Page 115 of The Friend Zone

I still want to go home, but I can’t help the relief that floods me from being out of the spotlight.

It’s quiet in here and it’s just what I need.

“Are you ok?” Topher repeats the question he just asked me a few seconds ago.

I shake my head, horrified that my eyes fill with tears again.

I’m sure I’ll eventually break down, but I don’t want it to happen here, in front of my ex.

My tongue is glued to the top of my mouth. If I try to speak now, there’s no stopping the floodgates from bursting open. I shake my head.

“That was fucked up,” Topher says. “I’m so sorry.”

Fuck. Why is he being so nice?

Words still won’t come. My lips quiver as my nose stings with the effort of keeping the tears contained.

“Come here, Bay.”

Topher doesn’t leave me the chance to protest. He pulls me into his arms.

It’s the weirdest feeling. Being in his arms after all this time is almost… comforting.

I feel no desire or passion toward him, not like I would for one of my guys. But Topher has been a huge part of my life for years. He’s been the person I would confide in, especially about school or Greek related stuff.

He isn’t as muscular as Cole, Ryker, and Jagger. My ex has always been on the slender side of a hockey player, but his chest is toned and solid; I can feel his warmth radiating from beneath the expensive fabric of his shirt.

“I’m not ok.” I finally answer his question. “Why are you being so nice to me?” This time, I ask him out loud.

“Why wouldn’t I be? Bay, I know I fucked up beyond belief with you, but I love you.”

I struggle to get out of his embrace. “Toph, I?—”

“I know we aren’t getting back together,” he sighs, letting me get some space but not letting me go. “But you can’t stop me from caring about you, ok? Here, I grabbed this from our table before coming after you. You need something to take the edge off.” He passes me a bottle of Champagne.

I take it, sipping from it more on autopilot than because I want a drink.

“This tastes funny.” I try to pass him the bottle, but he doesn’t take it.

“Sorry, it must be getting warm. Nothing worse than warm Champagne. But you need something to steady your nerve. Drink it. You’ll thank me later.”

I ignore the bottle still in my hands. “What a shit show,” I sigh. “This should have been a huge announcement. My moment of redemption, you know? I didn’t want to go down in history as the Zeta president who burned the house down and got the Star Cove chapter shut down. I guess now it doesn’t matter. I’ll be remembered as the Zeta president who was a slut. Whatever. I don’t feel like one.”

There’s an intense light in my ex’s eyes. “But is what that post says true? Are you fucking Cole, Ryker, and Jagger? It sure looks like it.”

His tone rubs me the wrong way. “Was it you? Are youNot Your Puck Bunny?”

Topher rears back, as if I had slapped him. “What? No! How can you even think that?”

“Oh, come on, Topher,” I snort. “You literally called me a puck bunny at Lakyn’s house. It would make complete sense ifyou did it. You and my sister have always hated each other, and this started with her last year. You were present both times the posts went live.”

Topher’s reaction surprises me. I just accused him of being behind the puck bunny posts. The man I’ve dated for most of my college career would have rolled his eyes; or at the very least, defended himself vehemently.

Topher’s tone is much softer than I expected. “I guess I deserve it, huh? This is what I get for not treating you right. I haven’t just lost you. You think the worst of me. Bay,” his brown eyes are locked on mine. “I swear I have nothing to do with those posts. No matter how bad things are between us, I would never do that to you.”

The strangest thing is that I believe him.

“Then it must be your new girlfriend,” I say, tasting bitterness on my tongue. And it isn’t just the funny taste of the Champagne. Love and jealousy don’t always go hand in hand. I might not have been in love with Topher for a while now, but I still resent him for how things ended between us.

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