Page 41 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘You need to face a therapist,’ Mike suggests. ‘You’re too obsessed with her.’

‘I’m notobsessed, just nervous. I haven’t seen her in a while and the last couple times I have it didn’t go well.’ I crack open the beer and down it in practically one long swig.

‘Whoa,’ Mike says, preoccupied enough that I grab his still nearly full bottle and do the same.

‘I think “nervous” was an understatement,’ Finn says.

‘Whoa, whoa,whoa– I think we know who’s not driving.’ Danika sidles up to me, sliding her hand across my back. ‘How about we don’t focus on you-know-who and then she won’t be a worry. Just relax, babe. I’ll be there too, so no need to be nervous. You’re happy now, remember?’

My heart does its usual cringe at the word ‘babe’. I’ve asked her repeatedly not to call me that but she never listens. I thought since Berkley insisted we break up that dating someone else would force me to move on. I hoped maybe it would help heal my heart. It hasn’t. And despite what she says, I’m definitely not happy.

‘Pretty sure those weren’t his first two of the evening,’ Finn says, now pointing around my room at littered empties.

‘Captain Obvious is here, folks!’ I bellow. ‘Newsflash, I’m drunk again. Is anyone really surprised?’

The whole room shakes their heads.

‘How many have you had, little brother?’

I shrug. ‘Well, I couldn’t sleep last night so I invited Jack over. When he ran out at lunch, I switched to these.’ I take Finn’s partially drunk beer and down it too.

I was a mess knowing I might see her tonightbeforeI saw the article earlier. Now I’m straight up losing my mind.

‘You’re gonna have a long-ass night, bro.’ Mike shakes his head but looks pleased that I’m about to be miserable. Figures.

‘Dani is going to kill you if you focus on Berkley tonight.’ Felicity hangs back as the others leave my room, warning me of something I’m already aware of.

‘Bring on the bullet.’

I’m kidding – kind of.

‘That’s a little morbid, don’t you think? Maybe dial down the wasted Will show; you’re starting to embarrass us,’ she says nonchalantly as she exits my room.

‘I’mstarting to embarrassyou?’ I ask with a laugh. ‘That’s rich!’ I slam my door shut, locking it so they can’t re-enter.

Should I call her? I mean she’s got me blocked but I could at least ask if she’s going to prepare myself more. I dial her number and as usual, it rings through to voicemail. Again.

‘Hi! You’ve reached Berkley Kaine. I’m currently unavailable but leave a message, and I’ll get back to you.’

Just the sound of her voice has me rubbing my chest like it hurts.

Beep.

‘Hey, Berx. I’m, uh… I’m getting ready to walk out my door heading to Bryce and Bianca’s party and I assume you will also be there. Considering what I read in the tabloids today, I’d also guess Alex will be with you. I don’t really know the situation there. Nor am I asking to. God, this message makes no sense, which is a good lead in for me to say what I called to say: tonight’s going to be awkward and I’m pretty well already lit so I’d like to apologize for whatever I say or do now. I’m sorry. For all of it. Words. Actions. Everything. Bye.’

Ugh. That was a disaster. Hopefully she’ll delete it without even listening. According to Bryce, that’s her usual move.

* * *

We’re at a popular bar downtown, Kelly’s Olympian. It’s small and narrow, has neon lights everywhere and an entire motorcycle hanging from the ceiling. You can’t be afraid to get close in this place because people are streaming in and out and it’s packed. Pretty much the whole room is in costume too. I feel like Ted in that episode ofHow I Met Your Motherwhere he’s hunting for his date at a costume party only the whole room recognizes me in an instant, flocking to our crew in a second, and I’ve yet to catch even a glimpse of the girl I’m looking for. Which is probably best for now considering Danika is hanging off my arm, insisting we stay together.

‘Look,’ Dani says, motioning around the crowd. ‘We’re easily the most believable Clark and Lois here.’

‘You forgot best-looking. You two could play the parts in a TV show.’ Felicity encourages the idea.

‘Ohh! There’s Evan!’ Felicity squeals, grabbing on to Danika’s arm. ‘Come on,’ she requests. ‘He’s so unbelievably hot, and loaded, that you have to help me seal this deal.’

‘I thought you were boning Mike?’ I ask, just out of curiosity ’cause he claims they’re ‘unofficially’ a thing. But only after dark, which he doesn’t see the problem with.

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