“Are you afraid of me?” Zeke said, opening the door wider. “Peter. You keep hanging around here like you’re wanted. You’re like an STD with none of the fun.”

“This is between Naomi and me,” Peter said.

“Zeke,” I said, turning toward him, placing my free hand on his middle. “What are you doing? I can handle Peter. You should be in bed.”

Zeke took a step forward. Peter a step back.

“Oh, I’m gonna handle Peter,” Zeke said.

Peter stepped off the porch backward, holding up his hands, palm out. “I don’t want you to end up incarcerated tonight, Zeke, especially if you’re not feeling well.”

“How can you feel like a man constantly hiding behind your position? I don’t even use my heart condition to be a coward.”

“It’s just a fact. I’m trying to protect you,” Peter said.

“Get off her lawn.” Zeke pointed. “Get in your pussy car and go back to whatever sink you formed under, scumfuck.”

Peter glanced at me.

“Don’t look at her, you piece of shit, look at me,” Zeke said. “You made your choice years ago. So fuck right off, Senator. No matter how many divorces you get, or how many times you piss off your daddy, I’m still better for her than you.”

“Peter, just go,” I said, nudging Zeke back.

Peter complied, pissed off but at least cooperative.

Zeke let me guide him inside, waited for me to lock the door, turn out the lights, and then walk him to bed.

He lay down on his back with a sigh.

I sighed. “I understand, okay? I get why you’re angry, but I had it handled. You can’t be doing that shit anymore.”

“He won’t be knocking on your door at midnight to reunite again, so I won’t have to.”

“Zeke, Peter is … persistent. He’s always been part of my life in some way or another. He brought me here. Now that he thinks he’s free or whatever, he’ll have tunnel vision for a while. That’s just who he is, but he’ll get over it. And, even if he doesn’t, I don’t love him anymore. It’s just dumb to stress over Peter Bennett of all people, so please don’t.”

“Knocking his teeth out is worth a trip to the ER—and jail.”

“Stop. I want you to take a deep breath. Do it, Zeke. Take a deep breath and blow it out. In through your nose…”

“Are we meditating?”

“Shut up and do what I say.”