Chapter 33: The Third Fall

I swallowed, my gaze still locked with Lyon’s. The weight of his question lingered between us, leaving me unsure of how to respond. Could I even have two best friends? The idea seemed ridiculous. Sure, I was angry with Jeremy for his obnoxious behavior just a few minutes ago, but even I wasn't heartless enough to replace him. The thought of Jeremy finding out I'd taken on another best friend made me cringe—he’d go insane, terrified of being sidelined like some third wheel. No, this wasn’t the way to get back at him. This felt too extreme. "Eh…uh…I’m sorry. I can’t have more than one best friend. But you can still be my friend," I stammered, trying to balance the rejection with a smile. I didn't want to sound ungrateful to my savior, after all. Lyon’s lips curled into a smirk, his amusement unmistakable. Shouldn't he be annoyed? I had just turned him down, yet he looked like he found the whole thing funny. "Thought as much," he muttered under his breath, and I scoffed. He’d been me