the front window.
Ezra’s large SUV zoomed down the drive with Maddox’s sleek sports car behind him. I saw Emma sitting in the passenger’s seat and a smile spread across my face. She hadn’t said anything about coming over when I talked to her earlier and I hadn’t wanted to ask and sound whiny, but I really needed her right now.
I waited for them to park before opening the door and rushing outside.
Emma had barely gotten out of the car before I crashed into her arms, squeezing her tight. I’d seen her only a week ago when we got together to catch up after her being gone on tour with the guys, but it felt like so much longer.
She hugged me back just as fiercely.
“Why are you guys here?” I asked, flicking my head in the direction of Maddox and giving him a small wave.
He smiled and waved back. His brown hair fell messily over his forehead and stubble dotted his jaw. He crossed his arms and laid them on the roof of his car. “This one,” he pointed at Ezra who was walking towards us, “said something about a party.”
“A party?” My brows rose in interest.
“Yeah,” Ezra nodded. “I’m calling it the Thank-God-That-Asshole-Is-Out-Of-Your-Life party.”
Laughter burst free of my lungs and I couldn’t seem to stop. “That’s quite a long name for a party.”
He shrugged. “It seemed appropriate.”
“I hope you got alcohol.”
At my words he walked over and opened the trunk of his SUV, revealing two twelve packs of beer stacked beside my belongings.
I put a hand to my forehead and pretended to swoon. “You’re a life saver.”
“I also got cake.” He smiled proudly. “And fireworks, because what party is complete without blowing some shit up.”
“Yeeeaaah!” Maddox clapped his hands together. “Beer and fire, I like this party.” He held out his fist for Ezra and Ezra bumped his against it.
Boys.
Emma shook her head, a small smile turning up her lips. She eyed the boxes in Ezra’s car. “Do you want me to help you unpack?”
I had told Emma on the phone that I would be staying with Ezra for the foreseeable future.
“That would be great.” It would make the time go faster and we could talk.
We each grabbed a box and Ezra told me that he and Maddox would bring in the rest. I flashed both guys a grateful smile.
Emma followed me up the porch steps and into the cottage. Since Maddox and Ezra were best friends she’d been here plenty of times before.
I trudged up the steps and pushed open the door to the guestroom with a shove of my shoulder.
I set the box in my hands down on the bed and Emma did the same.
The guys were right behind us with more boxes.
Ezra lingered in the doorway, looking back at Maddox and then Emma before his eyes landed on me. “I…uh…” He scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit. “I cleared out a drawer in the bathroom for you to put your things.”
“That’s nice of you, but you didn’t need to do that. The last thing I want to do is disrupt things for you.” I felt like I kept telling him that over and over again, but I sincerely meant it. It was never my intention to swoop in and unsettle things.
“You’re not disrupting anything.” He assured me.
Emma watched our exchange with a careful eye.
“Well, thanks for the drawer then. If you’re sure?” I questioned further.
“I am.” He nodded.
He ducked out of the room then with Maddox behind him.
Emma’s lip
s twisted as she fought a smile.
“What?” I asked, knowing exactly where this was heading but refusing to be the one to initiate the conversation.
“What’s going on with you guys?” She asked, trying to hide her growing smile.
I fiddled with my keys, looking for the chain with the small pocketknife. My dad insisted I always have one with me, and he’d also stuck a can of pepper spray in my car. He took the over protective parent role very seriously.
Once I found the knife, I used it to slice open the tape on one of the boxes.
Shrugging, I began to lay the stuff on the bed. “We’re friends. We have been for years. Nothing has changed.”
She eyed me for a moment and then let out a sigh. She opened another box and started unpacking that stuff.
“You haven’t talked to him since New Year’s,” she whispered, “that hurt him.” She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, waiting for my reaction.
I set a stack of jeans on the bed before turning to the dresser and opening a drawer.
“I did what I had to do.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat, waiting for her to ridicule me for my stupid decisions.
“I know,” she replied, shocking me. “There’s something I’ve been wondering, though,” she started.
I raised a brow for her to continue when she trailed off.
“Why did you call him when you got arrested and not me? I can see why you wouldn’t want your parent’s to know, but you and I have been best friends for longer than you and Ezra.”
I hadn’t told my parent’s about getting arrested, but I had let Emma in on that detail.
I began to place the jeans in the drawer, weighing my answer. “I guess I was afraid you’d judge me.” I shifted my eyes nervously in her direction.
She reeled back, shocked by my admission. “How could you think that?”
I put the last pair of jeans away and closed the drawer.
I waved a hand at her and said, “Look at you, Emma! You have the perfect relationship with the perfect guy. You’re happy. You didn’t get with some fuck up like I did.” I opened another box, my back now turned to her.
“You think my relationship is perfect?” She snorted. “I assure you, it’s not. We have our ups and downs like everybody else.”
In Your Heart Page 4
