I Pursued Him for My Best Friend Chapter 09

I Pursued Him for My Best Friend Chapter 09

“Oops!”

Kendra’s shrill voice cut through the laughter.

Landon leaned in. “What’s wrong?”

She covered her mouth with a fake, giggly little smile.

“Nothing. Just funny—Piper said she liked Brady earlier, and now they’re sitting together. Such a coincidence.”

She turned to me with wide fake-innocent eyes. “You two look so cute together. Really.”

Landon’s jaw tightened. “Drop it, Kendra.”

She pouted. “But I think Brady likes her too—why else would he sit next to her? I mean, there are other empty seats.”

My blood went cold.

She’d always done this—overanalyzing every glance Landon gave me, every casual “goodnight” text, every time he so much as took a sip of the water I brought.

“How can you tell?”

Brady’s quiet question killed the noise.

Tara and Jenna swiveled to stare at him. Tara even shoved me aside to get a better view. I froze.

Kendra sputtered. “I—well—I just—”

Landon tried to rescue her. “She’s just joking, man. She doesn’t mean anything by it.”

Brady turned to me, his voice calm but sharp. “You think that’s funny?”

“Not at all.” I stood up. My appetite was gone.

“Kendra, you don’t have to test me anymore. I’m not your lab rat.”

Her eyes went wide. “Piper, what are you talking about? I’m just making conversation.”

“I don’t want Landon. You won. He’s yours. But stop acting like you’re not getting off on watching me grovel for your online boyfriend. That’s sick.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but the whole restaurant heard. Neighboring tables turned.

Kendra’s face went pale. “That’s not true! I never thought that!”

She really shouldn’t have pushed me.

“Look, Kendra—you’re not as smart as me, not as pretty, not as talented. You had to win somewhere.”

“Watching me chase him like it was some game—that was your little power trip… And you loved every second of it.”

Her lips trembled. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

I heard whispers behind me. “That’s messed up. Even an enemy wouldn’t do that.” “She played her own best friend.”

Kendra sobbed. She looked to Landon for rescue.

He cleared his throat and stood up slowly, putting on a patronizing,
holier-than-thou act. “Piper. Kendra told me you’re her best friend. She
didn’t want to hurt you. She made a mistake, but it’s not her fault.
You’re out of line. Apologize.”

Not an ounce of shame or guilt. Just the quiet, smug satisfaction of
having two women fighting over him.

I grabbed a plate off the table and hurled it right at his head.

“Apologize my ass!”