Page 127 of Fake Dating My Best Friend

Kyle smirks. “Isla’s always trying hard to make herself useful.” He lets the word hang, then shrugs. “Shame she was never all that useful to me. Or to herself, really.” He turns to me. “Hope you’re ready to spend your life fixing her problems, man. It’s a full-time job.”

Claire laughs, a sound like nails on a chalkboard. “Kyle said you tried so hard to turn yourself into what he wanted.” She looks Isla up and down. “All that effort, and you still couldn’t keep him interested.”

My blood boils. I’m about to say something I’ll probably regret when I spot movement across the gym. Elaine and Roxanne are barreling toward us like two pissed-off torpedoes, fire in their eyes.

“You condescending piece of—” Elaine starts, already rolling up her sleeves.

Conner appears out of nowhere, catching Elaine around the waist. “Whoa there, killer.”

“Take your stupid arms off me. Let me at him. Just one punch,” Elaine growls, struggling against Conner’s grip like a wildcat caught in a trap.

Roxanne isn’t far behind, looking ready to commit murder with her bare hands.

Xander steps in, blocking her path. “Assault charges might put a damper on the event.”

Roxanne glares at Xander, her eyes blazing. “Move it, rich jerk.” She tries to sidestep, but Xander shifts with her. One arm wraps around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

“Back off.” I step between Isla and Kyle. “Funny how people always think they’re qualified to judge others when they have nothing of their own to show. Especially for someone who cheated and sabotaged someone else’s business because your ego couldn’t handle being called out?”

Kyle’s face flushes. “It was you putting all the sticky notes on my house, right?”

“Don’t forget about the inflatable men.” Mrs. Henderson shows him the picture she took.

“You know what’s actually sad? You had someone who saw the best in you. And instead of rising to meet her, you dragged her down to make yourself feel bigger. You have no right to say something like that to Isla.”

Every muscle in my body is coiled tight, ready to spring. I’m not usually the guy who loses his cool, but seeing Kyle standing there, smirking after everything he’s done to Isla . . .

“And I warned you last time—If I ever see you near Isla again, we’re not talking.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides, knuckles going white. I take a step forward, close enough that Kyle has to tilt his head up slightly to meet my eyes.

I lean in a fraction closer, satisfaction flickering through me when Kyle takes a half-step back.

A small hand presses against my chest. Isla’s sliding between Kyle and me. She’s tiny compared to both of us, yet somehow, she fills the space completely, her spine straight and shoulders squared.

Her voice is barely audible as she whispers, “This one’s mine.”

Chapter 33

Isla & Asher

Isla

I’mdonelettingKyleor my past define who I am.

I straighten my shoulders. The old Isla would have nodded along, apologized for existing, and then gone home to stress-clean the whole day while overthinking every word.

But that Isla is officially retired. Effective immediately.

I might not be enough for some people, but that’s not stopping me from living the life I want or loving the way I was always meant to.

Asher’s body is still rigid behind me. He protects me all the time. But today, I will be my own shield.

I take a deep breath. The gym falls silent, everyone watching.

“Thank you, Kyle,” I say, my voice steadier than I expected.

His smug expression falters. Clearly not the response he anticipated.

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