There got to be a point where Wendy and I were doing nothing but fighting anymore. Anytime we would talk, it would escalate. She would yell and scream, I would, too, and I couldn't stand it. I had been spending more and more time at Kyle's house, going there every weekend, sleeping there two or three nights in a row.

One Sunday morning, I had just woken up and was walking to the kitchen when I heard voices by the front door. I stopped walking, made my breathing quieter.

"Kyle, I just want to see him," a soft woman's voice said. Wendy.

"He's asleep," Kyle's voice responded. "Besides, no offense, Wends, but he's over here for a reason."

She let out an incredulous laugh. "How cute, Kyle. Are you trying to protect him from me?"

He sighed. "Look, I just think he sometimes needs a break. I know you guys have been fighting."

There was a pause, like Wendy was debating what to say. "Do you know why we've been fighting so much?" she said, in a calm quiet voice. Kyle might have mistaken the tone for sadness, but I knew better.

"No, he doesn't like to talk about it," Kyle replied. I noticed that his voice had gotten softer.

There was a silence that lasted a few seconds, though it felt longer. "Kyle, you know, he might still be clueless. But I'm not."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he answered, a little defensively.

"Come on. Don't play dumb with me." She sounded exasperated. "It's insulting."

He sighed. "I don't know what you want from me, Wendy."

My face felt hot as the anger rose in my chest. I hated the way Wendy talked to Kyle, like he was an obstacle in her path and not her husband's best friend. It made my hands shake. I wanted to yell at her, tell her that it wasn't her place.

She sighed. "Fine, Kyle. You don't have to say it. But just know that I can see right through you, honey."

That was the last straw for me. I could let them keep talking. I put on a neutral expression, as though I hadn't been listening and I walked out. "Hey, Kyle, what's for breakfast?" I feigned surprise when I saw Wendy. "Oh, hi, Wendy, what are you doing here?"

She put on a smile when she saw me and walked right past Kyle into the apartment. "Hi, Stan," she said sweetly, kissing me lightly. "I thought we could spend the day together. Maybe go down to Denver? Just the two of us?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the word got caught when I saw Kyle's expression. He looked so shaken, somehow so deeply affected by what Wendy had said. I wasn't sure why it had gotten to him so much, why he let her upset him with such simple words. But he looked so pale, so panicked. I couldn't leave him to spend time with the person who made him feel like that.

"Actually, Wendy, Kyle and I had plans. Besides, I don't feel like driving all the way to Denver. Maybe next weekend," I said, keeping my voice calm and casual.

Her smile fell. "Fine, see you tonight then."

I shrugged. "If I can make it home."

Her face flushed and she looked so mad, like she was about to scream. But instead she just turned around abruptly and walked out the door, her heels making clicking sounds on the wood floor.

Kyle shut the door behind her, and then leaned his forehead against it, breathing heavily. I walked over to him, concerned, and put my hand on his shoulder. "You okay?" I said gently.

He jerked his shoulder away from me and stood up straight again. "Why did you do that?" he said, his voice sharp.

I knew he hated it when people did things for his benefit. He had too much pride to be comfortable feeling like people pitied him, or thought he needed them. So I just shrugged. "I just don't feel like being around her. I'd rather hang out with you, it's way more fun anyway."

He smiled, though I'm not sure he really believed me. It seemed like he was happy to just accept that. "Wanna go to Denver then?"

I grinned. "Sure."