Page 46 of Dopplebanger

“I’ll be fine for a song.” Right as I said it, a new song started, and I didn’t recognize it, so I just hoped it wasn’t a very long one. I gave Evan a quick peck on the lips, then turned to Kyle.

Madison and Evan danced far enough away to give us privacy, but remained close enough that if I needed them I could easily flag them down.

Kyle put his hands on the sides of my waist and I placed my hands on his shoulders. He was a few inches shorter than Evan. Not as built, either. Definitely didn’t have the chiseled jawline of the gods.

Not that that any of those were the most important things, but I couldn’t help feeling a little smug over it. At one time in my life, the guy across from me had such a strong hold that I couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else.

“I don’t know how to start,” he said.

“Since I don’t know where you’re going, I can’t be of much help.”

He tugged at his tie before returning his hand to my hip. “I guess it boils down to saying I’m sorry. I know I said it before, but things were so raw?—”

“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 myear. “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. Andyou 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.”

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