Page 55 of Counterfeit Boyfriend
“Yeah, must’ve been real painful for you, walking in on your boyfriend and your best friend humping like bunnies. Oh, wait. That was me.”
He sighed. “Let’s not do this.”
“Then get to it. Say what you want to say. If sorry’s all there is, I think we’re done here.” I lifted my hands from his shoulders.
“No, that’s not all.” He glanced at the floor for a couple of seconds before his gaze returned to my face—or more like my ear. “What Paige and I did to you sucks. And I hate that it’s torn our group of friends apart. Things aren’t the same.” Familiar brown eyes met mine, a hint of genuineness actually making an appearance. “I miss you.”
I tensed.
“Not like… I mean, sometimes I do like that, but…”
I scrunched up my forehead, not sure where he was going and not sure I wanted to follow.
“We were friends for so long,” Kyle said. “It doesn’t feel right going from so much to nothing.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you slept with my best friend.”
“Paige has beat herself up plenty. She misses you, too.”
A vice fitted around my heart and twisted tighter, even as I told myself I shouldn’t have to feel sad or sorry, or anything. “You guys broke my heart in every way possible. I’ve moved on. I don’t want to do this.” I started to pull away again and Kyle caught my arm.
Across the floor, Evan tensed.
I forced a smile, trying to reassure him I was fine. And I was. Mostly.
I wriggled out of Kyle’s grip but remained facing him. He didn’t bother putting his hands back on my waist and he’d completely abandoned his attempt to sway to the beat. “How long are you going to punish us?”
“I’m not punishing you guys. I’m just not ready to pretend it never happened and go back to us all being besties, either.”
He crossed his arms. Over the years we’d had plenty of arguments, and I’d been the one who’d apologized and smoothed it over nearly every single time. Not this time, though. “If you want absolution, you’ve come to the wrong place. I moved halfway across the country for you. Almost every move I made from the time I was seventeen years old was for you. And you repaid me by sleeping with my best friend—seriously, some sorority girl would’ve hurt, butmy best friend? Really?”
“You were so busy, and—”
“No.” I jabbed a finger at him. “You don’t get to turn this on me.”
He held up his hands in classic surrender stance. “That wasn’t—”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Okay, maybe I was.” He studied me, almost as if he was seeing me in a new light—not the one Evan accused him of, but more like surprise with a side of being impressed. “You’ve changed. You’re stronger than you used to be.”
Since it’d been something I’d worked hard on—something I wished my dad would also see—Kyle’s acknowledgment cooled some of my anger. Not that I’d be making him a friendship bracelet anytime soon.
“And because of that,” Kyle continued, “I’m just going to give it to you straight. The main reason I’m trying to extend this olive branch is for Paige’s sake. While we shouldn’t have gotten together the way we did, I do care about her, and losing you has eaten her up inside. She hoped if maybe you and I cleared the air, it’d be easier for you and her to do the same.”
Out of habit, I braced for the hurt I often experienced whenever I thought of them together, but it didn’t come.
“She misses you so much. And now that Madison’s married, I’m afraid that Paige will retreat into herself that much more.”
The vindictive part of me wanted to say she deserved it. She’d made her bed by sleeping with my boyfriend in mine. But empathy rose on its heels. I couldn’t help remembering how she hadn’t had the same loving family dynamic I did. Thanks to her daddy issues, she’d always craved attention from guys. She’d practically throw herself at dudes who’d ignore her after they slept together, and while she tried to hide how much it hurt her, I knew her too well for the act to work. I also sensed some jealousy on her end over my family and my relationship with Kyle, but had tried to combat that with love, and so her betrayal cut extra deep. It’d made me hold back—pretty much the only reason I had Tori was because she charged right on through anyway.
At least this guy cared about Paige and stuck by her side. She needed that.
Honestly, as I looked at Kyle, I also thought that if she hadn’t done what she’d done, I would’ve probably kept on living my life for him. Let him determine my course. I would’ve settled, not realizing there was a guy out there who was so much better for me. Who actually understood me and encouraged me to be strong—and more, had faith that I could be.
I blew out a breath, pushing out all the negative vibes I could. “I’m not sure I’m ready to have a big heart-to-heart with her tonight. It’s already been a bit emotionally draining just being around you guys and remembering the past. But I’ll give her a call when I get home and we’ll start slow.”
He nodded, lips clamped like he was afraid if he said anything he’d ruin it, which was totally accurate.
“I appreciate your attempt to make peace and get us talking again. And one nice thing Icansay is that while I moved states for you, I stayed for me. Being with you brought me to a place I love. I’m happy in Raleigh.”
“Happy with that guy?”
Happiness did swell as I thought of Evan. I had moved on. Halfway on. In? Basically I’d packed my bags and was ready to move all the way. I just needed to know if my boyfriend also wanted to move on together, and if he could handle my baggage.
I tried to tell myself that even if he wasn’t, he’d at least been right when he’d told me I’d be fine on my own.
