Page 85 of Show Me How to Heal
The picture of them talking, though still a little hesitant around the other group, made something inside me click. I threw my arm around Zayne’s shoulder and pulled him closer to gently place a kiss on his temple gently.
I truly belonged here. These were my friends.
“Hey!” Moritz shouted. “Are you just gonna stand there and watch us, you weirdo?”
The spell was broken. Zayne snorted a laugh before heading over to them, forcing everyone to make space.
“You know,” Mel told me, looking around our circle of friends. “I’m feeling a little left out here. Do you really don’t know any other women? Just because you all like dick, doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with titties.”
The table erupted in a fit of laughter.
“Next time I’ll stay home and send Ronny over,” Carter offered. “Little baby Jonah is too young to be left alone with a babysitter, but I know she’d love to come.”
Corbyn cocked his head. “Why didn’t you say anything? We could’ve just met at Zayne’s and Luke’s space. It’s plenty big enough for all of us — even if we decided to spend the night. We could’ve had a barbecue.”
“It’s a little too cold for that,” Zayne said, scrunching up his nose while I smiled. My little hipster-hippie had claimed all of the knitted throw blankets in the house, turning himself into a giant burrito whenever we got comfortable in front of the TV.”
“No problem,” Mason said, nodding in Adam’s direction. “We’ve got our personal chef on hand.”
Addy just shrank back, curling his shoulders as if he was trying to make himself smaller.
“That’s just mean forcing him to work on his day off,” I said, trying to get the attention focused on me, my heart hurting for Zayne’s friend. I knew only too well how hard it was to be the center of unwanted attention, no matter how well meant. “We can always have a pizza party or do something fun like cook together. My kitchen is big enough for all of us to fit.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adam exhale, utter relief flashing on his face as all eyes turned to me.
Zayne placed his hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze, a silent gesture of gratitude. I turned my head towards him, kissing him gently, getting a taste of the delicious fall inspired lip balm he’d come up with while only listening to the conversation with one ear. They started talking about recipes, how many courses such a meal should have, what dessert was a good option. I didn’t really care. Zayne’s lips were too important.
Up until someone let out a shrill screech next to my ear.
“You fuckingdareto ignore me?Me?I’m your boyfriend!”
Oh. Oh shit.
My ears started ringing as I turned my head to see a surprisingly small and lithe man standing next to me, his hands on his hips, an expression of pure rage on his face.
I didn’t need to guess who the guy was. Zayne’s furious expression matched the guys, while Adam shrank even further back on himself.
“You little bitch! Haven’t I told you I don’t like your sorry excuses for friends? And now you’re ignoring me to hang out with them?”
Sammy started growling lowly in his throat, raising from where he’d been lying under our table. The whole bar was watching the scene unfurl, equal looks of confusion and wariness on people’s faces.
I could see Chris stepping out from behind the counter, making his way over, stopping briefly at different tables to gather a few patrons. However, he didn’t need to hurry. Carter, Mason, and Corbyn getting up, hands crossed in front of them and building a wall to shield Adam from his ex, was an impressive sight already.
Which Adam’s ex seemed to realize.
“I think you wanted to say, ‘Excuse me for interrupting your party’and leave,” Corbyn told him, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger.
“What? No, I just want him to leave with me.” Marc tried catching a glimpse of Adam, but he wasn’t able to look past those three imposing men. “Baby, please, I didn’t mean it. We need to talk about this.”
Corbyn snorted in disgust, his nose scrunched up as if he were smelling something foul.
“Well, you’re shit out of luck then because I don’t think he wants to leave with you. Ever. Again. So get the fuck out of here.”
Marc opened his mouth again, but before a word could come out of it, Chris tapped him on his shoulder. “Hi, I’m the owner,” he introduced himself. “And I don’t appreciate people screaming obscenities of the top of their lungs, so I’m kindly asking you to leave right now.”
Marc sputtered, throwing one last icy stare at us before swirling around on the spot and rushing through the front door.
It still remained completely silent in The Bar, all eyes turned to us. Adam was half hidden behind Avery, his shoulders shaking, and I felt like someone had punched me right in the gut. He must feel so humiliated in front of all these people. Everyone staring at him.
