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?

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 to what we had, to the

hurting Cameron? How could I live with myself knowing I'd caused him pain? Yet, staying with him, never loving him the way I loved Jacob... That

what the fuck was

what felt like five

are you talking about?" I forced a laugh-so obviously fake, I almost winced. "I know you're thinking that because Mason told you something stupid, which-yeah-is true. But it

almost melancholic smile crossed his lips as he glanced at me, taking another sip of his drink. He 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. Going

as much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew I was the one putting

to say it aloud. I couldn't admit it, not to him,

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 be

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

Jacob," he leaned in, his eyes locked on

Ket

trying to deflect. "Cameron, think you've had too much to drink. You should stop." reached for his half-finished glass of whiskey, but before I could take it, his

said, his voice dropping lower. "Just...say it." There was something raw in his tone. It wasn't just

the words wouldn't come. I couldn't say it. I couldn't

problem saying it," he pressed, his voice firmer now. "So why can't you? It's

me. The silence between us

and stood up, pulling me with him. "Come with me," he