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Behind the wheel of my truck, I’m home after only a couple of turns and a few minutes. Sunday’s car is parked in front of my house, and right about now, I’m wishing she didn’t have a key. The second I open the door, she turns to me. Her foot taps with an annoyance that’s reflected in her expression. She’s sitting on my couch in jeans and one of my old T-shirts. Something her husband hated for her to do when they were together. No wife of his should be wearing another man’s clothes. Matt has more insecurities than I’ve ever seen in an adult man, and he blamed every single one of those insecurities on me.
Oh, he wasn’t like that while they dated. I’m pretty sure that, if he had been, Sunday would have dropped him. That changed the second she said, “I do.” After that, he tried his damnedest to cut off all communication between Sunday and me, which was something neither she nor I were happy about.
“I told you to stop this shit,” Sunday fumes.
“And I told you, I wasn’t going to, babe,” I insist.
“Don’t you babe me! You’re infuriating, Brazen. This shit is going to get you hurt. I can’t let that happen because of me. Just leave well enough alone!”
Sunday’s anger isn’t really anger—at least, not toward me. The emotion that’s pouring out of her is really fear, and that’s exactly why I can’t back down from this.
“Better me than someone else,” I challenge.
“He’s been hurting me for years, Brazen. I can handle it. I’m used to it.” Her voice cracks with sadness.
“Can you hear yourself, Sunday? You’re used to it? The last time he came around, he broke your nose! What happens the next time he decides he misses you?”
“Don’t you think I know this? I left him. I left him, Brazen! I didn’t stick around. I didn’t stay with a husband whose insecurities and weaknesses caused him to raise his fist, but I still can’t shake him! The cops haven’t helped. He has them completely fooled. The fucking restraining order I have is little more than a piece of paper. This problem isn’t yours. I don’t want you involved in it. I’m handling it.”
“We’ve played it your way long enough. It isn’t working. I’m sick of seeing you hurt. I can’t sleep at night because I’m too worried I’ll miss a call for help from you. I can’t watch you live like this anymore.”
In all the years Sunday and I have been friends, it’s rare that I ever see her cry, but as she stands before me now, she does exactly that. She sniffs and wipes her nose against the back of her hand as tears fall from her eyes.
“I don’t want him to change you, Brazen. He’s done enough to me over the years. You are everything that is good about my life, and I don’t want this situation to dirty you. Please don’t stoop to his level. You’re better than that, and you’re affected enough as it is. Just let me deal with the consequences of the decisions I’ve made.”
“His level? Don’t compare me to him, Sun. He’s a disgusting piece of garbage who hurts you, and I’m only doing what needs to be done to set you free. So, no, I’m not down at his level, and I never will be. I love you. I respect you. None of this is your fault, but you’re no longer in charge when it comes to getting Matt out of our lives. I don’t want to see you bruised and hurt ever again. I let you handle things for way longer than I should have, but now, I’m taking over.”
Sunday stands and targets me with eyes that could kill.
She is stubborn, but I can be even more hardheaded.
I’m tired of not doing enough. I’m frustrated about this guy always slipping through the system when Sunday reports his violence. I’m disgusted over every time he’s ever marked up her body. I love my best friend, and it’s time I make sure she’s protected.
It doesn’t matter how displeased she is about it.
