Page 78 of The Second Dance

It’s not like I can call dibs on her. She’s an independent person with a will of her own.

But I would hope Skyler, my best friend and my blood, would know how hard it would be for me to see the two of them together.

I’m trying not to care.

I really am.

But I can’t stop kicking myself over it.

I’m the dumbass that decided to let her go. It was out of self-preservation and I’m pretty sure it was the right thing to do.

But that doesn’t stop it from hurting like hell.

44.

Andy

I’ve been looking to seeing Whit all week.

We planned to eat pizza and watch Steel Magnolias. But from the moment I walked in the door, I could tell something was off.

I sit on Whit’s couch, pretending to watch Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton while they grace the same screen, but all I can pay attention to is the way Whit is violently shredding her pizza crust.

We take turns doing this to each other. Bringing a rain cloud as a third wheel to our girls’ nights. Usually, she’ll spill if I just wait long enough.

But seems like I’m going to have to drag it out of her.

I reach for the remote, pausing Julia mid-laugh. God, that woman is beautiful. “Okay. What is it?”

“What?” Whit says, subtly dusting her hands off.

“Something’s been eating you. What is it?” I draw my knees up, resting my chin on them. “Boy troubles?”

I meant it lightly, but it’s like I hit the nail on the head. And drove that nail right into a nerve. Her face closes off from me and she climbs to her feet, grabbing her plate. I follow her to the kitchen, watching her scrub at a clean counter.

“Okay, now you’ve got me worried. What’s up, Whit?”

“You ought to know.”

Her gaze sears me.

Oh shit.

All that anger is directed at me. I wrack my brain, wondering what I did.

Her hands drop to her sides. “Why him?”

I tilt my head. My heart is racing and I’m not even sure what she’s talking about. Whit never gets mad at me. “Who?”

“Skyler Thomas.”

“What about Skyler Thomas? Whit. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Just keep digging yourself deeper, Andy. I know that you and Skyler are screwing around, but what I don’t understand is why you couldn’t just leave him alone. You’ve always been like this, sucking all the air out of the room.”

I’ve got a hot, panicky feeling. “I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, but I don’t have a thing for him. Really. I’m not interested.”

She laughs. “Of course, you’re not. You never are. You just like to string guys along, but don’t actually have the guts to follow through.”

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