The Air He Breathes (Elements, #1)(54)

I was quick to wrap my arms around her. She sobbed into me and I held her tighter. We stood on the street corner for a while as she cried and I rested my chin on her head. “I think Zeus went to poop in my backyard today, and I’m pretty sure I forgot to pick it up.”

She pulled away and cocked an eyebrow. “Really?”

I nodded.

We searched my whole backyard and added a nice collection of poop to the bag before she hopped into my car and I drove her to Matty’s house. “This is going to be so good,” she said, rubbing her hands together. “Okay, you keep the car running and I’ll drop the shit, light it up, knock on his door, dash back to the car, and we’ll hit it!”

“Perfect.” She hurried off, did exactly as she’d said she would, and when she jumped into the car, she giggled like a five-year-old. “Um, Faye?”

“Yes?” she laughed, tossing her head back in amusement.

“I think his wooden porch is on fire.”

Her stare twisted to her window, where Matty’s porch was definitely on fire. “SHIT!”

“Literally.” She went to open her door to rush to put it out, but I stopped her. “No. If he sees you, he’ll fire you.”

She paused. “Shit! Shit! Shit!”

I wondered how many times she could say that before it became a tongue twister. “Get down, just in case he sees you. I’ll be back.”

Hurrying out of my car, I rushed to the porch. I stared down at the fire and said a small prayer before I started stomping the fire out, including the bag of poop, which unfortunately got all over my shoes.

“What the hell are you doing?” Matty asked, opening his door and staring at me. The smell of the poop hit him quickly, causing him to cover his nose with his hand. “Is that dog shit?!”

My mind blanked. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to explain why my shoes were currently covered in my dog’s poop. So, I panicked. “I’m the town *! I randomly leave shit around because I’m the town *! So…f*ck you!”

He stared at me.

I stared at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

I raised an eyebrow.

He threatened to call the cops.

I kicked off my shoes, ran to my car, and drove away.

“Holy crap!” Faye said, crying, but this time tears of amusement. “That was amazing. You literally stepped in dog poop to make sure I kept my job.”

“I know. I’m regretting it.” She laughed and when I pulled up to my house, I put the car into park.

“He didn’t really love me, did he? I mean, he said he did, but only at times when he wanted sex. And he told me he was over his wife, but only at three in the morning when he was texting me to come over.”

“He sounds like an *, Faye.”

She nodded. “I have a way of falling for those kinds. I just kind of wonder what it would be like to find someone who loves you the same amount that you love them. You know, that person who you see looking your way and smiling because they are just as wild for you as you are for them.”

“Why do you sleep with these guys if you know they are jerks?”

“Because I hope they will someday fall in love with me.”

“I think you can fall in love with your clothes on.”

“Dream a little dream with me.” She chuckled nervously, her eyes filled with self-doubt. “But I’m done with this love crap. Throwing in the towel.”

“It’s worth it, though, Faye.” I stared into her eyes, which were red from crying. “The heartbreak is worth those few moments of happiness, and the pieces of the shattered heart can be put back together. I mean, there will be cracks and scars, and sometimes this burning memory of the past, but that burn? It’s just a reminder that you survived. That burning is your rebirth.”

“Have you been born again?”

My eyes moved to Elizabeth’s house before they locked with Faye’s stare. “I’m working on it.”

She thanked me, then climbed out of the car to get into hers. “Tristan?” she said, wiggling her nose.

“Yes?”

“Tonight I was pretty immature and broken, but you handled it like a champ, kind of like a father to my childish ways. Charlie was lucky to have you as his dad.”

I smiled. She had no clue how much that meant to me.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “And I’m sorry for calling you an *.”

“You didn’t call me an *.”

She nodded. “Trust me. I did. One more thing as a thank you…” She hurried over to Elizabeth’s bedroom window and pounded on it. When Elizabeth opened the window, I couldn’t help but smile. She was always so beautiful. Always. “Hey, Liz?” Faye said, looking at her sleepy best friend.

“Yes?”

“Give this guy a blow job tonight as a ‘thank you’ from me.” She smiled, leaned in, and kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “Night, babe.” With that, Faye hurried away, seeming much happier than when she’d been crying not too long before. Sometimes all a broken heart needed was a bag of shit and a little fire.

Elizabeth climbed out her window, walked over to me, and I wrapped her in a hug. “Did you do something good for my bestie tonight?” she asked.

“I think so.”