Austin shows up a few minutes later with my unopened beer. I crack the top and take a swig. “Thanks,” I say feeling thirsty.
“No problem. So I just got lectured,” he says out of nowhere.
“What? Lectured for what?”
“About treating you with respect,” he says all serious.
“You are, you’ve been nothing but great tonight.”
“Thanks, but yeah, I got a mouthful when I walked into the kitchen.”
“By who?” I ask slightly confused because the beers are starting to hit me.
“Masters and Spence.”
“They told you to be nice to me?” I ask confused.
“Pretty much told me I better not disrespect you or they are going to kick my ass,” he says with a look.
“I wouldn’t worry about them. I don’t even know his friend.”
“I’m not worried,” he says looking serious.
“That’s good, I thought you were friends? At least you seemed like it earlier.”
“We’re cool, he’s a good guy.”
“See, you can just ignore them.”
“Ignore who?” Liam asks, as him and the guy known as Spence walk up to us.
“You two actually,” I say not holding back.
“Is that so?” he asks as he takes a seat beside me, Spence beside Austin.
“Yes it is,” I say staring him down, he throws up a small smirk and I want nothing more than to knock it off his face.
“So, I take it you told her we had a talk in the kitchen,” Liam says as a statement, not a question.
“I did,” Austin says nervously. I thought he said he wasn’t worried…ugh men.
“We need to talk now,” I say to Liam as I stand up.
“We are talking,” he says as he drinks his beer.
“No, you and me outside now,” I say in a threatening tone, before I head towards the door. He says something to Spence and Austin before he follows behind me.
I barely make it out the door before I’m up in his face, “What the fuck is your problem? One minute you tell me to leave you the hell alone and the next you’re ordering my date around.”
“How did you get messed up with Austin?” he asks in a calm tone, completely ignoring my questions.
“It was a double date, Rebecca set it up, now what the hell is your problem?”
“Do you like him?”
“I just met him, I don’t know,” I snap.
“I don’t think you should date him.”
“And why is that?” I ask frustrated and pissed because he’s ruining a perfectly good night for me.
“He’s not the right guy for you. You don’t know him Haley,” he states.
“Oh, but you do right. You know him and what’s best for me right?” I snap.
“I didn’t say that, but when it comes to some of the guys, yes I know them.”
“I didn’t go to West Virginia because I didn’t want to be Kenzie’s shadow and I sure as hell didn’t come here for you to boss me around. I can make my own choices. I don’t need you or your help,” I shout.
“Are you sure about that?” he says in a cocky tone.
“I did just fine the first year without you, I can make it the rest of the way.”
“We’ll see about that,” he says looking anything but sincere.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You wanted to play games before, it’s my turn to play games now,” he says before walking away from me again.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I scream after him, but he just ignores me and continues on his way. “Liam,” I scream, but it’s pointless.
I head inside after him but I don’t see him anywhere in sight. I don’t see Spence with Austin either. I head over towards Austin, “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know, but Haley let it go, whatever it is, let it go,” he says in a warning tone.
“What the hell just happened?”
“Liam Masters is not someone you mess with, you should know that.”
“How? He wasn’t this asshole growing up.”
“He’s been the same guy since the first day I met him. People don’t fuck with him Haley and you shouldn’t either. He can pretty much do whatever he wants.”
“Well he needs to leave me the hell alone. I’m ready to go,” I say wanting nothing more to do with this house or Liam Masters right now.
Austin walks me home and seems on edge the entire time. “What’s going on?” I ask as I come to a complete stop wanting answers.
“Haley I know I just met you tonight and you seem like a great girl, you really do, but I’m not going to be able to see you again,” he says solemnly.