Page 65 of Don't Puck Your Best Friend’s Girl

My cheeks warm at the memory –– the humiliation, the rejection. "Yeah."

"I've replayed that moment about a thousand times. That was the night you decided to be done, wasn't it?"

I nod, unable to deny it.

"I can't believe I chose some stupid game over you." He rubs his face. "Do you know how many times I've loaded up that game since we broke up? Zero. Doesn't even seem important anymore."

I exhale, wondering if he wants a gold medal for admitting this to me. "It's not just about the video games, Byron."

"I know." He looks at me directly now. "It was everything. I never made time for you. Always put my friends first. Made you schedule your life around mine."

Each point lands with uncomfortable accuracy.

"Remember your photography exhibit? The one you worked on all semester?"

My stomach tightens. "You said you had a study group."

"I was playing Call of Duty with the guys." His voice is hollow with shame. "I missed one of the most important nights of your college career because I couldn't be bothered to show up for you."

The admission stings more than I expected, reopening a wound I thought had healed.

"And your birthday last year? I got you those generic earrings from the mall."

"They were nice," I say automatically.

"They were last-minute. I saw them walking past that kiosk." He shakes his head. "Meanwhile, you spent months planning that surprise party for mine. Made that scrapbook with all our photos."

I don't know what to say. This brutal honesty, this clear-eyed assessment of his failings, is nothing like the Byron I knew. The guy I know would continue to pretend none of it happened.

"When I found out about you and Cade…" His voice catches. "It was like being hit by a truck. But after the shock wore off, I realized something. You didn't just randomly hook up with him to hurt me. You did it because I pushed you away. Because I'd been taking you for granted for so long that you stopped caring what I thought."

"Byron—"

"You know what's really messed up?" He gives a humorless laugh. "It took losing you for me to see how lucky I was. How I had this amazing, beautiful, smart woman who wanted to be with me, and I was too busy playing video games to appreciate it."

He moves closer, eyes intent on mine. "I know I don't deserve another chance. But I also know we had something real. Something worth fighting for. And if you'd give me the chance, I swear I'd do better. I'd make you a priority. Every day."

His hand reaches for mine, and I'm too stunned to pull away. "I miss you, Say. Not just as my girlfriend. I miss talking to you. Miss making you laugh. Miss having you in my life."

The sincerity in his voice, the raw vulnerability in his expression –– I don't know how to process it. This is what I wanted for so long: Byron recognizing how he'd hurt me, promising to change. But it's come too late, after I've already started falling for someone else.

His eyes search mine, hope and fear battling in his expression.

Then there's a knock at the door. My stomach plummets as I imagine the worst-case scenario –– Cade. I'm immediately flustered, trying not to cry, as I watch Byron head for the door. When he opens it, it's just the food delivery.

I sink into the chair with my heart hammering against my ribs. That was a close call. I try to shake it off, but I'm trembling.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

Suddenly this living room is too small, it's too dark in here, and I feel like this was the worst decision I've ever made.

"Hey," Bryon says, sitting next to me. "I'm sorry it took me all this time to pull my head out of the gutter, but I don't want to throw what we have away."

The words I should speak stick in my throat. I should tell him that Cade wasn't a one-time mistake, that we're still seeing each other, that I'm falling for him despite every reason not to. But I can't form the sentences, can't bring myself to even take a breath. I feel like I'm suffocating, and he's so focused on what he wants to say that he can't see how suffocated I feel.

His hand finds mine, and I'm too stunned to pull away. "We could try again," he suggests softly. "Do it right this time."

Before I can process what's happening, he leans in, clearly intending to kiss me. I stand abruptly, breaking the contact, tears burning behind my eyes.

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