Page 30 of Doyle

Every time someone asked how I was doing, I gave a vague answer and quickly changed the subject.

Billy, Frank, and Joel were the hardest. They bombarded me with questions, reminiscing about high school and all the fun times we had.

I forced myself to laugh along, but inside, I felt like an imposter.

"Remember that time we snuck into the old factory?" Joel asked, grinning.

I nodded, but the memory felt distant, like it belonged to someone else.

"Yeah, that was wild,” I said.

Billy clapped me on the shoulder.

"We're glad to have you back, man. We missed you,” he said. “Hey, you should come by the house sometime. Meet the wife and kids.”

"Thanks," I said, my smile feeling strained. “And uh, thanks for the invitation. I’ll think about it.”

In five years, my friends had gone to college, married, had kids while mine was at a standstill.

As the night wore on, I felt more and more like a caged animal.

The walls seemed to close in on me, the noise overwhelming. I excused myself and slipped outside, the cool night air a welcome relief.

I leaned against the porch railing, taking deep breaths. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions.

I missed Doyle more than ever, his absence a hollow ache in my chest. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, hoping for a message from Doyle.

Instead, it was a photo from my dad, taken during the party. We looked happy, surrounded by friends. But I knew the truth.

I couldn't keep pretending. I needed to talk to Doyle, to hear his voice, to feel grounded again.

With shaking hands, I dialed his number.

"Michael?" Doyle's voice was warm, concerned.

"Doyle, I... I need to hear your voice," I said, my voice breaking.

"I'm here, Michael. What's wrong?" Doyle asked.

I took a deep breath, feeling the tears well up. “I thought I could pretend to be normal for one night everything’s fine, but it feels so wrong. I feel like a stranger in my own life. I miss you,” I blurted out those words without thinking.

"I miss you too," Doyle said softly.

"Can you stay on the line? Just for a little while?" I asked, feeling vulnerable.

"Of course," he said. "I'll stay as long as you need."

I calmed down a little as Doyle told me about the recent shenanigans Ariel and Porter had gotten into.

"When Zane finally questioned them, Ariel admitted to shifting into her dragon form to fly into Mrs. Lee's kitchen to steal her cookies," Doyle finished.

I couldn't help but laugh as I pictured the devious little girl and her brother.

"Do you feel a little better now?" Doyle asked.

"Yeah," I admitted. "Sorry I called out of the blue."

"You can call me anytime," Doyle said, his words warming my heart. "So, are you ready to return to the party?"

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