Chapter 45
It’s one in the morning and here I am, walking up the steps to Rya and Ezra’s house. I don’t know where else to go.
The door swings open, and Ezra rubs sleep from his eyes as he stares at me. His eyes go wide once he realizes it’s me.
He reaches for my arm. “Violet.” He pulls me against his chest, which is warm with his woodsy scent. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
My chest shakes uncontrollably as my tears wet his shirt.
“Who is it?” Rya says in the background.
Ezra turns us both slightly around. “It’s Vi.”
I peek over Ezra’s arm. As soon as Rya senses something is off, she rushes toward us. She pushes my hair away from my face. She gasps the moment our eyes lock.
“Violet. What’s going on?”
I raise my head from his chest and wipe the tears from my face. “I don’t think Zay loves me anymore.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Rya says.
“Why do you say that?” Ez asks, still holding onto my arm as if I’ll crumble to a million pieces if he lets go.
I try and speak, but my voice comes out shaky. I drop my head and breathe, trying to calm myself.
“Here, let’s go to the living room.” Ezra pulls me toward him as I follow him and Rya.
I take a seat in the middle of the couch, Ezra and Rya on each side of me.
“So, what happened?” Rya asks as she turns herself toward me and crosses her legs.
I take a big breath and say, “He went out with his friends, and I went looking for him. I had a feeling he was going to be with someone else.”
Rya scoots closer to me, eyes wide, as if this is some gossip about some other girl we know. “Was he?”
I shake my head, pulling my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around myself.
Rya’s face falls at my shake. “Then who was he with?”
“His friends from work.”
Rya places a hand on my shoulder. “Babe, then why do you keep thinking he’s cheating?”
“I’ve told you how he’s been acting and now he goes out on the weekends and doesn’t come home until the sun is up.”
“He does?” she asks in a sudden high-pitched voice, as if she’s in shock. “You never told me that.”
My brows furrow as I stare over at her, questioning her sudden shock. “I told you everything else; I didn’t think that bit mattered.”
“Well, it does.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Yeah, why?” Ezra asks with a curious look on his face.
Rya’s eyes flicker between us. “It just does. I mean, I would think you were cheating on me if you were going out all night on the weekends. So… It changes everything.” She lifts her gaze to Ezra.
Ezra shifts in his seat. “So, I’m assuming he saw you out looking for him?”
I nod, letting out a sigh.
“What did he say when he saw you?” Rya asks.
“He told me I’m crazy and I have no proof of him cheating and…” I pause for a bit, waiting for the tears to stop, because those words are still on my mind, crushing my heart. “He said he doesn’t come home because he doesn’t want to come home to me.”
Rya and Ezra gasp.
Ezra runs his hands against his jaw. “I don’t understand what the hell has gotten into him. Maybe I should go talk to him?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Rya snaps.
“Why?” Ez asks.
“Because.” She pauses, avoiding eye contact with us. “What if it makes things worse?”
Ezra’s brows knit together. “He can’t keep treating her like this.”
Rya raises her hands, leaning her back against the couch. “Okay, I warned you.”
I narrow my gaze at her. “Why would he make it worse?”
Maybe this way I’ll get more answers to my questions. What I’m doing isn’t answering anything.
She still avoids eye contact with us. “I don’t know, maybe because this is a serious thing that’s going on between the two of you and then you’re involving us. Might make him even more mad.”
“I don’t care how mad he gets. He’s acting like a piece of shit,” Ezra says.
“Well… what if it ruins your friendship?” Rya asks, narrowing her gaze at Ezra.
He raises his shoulders and slumps them down hard. “I don’t care. Vi is our best friend too. Do you not want to help your best friend?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. I didn’t?—”
I throw my hands up. “I didn’t come over to start another argument. I don’t care if you guys talk to him or not. It’s up to you guys. I’m not here to get you two involved; I just didn’t know where else to go.”
“Well, I’m going to talk to him,” Ezra states firmly.
I glance over at him and a small glimpse of hope that someone cares for me hits me.
I thought it would be Rya, but she sounds like she doesn’t want to get involved.
Which isn’t like her because of how close we are and how much we’ve always stood up for one another.
But I know she’s having her own problems, so that could be why.
I cover my mouth as a deep yawn escapes me.
More tears fall from my eyes. Not sure if they’re from me actually crying or my deep yawn.
Who knows at this point? I’m overly exhausted.
My body throbs like it’s been running a marathon for months with no breaks.
I understand more how Ashley felt when she said she got to the point of being exhausted.
It’s only been a couple of months, and I’m already wiped out.
“Let’s get some rest and then we can talk more about it when we wake up,” Ezra says, grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch. “You look exhausted.”
“I am. I feel like a zombie.”
Rya rises from her seat, takes one last look at me and says, “Get some rest, babe.”
Exhaustion washes over me, pulling me into a deep sleep.
My eyelids flutter open, the haziness of sleep still hanging on to me as I blink away the morning light. I lay here thinking back on the last… I don’t know how many hours. I’m surprised I could sleep.
The quiet sound of the morning settles around me. Confused, I sit up and look around, thinking Ezra and Rya should already be awake. I can barely sleep as it is. I’m sure it’s early in the morning. I reach for my phone, and it says it is noon.
I gasp at all the missed calls and text messages from Haley. I swing my legs down to the floor, cussing. “Fuck.”
Haley: Good morning! How are the cupcakes coming along?
Haley: Since I haven’t received any word from you, I’m hoping it’s because you’re baking away. Smile emoji.
Missed call: Haley.
Missed call: Haley.
Haley: Hey, I hope everything is alright? I haven’t heard from you and I’m getting worried.
Haley: It’s okay if you weren’t able to get the cupcakes done. I need to know so I can go buy some beforehand.
Missed call: Haley.
Missed call: Haley.
Haley: Okay, this is getting frustrating. You're someone I trusted, and you gave me your word you could get this done. If this wasn’t something you could make happen, you should have let me know. Now I’m running around town trying to find cupcakes when I should be setting up for the party.
Before I even have time to think, I’m rushing out the door, running to my car, and heading to Haley’s house.
It’s now a little past noon. Way too late to make anything.
But maybe I can help her find more cupcakes if she needs it.
I could even whip some up at her house while the kids play. If she has the essentials.
My mind is all over the place. I should’ve called her first before racing over to her house.
So, I pick up my phone but all it does is ring until it goes to voicemail. She’s mad. She’s not going to answer my phone.
“Fucking Zayn.” I curse under my breath. His bullshit is now interfering with my business. Or is it me that is letting him interfere with it? Why am I doing this to myself? I should just walk away. This is all causing me my insanity and now it’s affecting my business.
I let loose on the gas pedal as I get to Haley’s street. Cars are parked in her driveway. Pink and purple balloons, tied to her porch, swirl in the air. It’s not even one yet. Why are there so many cars? Kids don’t show up this early. Do they?
I park my car on the side of the road, run up to the door, and press the doorbell.
Shuffling sounds echo behind the door. The door swings open, and Haley appears in my sight.
She’s dressed up in a scaly dress that makes her look like a mermaid.
Her hair hangs over one of her shoulders, down her chest in a braid.
Right now, I’m focused more on my appearance than on the cupcakes. I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror since last night. Hell, I haven’t even brushed my hair or teeth, let alone washed my tear-stained face.
The moment she sees me, her wide grin falls.
“Haley, I’m so sorry,” I say. I should have thought of more to say than I’m sorry. But I’m too mentally and physically exhausted for this. I should have taken my advice yesterday and turned her down. I thought it would help keep my mind off things. All it did was make things worse.
Her arms cross. “Well, I’m glad you’re alive,” she says harshly.
I shake my head as I think of what to say next. “I don’t know what to say.” I take a step back. “I know I messed up, but something came up at the last minute and…” My words come out in a stutter.
Haley looks at me with her brows raised, as if this isn’t enough of an excuse. I’m so stressed that tears are now wanting to escape. I’m tired of crying so much. I’m tired of everything making me cry. All I do is cry now.
I let out a breath. “I really don’t know what to say. I’m here to try to make things right. I can run to the store for you and get whatever you need. If you have the essentials for cupcakes or a cake, I can bake something at your house while the kids play.”
My phone dings.
Rya: Where are you? We woke up, and you were gone?
I look back up at Haley, ignoring the text message.
“It’s fine,” she snaps. “I was able to get store-bought crappy-ass cupcakes for the party.”
I want to keep apologizing, but I’m too mentally drained for this. I should be trying to figure out my life, not worrying about a kid’s birthday party. But I know my business depends on it. Haley has been such a great customer, and she sent me so many referrals, and all I did was let her down.
“I’m not sure opening a storefront is the right move for you right now. I talked to my husband about it, and I think we’ll hold off on it,” she says.
Disappointment sits heavy on my chest. I look at her and she gives me a tight smile.
“I understand. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“Okay,” I mumble. “Have a great party. Again, I’m sorry.” I turn around and heading back to my car.
The sound of the door shutting behind me brings the same memory of the sound of the bar doors shutting behind me last night. My shoulders tense at the familiar sound.