“Zane…” I trail off, just staring at him.
“Fine. Fine. I won’t freak out.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Turning, I push the door back open.
“What did you do?” he asks as he steps into the room behind me. “Why is Eli here?” he quietly asks me.
“It’s not really so muchwhatI did.” In another situation, it would bring a little light to the situation.
Eli doesn’t look at us, but just continues to stare down at the ground. I’m not really sure what’s going through his head at the moment; maybe he’s just nervous to have all of this coming to light. I know he’s aware of how Z will react, and maybe he assumes if he lets him process it before even looking at him, it’ll be better.
“What?” Z looks over at me, confused for a moment. I see the exact moment it registers, and the anger comes across his face.“Are you fucking kidding me!?”He shouts it at me, at Eli; I’m not really sure who. Taking a step back, he turns, looking at the door and shaking his head. Spinning around quickly, he glares in my direction, only we’re both in his warpath at the moment.“What the fuck is wrong with you!?”he shouts louder this time. Seeing the red building on his face. I’m still not sure who exactly he’s talking to.
“Z…” I trail trying to get him to calm down. “You said you wouldn’t freak out.”
“That’s before I knew you were getting me over here to ambush me about fucking my —a cop.”
I know he was going to say my friend, but quickly changed it.
“Do you have any idea what kind of jeopardy that puts us all in?” I can see the conflicting feelings he has about Eli written on his face. Both of the things he said are true. “What fucking information did he try to get out of you?”
“Nothing, Z. Stop.” I put my hands up.
“No, Drew, how could you be so stupid?”
“Z.” Eli stands up from the couch, giving him a warning tone.
“Shut the fuck up!”he shouts back, pointing at him.
“No, you shut the fuck up and let her talk!”Eli shouts before calming his voice and finishing. “You’re being a fucking dick.”
I watch my brother’s nostrils flare and know I need to interfere. “Alright,” I step between them, placing my hands on my brother’s chest, “we’re going to establish the same rules we’ve had.” I glance over at Eli, who looks away. “Everyone gets a corner; you don’t leave that corner.”
“That makes no sense. Why would you need corners?” Z asks.
“To keep space.” I tell him, and I swear I see Eli flinch as if he’s been hit.
“What — why — what’s going on? Why would you need space if you’re fucking?”
“Because we’re not together…anymore.” Hurt lingers through Eli’s words as he speaks, leaning over and bracing his forearms against his thighs.
“Then why are you here?” he asks as I walk over to the chair I’ve been sitting in. Making sure there’s still plenty of room between Eli and me.
“I needed to explain.” Eli whispers, just staring at the ground in front of him.
“Explain what?”
“Why we broke up.”
It actually makes me laugh when he says it. “We didn’t break up.” I snap at him. “When you break up with someone, you actually tell the other person.You don’t —” I’m exclaiming when I catch the surprised look on Z’s face. Exhaling as if I’m trying to release all the anger.
“I already explained that.” His voice is so quiet as he looks at me. I can see the grief on his face, but I’m not even sure if I can believe him.
“It’s not what this is about.” I glance over at my brother and then back to Eli. “Show ‘em.”
