Page 53 of The Publicity Stunt

“He’s one of the X-Men,” she clarifies for him.

“The what?”

Jesus Christ. “The X-Men,” I repeat. “Wolverine, Cyclops? Those names ring any bells for you?”

Ben snickers in a way that does nothing but piss me off. “Whatever, man. We’re gonna go get a drink. Enjoy the party.” He tightens his hold around April and pulls her out to the living room. She doesn’t look back.

The remainder of the night doesn’t get any better. After two more rounds of beers, my frustration seems to have mellowed to a comfortable level. Logan and Shara stand next to me and I go on staring daggers at the “happy couple” who’s now slow dancing smack in the middle of the dance floor. Who the fuck plays Taylor Swift at a Halloween party?

“Geez, relax,” Shara drawls, nudging my arm, happily nursing her third vodka soda. “She doesn’t like him like that.”

Logan chokes on his beer, and I turn to face her. “What are you talking about?”

“April,” she clarifies. “She doesn’t like Ben. He’s not her type. But you already knew that.”

My mouth drops open and I shoot my roommate an icy glare. “You fucking told her?”

Wiping the corner of his mouth, he shakes his head. “No, but you just did.”

Shara dips her head down to take another sip of her drink. “I’m not an idiot. You basically eye-fuck her every time you’re in the same room.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply, trying to sound unaffected. “We’re just friends.” That word tastes bitter on my tongue. Friends.

“Suuure,” Shara goes on. “Friends who tease each other and call each other names. You two might be friends, Parker”—this time she places her hand on my arm—“but you’re definitely not just friends. I mean you can’t even say her name without blushing.”

“You’re absolutely right, Shara,” I tell her. “We’re so in love with each other. Must be why she brought that caveman as her date.”

Logan tries not to laugh at my diss and Shara just shrugs. “I never said she wasn’t an idiot. You both are.”

The red ambience dims to a pinkish hue, and Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” starts to play. Ben twirls April around and the sound of her laughter fills up the room.

They slowly turn around so she’s facing me. She rests her chin against the crook of his shoulder and they start swaying to the music.

She smiles at me.

I smile back.

A few seconds later, Shara and Logan make their way to the dance floor too. April tightens her arms around Ben and even though she’s dancing with him, she goes on looking at me.

A small voice goes off in my head. Telling me, convincing me this is how it should be. Just the two of us, in our own little bubble. Me and my Chere, connected by an invisible string of memories and inside jokes that only we understand.

Just us two. Not some fucking prick who doesn’t know who the X-Men are.

I’m sorry, she mouths.

My smile fades into something less and I shrug, unsure what she’s apologizing for. Somewhere around the second half of the song, Ben leans back, his arms curling around her neck. She angles her chin upwards, a small furrow between her brows, and he pulls her into a kiss.

Everything stops.

She runs her fingers through his hair, and the whole visual sends a flash of anger coursing through my veins. If I’m not used to missing April, then I’m sure as hell not used to sharing April.

The song ends.

The dance ends.

April blinks open her eyes for a short and horrifying second, and before I know it, I’m on my way out.

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