“I already have, Jude.”
We were both so focused on one another that neither of us were aware of our surroundings until Theo run up and tackled us both to the ground. Zeek, having lost his balance, fell backwards, a startled yelp slipping from his lips just before we both crashed onto the black asphalt. A grunted curse escaped him as my body fell on top of his, avoiding contact with the ground.
It took a few extra seconds for Zeek or myself to move. And when we did, it was only so Zeek could push himself into a sitting position, legs spread out before him.
“What the fuck, man?” Theo barked. I didn’t even need to look at him to feel the anger and rage rolling off of him. And, apparently, neither did Zeek because he looked everywhere except to the man who had literally pulled him from death’s edge.
Sniffling, Zeek remained quiet, refusing to meet my eyes as I sat splayed out on the ground in front of him.
Screw it!
Throwing caution to the wind, I crawled into his lap and settled myself sideways across his legs. Resting my forehead against his own, I prayed for the first time in my life. I prayed for God or whatever higher power existed to give me the words that would help me get through to him. I prayed that I could find some way to help Zeek overcome the pain and agony that ate him up from the inside.
“Why? Zeek, why the fuck would you even consider this, man?” Theo shouted, his words harsh, causing the man in question to jerk. Still, he remained silent.
“It’s just you and me, okay?” My words were whispered, meant only for the tortured man that sat before me. “Just us. Always us, right?”
Zeek continued to sob, but gave a small nod to let me know he’d heard my words. For the first time since I’d arrived, I knew he was with me.
With a shaky hand, I cupped his cheek and held him in place, grounding him. “Forget about everything going on around us. Forget about Theo. Forget the hurt that you’re feeling. Just focus on me.”
Before, when we were held captive in that tiny cell, it had been Zeek who would talk me down from the proverbial edge. He’d been the one to hold me together when all I wanted to do was give up. And now, it was my turn to return the favor.
Ezekiel
It’s just me and Judah. Alone. Somewhere quiet and warm with a small breeze. Just us,I mentally repeated before taking a gasping breath, feeling it catch in my throat.
Shit.I can’t do this anymore.Why did he, of all people, have to be the one to come? Why?
I wanted to speak but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find the words. Lips parted, my eyes remained glued to the side of Judah’s face as he whispered in my ear, talking me through my pain and anguish.
My frazzled mind couldn’t focus on any of the words he spoke, but hearing his voice and feeling the warmth of his body resting atop mine helped to keep me grounded in the moment. In truth, I could have easily pushed him aside and finished my mission, but the fight had long since diminished.
It felt like hours had passed before my sobs turned to tearless shaking. I was utterly exhausted, nothing more left to give. Wrapping my arms around him loosely, I pulled him in close, reveling in his body heat. Tucking my head in the crease between Judah’s shoulder and neck, I closed my eyes and breathed him in.
“Let it all out, Zeek. I’m not going anywhere.” I huffed a breath, pressing into Judah even farther.
He should have left me alone and gotten as far away from me as he could. While he could.
“I won’t ever leave you, baby. Never.” His voice cracked, which caused my heart to break even more.
When will this pain stop?
“Judah––” my brother’s familiar voice spoke.
Why is he even here?I couldn’t understand why everyone refused to let me go?
“Not yet,” Judah mumbled to my brother. His hands rubbed up and down the length of my back as he whispered, “Shh––it’s okay.”
Minutes ticked by, my racing emotions eventually settling. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about my thoughts. Mentally, I was still just as broken as I’d been an hour before; lost among a sea of people.
And I feared that would never change.
“Let’s go home, okay?” Judah leaned back, forcing me to look at his face. His brown eyes were red and he was looking at me as if he feared I was going to disappear at any moment.
Closing my eyes, I nodded slowly, another sob catching in my throat. A second later, I felt Judah’s soft, salty lips press against mine. Time stood still as I settled into the feeling. He pulled back a moment later and stood, holding out a hand for me.
“It’s time for you to lean on me, Zeek. You need to trust that I’ve got you and I won’t let you fall. You have my word.”
