“What do you mean?”
“Well, the same way I look at you. And don’t try to tell me otherwise.”
As I tried to think of a response, someone came up behind me and put their arms around my shoulders. It was Julian again. “You guys are so lame. Could you stop fighting for once and try to enjoy yourselves?”
Taylor shifted his eyes away from mine to look at Julian. “Do you mind? I’m trying to talk to my girlfriend.”
Julian pulled me toward him and said, “Oh, she’s your girlfriend? Sorry, I didn’t know, since you’ve spent the whole fucking party ignoring her.”
“Julian, don’t get involved,” I said, trying to shrug him off.
Taylor got in his face. “Who the fuck are you?” he shouted. “Her fucking babysitter?”
“I’m her friend, and I don’t like seeing people ignore her.”
With an acid grin, Taylor turned to me. “So it’s not just my brother. You’ve got other guys after you too?”
Before I could respond, Julian said, “Oh shit, he knows about Thiago?”
Furious, Taylor looked at me and shouted, “What the fuck do I need to know about Thiago?”
“Nothing!” I couldn’t believe this was happening. “And Julian, can you shut up? You’re only making this worse.”
“I’m just trying to defend you!” he said.
“I don’t need anyone to defend me!”Was everybody at this damn party out of their minds?
“You could fool me,” Julian responded.
“To hell with this shit,” Taylor said, “I’m out of here.” He walked past us and vanished into the people dancing in the living room. I tried to follow him, but Julian grabbed my arm and held it tight.
“Kam, stop letting people string you along.”
Trying to break free, I pleaded, “Why don’t you stop telling me what to do?”
“You look pathetic.”
By now, I was furious. “Do you hear yourself?” I asked him. “You’re supposed to be my friend!”
“I am? That’s news, because I care about you, but you sure don’t seem to care about me! Friendship is a two-way street, you know.”
He was right. I had been so focused on my own problems I’d almost forgotten the rest of the world existed. “I’m sorry, Julian,” I said. “You’re right. I’m just having a tough time right now, and…”
“Honey, I know.” He pulled me into a hug, a little too close, a little too tight. But it was Julian, he was gay, he couldn’t have feelings for me. Could he?
“And I’m here for you.”
I took a step back once he let his arms slacken. “I appreciate that, Julian, but just let me come to you instead of trying to solve my problems for me.”
“Kam, you need help. I’m the only friend you have left.”
Was that true? I looked at all the people dancing and sweating. Everyone was with someone. Everyone was having a blast. Then there was me. I looked around for Ellie. There she was again. With Danny.What the hell was going on?“I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine,” I said and walked off.
I got another glass of punch, but my stomach told me I’d better lay off. I looked for Taylor, but he had vanished, and so had Ellie, and I didn’t want to think about what she might be doing. As for Julian, I don’t know. He was just rubbing me the wrong way.
I didn’t fit in there. I knew that now. Not that I hadn’t suspected it before, but that sudden sensation of being totally out of place was painful, especially since my boyfriend had supposedly organized the party for me. People were staring at me, I could tell. And they enjoyed seeing me squirm, watching how no one came to my rescue.
On the other side of the room, Kate took a drink and whispered something to Marissa, who glared at me and laughed. I turned, ready to walk out the front door and go home, but then I saw them.
