Hated Ties (Book 3. Ties)

4. I Lost You

After Robin's new cast is set, we exit the room and walk down the hall. I lay my head on Robin's good arm as I hold on to his wrist. The fatigue is starting to set in, and I am ready to be in bed. We continue walking to the exit we came in through, but before we get there a voice from one of the information desks stops us.

"Levi, how's it going," Mike asks Levi's approaching body. My head lifts but I keep my hand on Robin's for, I don't know what to call it, moral support I guess.

"I hadn't seen you in a while. Ed said you were out of town, but he didn't want to say why or where," Levi replies while his eyes accuse Edward.

Mike laughs shortly. "I was visiting Mackenzie and... Oh, er, this is Robin. I should have started off with that." Mike chuckles again, but it sounds off that time.

I release Robin, so he can shake Levi's hand. "Are you Mackenzie's boyfriend," Levi asks without giving away any of his emotions.

Mike is the one who begins to answer before either Robin or I can. "No! It's a peculiar story actually. They're just—"

Before Mike can give away the truth that would give hope, I interrupt. "Actually, he's my husband."

Edward, Mike, and Robin are all staring at me like they want to slap me in the back of the head. Levi looks like I just shot him with a riffle. "Mackenzie, say the rest of the s—" Robin tries to make me reason, but I shut that down immediately.

"We met in New York," I add.

Levi nods after he composes his features to look blank. "Congratulations, you're very lucky, Robin." His eyes move to mine, and I know how much I am hurting him right now. All I have ever done is hurt him. I am sorry he met me too. "I'll let you go. You all look tired." Levi smiles but it is not reaching his eyes.

"See you tomorrow," Edward tells Levi before we resume our way.

As soon as the vehicle's doors are shut, the three of them begin to reprimand me. Robin doesn't even know much about Levi, yet he's still upset with my decision to omit part of the truth. "Are you friends with Levi," I ask over their voices.

Mike answers right after. "I told you long ago he would ask about you."

I frown at my best friend. "That's not what I asked."

"We got closer after you left. He needed someone to hear him out. Zee, you don't know how hard it was for him when you dumped him."

I feel like Mike just threw an arrow with a poisoned tip at my heart. It is guilt though, not poison spreading through my veins.

"You dated that guy? No wonder he looked so down," Robin speaks.

And here I am thinking to myself: thanks, guys, I feel better now. "I don't want to give him hope of any kind. I am married to Robin. I don't want to be in a relationship. I don't need anyone else hovering over me. I already have y'all for that," I gush angrily. 

Silence creeps around us like fog in the morning, obscuring the car coming in the distance. It is completely clear to me what it is they are thinking. I don't have to guess and I don't have to ask. They cannot leave me alone because they do not trust me. They're right though, not to trust me.

My wishes remain the same. Anywhere but living on this wretched earth is better. If there is a place I can erase every single event that has occurred in my life, I want to be there. But these guys are making an escape really difficult.

It is evident that Robin is about to tell me something, but I don't want to hear it. Before he has a chance, I insert my two cents. "You don't have to say anything. It's obvious why y'all suffocate me. I get it." I do not sound hysterical, if anything, I sound peaceful. But they all know that it is as if it is the eye of a hurricane that is overpassing our heads.