He lifted his guilt-ridden gaze to mine. “I was the one texting Ivy. It… it wasn’t Kyle. It was me all along.”
I scrunched my face in confusion. “Really?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “And now he’s dead because I impersonated him in text. Quinn went after him, and the whole time, I was the one talking to Ivy.”
I grimaced. “Now, just hold on, Pervis. As I’ve already told you, there’s no proof that Quinn did a darn thing to Kyle. That’s all in your head.”
He scowled. “No, it’s just no one wants to listen to me. Quinn hated Kyle because of me. I got him murdered as surely as the sun rises in the east.”
Sighing, I leaned toward him. “The ME hasn’t even given their report yet. Why are you so positive there was foul play?”
“Because Kyle was too savvy to consume anything with peanuts. That means someone slipped that toxin into something without his knowledge. The only person I know for a fact who had a grudge against Kyle was Quinn.” His bottom lip quivered. “And the only reason Quinn went after Kyle was because I was talking to Ivy.”
“You’re making a lot of assumptions there, Pervis. Come on now. Quinn didn’t kill your brother. He didn’t kill anyone.”
“He’s the only person I can think of. It… it has to be him who did it.”
“No. It doesn’t. At this time, there is no proof that anyone hurt Kyle. There is absolutely no connection between Quinn and your brother on the day of hisdeath. I’m sorry. I know you need someone to blame, but you’re barking up the wrong tree with Quinn.”
He pressed his knuckles to his forehead. “But if you’re wrong, I’m the reason he’s gone.”
I sighed. “You’re not the reason. No one is. Odds are it was simply a tragic accident.”
He sniffed back tears, looking completely drained.
“What I want to understand is why in the world you’d impersonate your brother? Why not just text Ivy yourself?”
He winced. “Because Kyle was so much smarter and confident than me. Girls always liked him, not me.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute.”
“It’s true.” He met my gaze. “Even if a girl liked me first, they always moved on to Kyle. He’d swoop in, and they’d forget all about me.”
I frowned. “You mean, he’d do that knowing you liked the girl?”
He grimaced. “He couldn’t help it. He was just a flirt, and he was naturally charming.”
I didn’t want to speak ill of the dead, so I held my tongue. But it seemed a bit smarmy to me that Kyle would have done that to his brother. Had it been a control thing? Maybe he hadn’t wanted Pervis to stop worshiping him? If Pervis had gotten a girlfriend, he probably wouldn’t have been at Kyle’s beck and call.
“You’re perfectly charming, Pervis.”
He shook his head. “No. When I get around a girl I like, I turn into an idiot. It’s like I forget how to speak.” His cheeks were pink. “Ivy is so pretty, and I knew she’d respond if Kyle texted her. So, that’s who I pretended to be. It worked too.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Ivy was responding toyou. You were the one saying everything to her.”
“But she thought it was Kyle.”
“Yes, but it was you.” I studied his pale face. “She loved the poem you sent her.”
He looked up, his expression embarrassed. “She told you about that?”
“Yes. She was flattered. Kyle didn’t write that poem—you did. She was responding to who you are. Can you see that?”
“I don’t know.” He let out a shaky breath. “I just want Kyle back. I… I just want him here with me. I don’t like being alone.”
“I get it, but the fact is you need to learn to be your own man, Pervis. You’re smart, and you have everything going for you. Whether you’re comfortable with it or not, you’re no longer in Kyle’s shadow. The spotlight is on you and just you. People will see you for who you are.”
“I’d rather be in his shadow,” he mumbled.
