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I snort and shake my head. "You're kidding, right? She's the child of Satan."
"I think I could like her." He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "She's different when you get to know her."
I am having trouble grasping what he's saying. Different when you get to know her? This coming from the guy who used to tease her and had shunned her all those years ago? Not to mention how awful she is. Isn't there a best friend code for not fraternizing with the enemy or something?
"If you say so," I chuckle, taking another drink of my soda.
"Can you please just be supportive?"
I snap my head up in his direction, incensed. "Supportive? Like you've been so supportive of my relationship?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he snaps, his tone icy.
I shoot up, my stool screeching against the expensive tile floor. Adam glares at me, his cheeks flushed in anger.
"Don't play dumb. I'm not a stranger. I know when something's up with you. So, spill it."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he spits out, emphasizing each word.
"So you don't have feelings for me? That's what everyone else seems to think!" I yell at him, unable to stop my anger from boiling over. As soon as the words tumble out of my mouth, I wish they never did.
The look on his face kills me. He looks so unbearably sad as he takes a deep breath and shakes his head.
"I did," he says so quietly, I barely hear him. "At least I think I did."
My heart falls as I let out a shaky breath. I didn't want Oakley to be right about this. I can handle 'used' to, though. I can deal with that. It doesn't have to change anything.
"Did? You don't anymore, right? You've moved on?"
I put a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. He tenses under my touch and clenches his fists.
"I don't know. Sometimes I think I'm in love with you, and sometimes I think I've moved on. I thought I was content with just being your best friend until Oakley came along. He didn't even have to do anything and you were jumping into his arms."
I look away from him so he won't see the hurt in my eyes.
"I hate seeing you with him. He doesn't know you like I do. He doesn't deserve you," he adds, his face twisted into an expression of contempt at the mere mention of Oakley.
My sympathy slowly morphs into anger and I'm doing everything I can to not lash out at him. It's a sensitive issue, and I don't want to make it any worse.
"This isn't his fault. You've always been my best friend, Adam. That's all."
"Do you love him?" Adam asks quietly, his voice sad.
"I never wanted to hurt you. I didn't know you felt like that," I add to change the subject. The last thing I want to do is hurt him even more. I can't believe I was such an idiot.
"Do you? I need to know," he asks desperately. "I know he loves you. It's pretty obvious."
"I love him," I mutter, my eyes locked on the countertop.
"Does he make you happy?"
My voice shakes when I answer him. "Very."
"Then I'll lay off. I'm sorry," he says ruefully and drops his head in his hands.
Guil, shame, and embarrassment wash over me. How could I not have known? I was so oblivious to it. What if that made it so much worse for him?
"I don't want to lose you," I whisper. My heart aches at the thought of not having Adam in my life.
