Page 202 of Puck Me Back to Life

“What?”

Kai crosses his arms. “You.”

“What about me?”

“You fucked my best friend, didn't you?”

Dante smiles sheepishly. “I like her.”

I clap him once on the shoulder. “He's got it bad.”

Kai laughs—a real laugh this time. “I think you're right.”

Dante sighs dramatically. “How'd you know I was lying?”

“You were standing outside her apartment wearing yesterday's clothes,” I point out.

Kai unlocks his front door, still grinning. “Come inside before the rest of my building decides to investigate.”

As we step into the apartment, Dante mutters under his breath, “I cannot believe I got caught because of a wallet.”

I smile. “No. You got caught because you were standing outside your girlfriend's apartment with heart eyes.”

Dante immediately turns bright red. “She's not my girlfriend.”

Kai and I exchange a look. Neither of us says a word.

Dante groans. “Oh, don't do the silent thing.”

We both keep smiling.

“Guys.”

Still nothing.

“I hate both of you.”

Kai laughs again as he closes the apartment door behind us.

19

Kai

Sonia's office has started feeling familiar.

The first time I came here after everything with Ash, I'd spent almost twenty minutes sitting in my car trying to convince myself to leave. Now I walk in without thinking about it, nodding to the receptionist before making my way down the hallway.

The room looks exactly the same as it did last week.

Soft lighting.

Bookshelves lined with psychology texts and novels.

Two chairs angled toward one another instead of directly across. Sonia once told me that people were more honest when conversations felt collaborative instead of confrontational. At the time I'd rolled my eyes.

Now I understand.

She smiles as I sit down. “How has this week been?”