Page 4 of Don't Puck Your Best Friend’s Girl

My phone buzzes again. Mom, asking if I'mseriously okay.

I finally text back.I'm seriously okay.

I laugh despite myself. She, too, will be shitting her pants when Wednesday comes. She will be the first person Sandy calls, and I can't fucking wait.

Chapter 2

Byron's fingers fly across the controller, eyes glued to the screen where digital soldiers shoot at each other. I'm sitting here in my favorite red lace—the set that used to make him pause mid-game—and he hasn't looked at me once.

"Byron." I lean forward, letting my shirt fall open just enough. "I thought we could take a break?"

"Can't, babe." He doesn't even glance my way.

One year. One entire year of this. I remember when he couldn't keep his hands off me. Now I'm competing with a fucking video game.

I stand up, gathering my dignity along with my clothes. "Right. Of course."

"Where are you going?" He finally looks up, confused. Like he can't comprehend why his girlfriend might leave after being ignored for two hours.

"Home." I pull on my sweater, not bothering to button it properly. "Have fun with your little video game."

"Say, come on." He gets killed in the game—wow, so now I have his full attention. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" I ask, annoyed.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm busy playing."

"Right." The word hangs there for a moment.

I leave without another word, slamming his door harder than necessary. The walk across campus is cold, my unbuttoned sweater doing nothing against the spring chill. People pass by, probably wondering why I look ready to cry or commit murder.

When I reach my apartment, the warm glow from the living room window tells me Mina and Chloe are home. Thank heavens. I need my girls.

"Saylor?" Mina calls as I come in. "That was quick—oh shit."

She takes one look at my face and immediately grabs the emergency wine from the fridge. Chloe pauses whatever they're watching and makes room on the couch.

"Did he…" Chloe trails off, eyes wide.

"No, nothing like that." I collapse between them, accepting the oversized glass of pinot Mina hands me. "He just…didn't want me. Again."

"Fuck him," Mina says immediately.

"That's the problem. He won't let me." I take a long drink, feeling the alcohol burn down my throat. "I put on the red set. The one that he likes. And he didn't even look away from his stupid game."

Chloe wraps an arm around me. "You deserve better than someone who makes you feel unwanted."

"I know." The tears I've been holding back finally spill over. "But we've been together so long. Everyone expects us to last. Breaking up would be this huge thing and I just…I don't know if I'm ready."

"Screw what everyone else expects," Mina says.

"Yeah, screw them. What do you want?" Chloe asks.

I wipe my eyes with my sleeve. "I want him to look at me like he used to. Like I'm the most important thing in the room. Not his backup plan when the gaming servers are down."

"Has he always been like this?" Chloe asks gently.

"No. Or maybe yes, but I didn't notice because I was too caught up in being his girlfriend. I cared more about what he thought of me than what I thought of him."

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