Almost Everything

Chapter Five - Love is a Fire

Ezra and I hide in the bedroom when the boys come back from the beach. I thought it would be best to keep Jackson and Ezra away from each other. Ezra starts the conversation by apologizing to me and promising me that it will never happen again, to which I promptly snap back that I've heard this excuse a million times before.

Next, he will start with the I can't live without you, and I've made a huge mistake. All of this is lip service now. I don't believe a single word that leaves Ezra's mouth.

"I came all this way for you. Why can't you see how much I'm trying here, or how much I love you?" He pleas.

I'm sitting across the room from him with my arms crossed over my chest. Standing, I start toward him and his face lights up because he thinks I'm buying the bullshit.

"Ez, I can't do this anymore. We've both changed and it's not the same it once was. I don't trust you at all, and that's the foundation of any relationship. You say that you've changed, but you haven't changed at all. You're just doing a better job of not getting caught."

He stands and starts pacing the room. "We can try and get it back. We can see that lady you wanted, and she can help us. Avery, I love you and I will do anything to keep you with me."

I position myself in his path and touch his chest. His heart is beating fast, and I can feel it in my palm.

"I love you too and I always will, but I don't want this anymore. I'm not in love with you and I think it's time that we both end this for good. I'm tired of worrying and fighting with you every single second of my day. You gave me this wonderful life on a silver platter, and I will forever be grateful for that. Ez, you need help and I hope you get it." I look up at him concerned.

His face twists in pain and he sits down on the bed. "Avery, I didn't hand you anything. You earned that part, and you earned this life we've created. You're an amazing person and you deserve the best of everything. Don't let her or anyone else tell you differently."

"I won't. You taught me to be stronger and you took me from that ugliness. I will forever be grateful for you."

And so, for another four hours, we fight. We fight about everything and then the blame game starts. Ezra is accusing me of things and telling me if I would have changed, he wouldn't have done the things he did. Everything is just as much my fault as his in the man's eyes. I wasn't trying hard to keep us together and that's the reason he checked out. Finally, we both reach the end together.

It's painful and exhausting.

"We are better off without each other," Ezra says with his head in his hands.

"We'd only end up hating each other. Meeko is mine." I warn him.

"Avery, I'm not going to fight you for your dog. I know he's yours." Ezra says hurt.

Within the next hour, Ezra is asleep on my bed, and I don't feel like sharing it with him. I grab my blanket and walk out of my bedroom. Opening Brad's door, he is stretched naked over the blonde. I close the door without being seen.

Walking down the hall, I stop outside Jackson's door and put my hand on his doorknob. My mind races with a million thoughts and images. What if he has someone too? I cover my mouth to hide the sob that escapes.

I couldn't bear losing everyone tonight.

I walk down the stairs and out to the terrace. Wrapping the blanket around me, I stumble to a lounge chair and fall asleep the minute my head hits the mesh.

The moment I feel the warm sun on my face, I get cranky. I was about to pull the blanket over my head when I feel the shift of air around me. Slowly, I open one eye and see Brad looking down at me. His eye is swollen, and his lip is cut.