I ducked my chin. “I know.”
“Though I’d be curious to what you were doing at that time in the morning,” he added, like the probability of me being out that late was unthinkable. “Anyway, if you knew that, then you wouldn’t have to double-check on something like that. I got you.”
Tucking my hair back, I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” He paused and his arms tightened. “He’s a douche.”
“Huh?” I blinked.
Kyler was staring over my shoulder, eyes narrowed. “Paul. He’s fucking eyeballing us right now. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
I almost turned around. “He’s not eyeballing us, you ass. He and I were having a conversation before you came along, so he’s probably waiting for me to come back. And he’s not a douche.”
“But I don’t want you to go back.”
I sighed. Was it any wonder why I hadn’t been out on a date in forever, when Kyler was my friend? Well, there were other reasons, but still. Kyler acted like a dad and older brother rolled into one. “You’re being ridiculous.”
He shot me a look that said he knew better. “I don’t like him. I can list all the ways that I don’t.”
“I’ll pass.”
“You’re missing a stimulating list of reasons why.” My eyes rolled. “Well, I don’t like Blondie. I have a thrilling list, too.”
One eyebrow arched. “Blondie? Oh. My new friend?”
“Friend?” I laughed. “I don’t think ‘friend’ is the right term for her.”
He sighed as he leaned forward, propping his chin on my shoulder. “You’re right. That is the wrong term.”
“Okay. You must be drunk if you’re admitting that I’m right.”
“You’re such a smart-ass tonight.” He slid his hand up my back, and I shivered. “Cold?”
Since there was no way in holy hell I was admitting the truth, I lied. “A little.”
“Hmm…you know what?”
The little pressure he was placing on my upper back forced me forward. I placed my cheek on his shoulder and closed my eyes. For a moment, it was easy to pretend that we weren’t in a bar that was playing crappy music, and even better, that we were together.
Together in the way I wanted to be with him.
“What?” I asked, snuggling closer, soaking up the moment.
“That chick isn’t my friend.” His breath was warm against my ear, and I loved the feel of that. “You’ve been my closest friend since I can remember. It’s an insult to you to even call her that.”
I didn’t say anything. Neither did Kyler after that. And we sat there for a little while. Part of me wanted to stand up on a chair and shout to the entire bar that Kyler thought more of me than Blondie. But the other part wanted to go home and throw myself in a corner, because it wouldn’t change how tonight would end. I’d go back to my dorm alone and he’d take Blondie back to his apartment.
It was the same thing every weekend, and God knows how many times during the week.
No one could replace me in his life. I knew that. I was the friend who knew everything about him and whom he trusted above everyone else.
I was Kyler’s best friend.
And because of that, he would never love me the way I loved him.