“Exactly. When Zeke’s ready to open up, we’ll be there,” Ember says. “Until then, well, you have us, Avalon. You’re now one of the girls, so whatever you need us to do, we got you.”
“I just want to know if I should try to talk to him,” I mumble. “I want to respect the space he said he needed, but I don’t want him to lose himself in this sadness.”
“Sometimes people need to hit rock bottom before they realize they need help.” Maia shrugs.
“I feel like he’s already there,” I continue. “I saw Mr. Harris a couple days ago; he had something Mrs. Harris wanted me to have, and he told me he hasn’t seen Zeke either. He doesn’t even know if Zeke will attend her funeral.”
“He’ll show up,” Ember argues. “He wouldn’t miss his mom’s funeral.”
I wish I could agree. The Zeke I fell in love with would never miss his mom’s funeral, but he isn’t the same Zeke I fell in love with.
He’s a broken version of that Zeke.
“Can I use your bathroom?” I pick at the thread on my jeans, trying to conceal the need to cry.
I know exactly what Ember was talking about when she said these girls were the best. I’ve only known them for a little over a week, but I already feel a sense of security I’ve never felt with friends before.
The only person I’ve ever felt that with is Zeke.
“Yeah, it’s through that door.” Brinley points to the half-shut door behind us, and I get up, but when I try to push it open, it doesn’t budge.
“I know I’m weak, but I didn’t think I was that weak.”
“Oh,” she laughs, “sorry, I keep forgetting.”
The girls and I look at her with confusion.
“My lovely brother and Jax offered to help me move in that couch,” she points to a green loveseat on the wall across from us, “because I wanted some more seating and found it on the street. But Jax lost his balance as they moved it in, and Declan practically threw it at the door.”
“So, now the door doesn’t work?” Maia studies the door.
“Now the door doesn’t work,” she confirms. “They’re supposed to fix it, but it’s been over a week, and I keep getting locked in or out of my bathroom because it doesn’t shut properly.”
“How do I get it open?” I ask.
“Let me help you.” Brinley stands up, walks over, grabs the doorknob, and slams her body into the door repeatedly.
I can’t help but laugh.
Suddenly, I no longer needed to escape to the bathroom to cry.
Finally, it swings open.
“There you go.” She smiles.
“You’re something else, Brin.” Ember shakes with laughter. “You know that?”
“I’m curious, Brinley, why didn’t your boyfriend help you move the couch?” Tate squints at Brinley, crossing her arms.
“He had class, and I didn’t want to lose it because it was just on the side of the road,” she replies. “No other reason.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” I begin. “You and Jax dated, right? Zeke told me that never happened, but he’s wr—”
“Jaxon and I were never together.”
“I could’ve sworn you guys were,” I gasp. “When I saw the two of you at that party, it definitely looked flirty.”
“Oh, they weresoflirty,” Ember adds. “She never believed me when I told her that, but if she wasn’t Declan’s little sister, he totally would’ve gone there.”