My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 179 Go Away

Evelyn

The party felt nothing like a party. At least, not to me.

I used to love parties, always in the thick of it, laughing and dancing-but tonight, I was just a shadow. A fucking sad shadow. Sitting in a corner, scrolling through my phone, pretending to be present. Pretending to listen to conversations when my mind was elsewhere. And it was no secret where it had wandered.

Forget about me. I was stressed, sad, emotionally wrecked-so many things I couldn't even find the right word for it. Everyone around me could sense it, too. Not a single person was unaware. Even Cameron, on his own birthday, didn't seem to be having much fun. Sure, he was laughing, dancing, making jokes like he always did, but something about him seemed off. Distant. Uncharacteristic.

He'd asked me a few times before the party if something was wrong, and I shrugged it off. But then he spoke to Mason for a second, and I had a hunch. That piece of garbage must have spilled the beans-told him about Jacob leaving tonight. Told him that 'Jacob's departure' was the reason for my mood. Maybe that explained Cameron's shift.

I felt like such a bitch, ruining his day like this. I wanted to act normal, to put on a smile, but I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't even manage that. Every chuckle at Cameron's jokes felt forced, hollow.

But what could I fucking do? My heart wasn't here. It was with Jacob, and he was taking it with him.

It was just one flight, but it felt like everything would change if I let him get on that plane. Yet, I was the one who pushed him away, wasn't I? Built walls so thick I could barely breathe behind them.

Wasn't I killing myself in this process?

been growing since the party started, thickening with every passing second. And deep down, I knew the reason was me. As guilty as I felt, as much as I wanted to stop Jacob from leaving, there was no denying it-I wanted to go to him, to forget everything and return

him pain? Yet, staying with him, never loving him

the fuck was I supposed to

five minutes. Maybe I was wrong. I hadn't been counting. My mind was too

you something stupid, which-yeah-is true.

was drinking a lot tonight, and even though I was distracted, I noticed. It wasn't the usual birthday kind of drinking. It was the kind of drinking people did when they were going through something.

as I didn't want to admit it, I knew I

I still didn't want to say it aloud. I couldn't admit it, not to him, and not to

said, setting his glass down and looking at me. Despite the loud music and the crowd of friends on the dance floor, it felt like we were in our own little bubble. The chaotic atmosphere didn't touch us. Somehow, we could hear each other perfectly maybe because we needed to

was I so nervous? Maybe because I knew the truth, and I was terrified of hurting him?

leaned in, his eyes locked on mine. "Louder this time. Without

Ket

drink. You should stop." reached for his half-finished glass of whiskey, but before I could take it, his band wrapped around my wrist-not roughly, but firm enough to

Evelyn," he said, his voice dropping lower. "Just...say it." There was something raw in his tone. It

I couldn't say it. I couldn't lie to him like

problem saying it," he pressed, his voice

between us stretched on, heavy

he tightened his grip on my hand and stood up, pulling me with him. "Come with me," he said,