Page 74 of Shared By my Ex's Best Friends
Liam’s already scanning the crowd, eyes sharp. “Let’s move. Now.”
Liam leads the way toward the gravel parking lot out back. Jake and I flank Maya on either side, close but careful, creating a shield without making it obvious.
The noise behind us swells—someone calls Nick’s name, sharp and alarmed.
Perfect. Let them find him. Let them waste their breath dragging him off the gravel and figuring out what the hell just happened.
Maya doesn’t say a word as we walk. Her steps are slow, unsteady, but she doesn’t resist. Her whole body shakes with theadrenaline still pouring through her, and I hate that we didn’t get to her faster. I hate that we even had to.
When we reach the truck, Jake opens the passenger door and gently helps her in like she’s something breakable.
He doesn’t rush her. He just waits, hand steady on her elbow, eyes soft with something like protectiveness—or maybe reverence.
Maya doesn’t protest. She climbs in without a sound. But just before she disappears inside, I catch her hand.
She flinches at first. Just slightly. But she doesn’t pull away.
“I lost it back there,” I say, my voice low and raw, so only she can hear. “I shouldn’t have hit him. But I won’t let anyone talk about you like that. Not ever. Not in front of me.”
Her fingers curl around mine. Tentative at first. Then firm.
She lifts her gaze, meeting mine for the first time since everything exploded. There’s something there—something fierce and shining through the fog. She leans forward slowly, like she’s testing gravity, and then presses her forehead to my chest
It only lasts a second.
But it says everything.
“I know,” she whispers. “Thank you.”
Jake climbs into the driver’s seat. Liam climbs in on the other side. I get in beside her, still watching her as I close the door.
Her hands are tucked in her lap now, twisting the fabric of her dress. She stares out the windshield, her expression unreadable, but there’s color in her cheeks again.
There’s life in her.
We drive away from the chaos—tires crunching over gravel, headlights cutting through the night.
But I can still hear Nick’s voice in my head.
And I swear to God, if he ever comes near her again…He won’t walk away next time.
Chapter thirty
MAYA
The door clicks shut behind us, and for the first time all night, silence settles like a heavy blanket around my shoulders.
I don’t move right away.
I just stand there in the entryway of my own house, arms wrapped tight around myself like I’m still bracing for the echo of Nick’s voice—sharp and slurred and too close. The memory of his fingers on my wrist burns hotter than the skin ever did.
The house smells faintly of lavender, from the candle I lit this morning before everything. Before the wedding. Before the unraveling.
That scent used to make me feel calm. Safe.
Now it just feels like a memory I don’t quite belong to anymore.
Jake kicks off his shoes with a soft thump, like he’s trying not to make noise even in his own movements. He closes the space between us carefully.
