Page 27 of Catching Kyle

I’m flustered. “I—”

“He doesn’t drink,” David says.

Steven kisses him on the cheek and leaves us.

David eyes me up and down. “You’re looking good.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”

“What?” He asks, standing straighter, noticeably perturbed. “I’m just saying. Wouldn’t mind getting in those cheeks again.”

I blush, and it feels like one of those rugby events all over again. “David, you’re already drunk?” He always knew how to hide it well. Until he didn’t. But clearly now he’s given up on sobriety.

He shrugs. “You know I can’t resist you.”

I scoff. “That’s not happening. You have a boyfriend.”

He wrinkles his nose and tilts his head side to side. “That’s negotiable.”

I shake my head. “And does he know that?”

David says nothing.

I turn away. “I’m leaving.”

He reaches out and grabs me. I freeze.

“I am trying,” he says. “To stop.”

I don’t turn to him. But I don’t walk away either.

Stop what?I want to ask.Your drinking? Lying? Being an asshole?

“You know how hard it’s been for me,” he says. “And truthfully, I miss you.”

My heart thaws a bit at the words I wanted to hear. I turn slightly to him. “Really?”

He nods, his eyes sparking. “Yeah.”

Amani spots me from the crowd, then her eyes widen. She lets go of the girl she was dancing with and stomps toward us.

David looks toward the bar and lets go of me like I’m diseased. Just as Amani reaches me, Steven returns with their drinks.

“Here you go,” the ginger Steven says, handing David his drink.

“Michael,” Amani says, putting her arm on mine.

I glare at David, wanting him to say more. But his eyes are vacant, and he stares at nothing, as if he didn’t just try and get in my pants. As if he didn’t just try to apologize.

Some people wave to the two of them.

“See you around,” Steven says to me, and he pulls David away—who doesn’t even dare to say bye.

I clench my fists.

“Michael,” Amani says, rubbing my shoulder. “I’m sorry, I lost you. Let’s get out of here.”

My phone buzzes. I pull it out as I rub my burning eyes.