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Our friends Skylar Murphy and Kyle Webber stood with him decked to the nines. Skylar, while wearing a dress, kept true to her trademark goth style, pairing the frilly black number with torn fishnet stockings, fingerless gloves, and thick eyeliner. She looked like the perfect undead homecoming queen.
Kyle was dressed traditionally in slacks and a green shirt with a yellow striped tie. I noticed his brown hair was also recently cut and styled much like Adam’s, which wasn’t surprising. Kyle was always emulating Adam in all things. But unfortunately, Kyle was usually relegated to the second string in sports and with the girls. He would always be Adam’s less attractive friend, which wasn’t fair, Kyle was a good-looking guy. But Adam was in a completely different league. I knew it bothered him, though he would never say anything. He was loyal to Adam to a fault. Nothing would get in the way of their friendship.
“Hey, guys,” I said, my mouth dry and my heart pounding. I focused on Skyler and Kyle so that I could get myself under control.
Chill out, Meg. It’s just Adam! I scolded myself.
Just Adam.
If only.
Skylar lifted her hand in greeting, too cool to say anything.
“Hey, Meg,” Kyle greeted with a smile, his eyes instantly zeroing in over my shoulder. “Uh, hey Whit. H-how are you? No school?” He stuttered and stumbled over his words, not even trying to hide his obvious desire for my sister.
Whitney, always oblivious, rolled her eyes. “There’s no school on the weekend, Kyle.” She forever treated him like a pesky little brother, even if he was now a lot taller than her and had developed a defined muscular build. The poor guy hadn’t even been friend-zoned. He’d been looked over entirely. She turned to me, squeezing my arm. “Go get ’em, tiger,” she whispered.
“Thanks, Whit. For everything,” I told her before turning back to my friends.
“Later, guys. Have fun!” Whitney called out, heading back up the stairs. Kyle glumly watched her leave.
Skylar elbowed him in the side. “You’re drooling, Romeo.” Kyle glared at her but surreptitiously wiped his mouth.
I hopped down the final two steps, bumping Skylar with my hip. “You clean up nicely, Murphy.” Skylar made no outward show of being pleased by my compliment. She wasn’t one to emote much. It’s probably why we got along so well. I ran hot and cold to such an extreme that Adam had nicknamed me Hurricane Meg when I was a pre-teen. Skylar had always been a balance to my intensity.
“Not so bad yourself, Galloway,” she replied, finally allowing herself to smile—only the slightest.
“Sexy, mama,” Kyle grinned, picking me up and twirling me around. I laughed, smacking him on the shoulder so he would put me down.
“Shut up, Web,” I grumbled, loving the appreciation all the same.
I glanced up at Adam, who was still chatting with my dad and noticed his eyes on me. My heart fluttered wildly in my chest. Was I imagining that he looked at me with something that seemed a lot like desire?
Or was it wishful thinking? Because honestly, how would I even know what desire looked like? I had nothing to compare it to in my minimal experience with the opposite sex.
“There’s my girl,” Dad exclaimed, beaming at me proudly. I walked over and threw my arms around my dad’s neck, hugging him tightly. I never shied away from showing my parents affection. I didn’t subscribe to that silly teenage notion that you couldn’t still hug your mom and dad just because you had grown up.
Dad pulled back and looked at me, shaking his head. “Why did you have to go and grow up on me, Meggie Bear?” He kissed my cheek. “You look absolutely stunning. Doesn’t she, Adam?”
I glanced at my best friend and felt the world drop out from underneath me. I wasn’t imagining the look in his eyes at all.
He swallowed before answering. “She’s gorgeous.” There was a note in his voice that changed absolutely everything.
This was our night.
Finally.
“Everyone, get together so I can take a picture!” my mom called out, bustling into the room with the energy of a whirling dervish. Mom always brought an energy that could either be exciting or exhausting, depending on her mood.
Our group of four huddled together in the front foyer. We were a motley crew, but we worked. I felt Adam put his hand on my hip as he squeezed in close.
“You really do look amazing, Meg,” he murmured in my ear. I could smell his aftershave and the distinct scent that was all him.
His fingers burned through my dress, branding my skin.
This was it.
The moment it would all change.
I wanted to hold onto this feeling forever.
**
Of course, it all crashed and burned extraordinarily.
Because Adam Ducatewas no longer my best friend.
Now he was simply the asshole that broke my heart.
