Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

Snow-fucking-flakes.

Another memory of Elena’s snow globes assaults me like bullets from an automatic rifle. I clutch onto my shirt as if it can dull the pain echoing through my chest.

I stomp across the puzzle pieces as I walk toward the bedroom at the rear of the cabin, snapping some unintentionally with my boots. The door slamming behind me matches the throb in my chest before I’m met with silence.

Silence isn’t for the faint of heart. That’s where the demons come out and play.

Welcome back, motherfucker.

A soft knock wakes me up. I rise from the bed and open the door to find Sophie staring up at me.

“Hey, can we talk?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Liam calls out from the front of the cabin. “No, you bet you don’t, you fucking asshole. And you better treat my girlfriend with respect or else I’ll smash that cocky-ass grin off your face.”

Sophie mouths sorry.

I pop my head out from the bedroom and meet Liam’s gaze. “I’m sorry for being a dick earlier.”

His eyes soften. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Don’t go getting all teary-eyed on me.” He smiles back as he wipes under his eyes with his middle finger.

I let out a laugh as I open the door wider for Sophie to enter. “Come on in.”

“And keep the door open, Sophie Marie Mitchell! You know the rule about other boys.” Liam’s voice echoes.

She bites down on her lip to hide her laugh. I ignore Liam’s protest as I shut the door behind me.

“I’m sorry for freaking out earlier.” I sit in a chair across from the bed.

“And I’m sorry you’re hurting right now.” Sophie copies me, sitting on the edge of the mattress.

“I still shouldn’t react like that. I’m better than letting an angry outburst control me.”

“We all have emotions. Honestly, I’m grateful you expressed yourself, anger and all, because I think you’ve spent too long hiding how you feel.”

I tilt my head at her. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I’ve been around you for almost two years. Everyone knows what lingers behind the playboy facade is never pretty.”

“And what made you come to this conclusion?”

“I compared how happy you seemed with Elena to how you are now without her.”

I take a deep breath in an attempt to ease my growing worry about Sophie poking into my head. “And?”

“And it’s obvious you love her enough to feel miserable in her absence.”

“Can we not talk abou—”

Sophie stands and walks up to me. She bends down to wrap her arms around my body and tug me into her. “I don’t know why you broke up with her, but you don’t have to face your sadness or anxiety alone. Don’t take the pills. Let us be there for you, and please don’t push us away. Especially Liam. He cares a lot about you and only wants to support you if you let him.”

“I don’t know how to start explaining myself.”

She pulls away and smiles. “That’s the beauty of friendship. We’ll stick around, with or without a full understanding of what’s going on.”

For the first time in a few days, I feel relief. I have friends who care enough about me to not let me fall back into a vicious cycle of pills and drinking to combat overwhelming feeling