Page 91 of My Ex's Best Friend

A girl walks past our table.

"Just look at that one. You like blondes, don't you?" Chris says. I don't answer him or even look up at the girl. I don't care.

"Well, if you won't, I will." He slides off the booth and walks off, presumably after the girl.

"Unbelievable," Henry says, shaking his head.

As I reach for another whiskey shot, Henry stops me. "Jacob Bennett, you need to stop right now. This isn't like you at all."

"I just don't understand why she wouldn't talk to me," I say, my voice choking. "We were so happy together. I was planning to propose. I even got a ring in Spain."

"Jesus," Henry says. "You were only going out for two months."

"Kiera means so much more to me," I say.

"I know," Henry says. "I've always known. That's why I feared something bad would happen if she continued to be so close to you. Even back in college, you and her made more sense. I mean, you would get her gifts on Chris's behalf, and she fell in love with him because you taught him how to love her."

"But she hates me," I say. "I broke her trust once. That isn't something you come back from."

Henry shakes his head. "I don't think she's upset about what happened in college. That was a long time ago."

"You think something else happened?"

"Yes, don't you?" Henry says.

"I don't know," I say. "I can't figure out what it is. Maybe some more whiskey will help me clear my head."

"Said nobody ever."

"I can get more from the bar," I tell him.

"You're messed up right now," Henry says. "I need to take you home." He comes over to my side of the booth to help me out, but I shake him off.

In the corner of my eye, I see a blonde with long hair. Her hair spills down her back, and she's wearing a tight black dress. I can't see her face, but I know it's Kiera.

She's not alone. She's talking to a guy and leaning closer and closer.

Oh, hell no.

I beeline for Kiera, shoving people out of my way to get to her. I just know I need to get to her. "Kiera? Kiera?"

The man with her shoves at me. "What the hell are you doing? Get away from her."

Annoyance flares at me, and I grab his lapel, ready to charge.

"Jake? What the hell are you doing? Have you gone absolutely insane?" Henry says. “Get away from him this instant.”

My anger subsides, and my vision clears.

The girl turns around, her eyes wide, mouth open.

It's not Kiera at all.

"I'm sorry," I say, pushing the hair out of my face. "I thought you were someone else."

"You're crazy," she tells me before turning away.

Henry drags me away from them, and I let him. We leave the bar, and he only stops when we're out on the sidewalk.

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