One Chance (Part 1)(72)
“I didn’t plan it, it just kind of happened.”
“So you’re what, dating my brother now?”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” he stops to stare at me, waiting for an answer.
“We aren’t dating,” I stutter.
“Then what are you doing Haley?”
“Liam and I have an agreement okay.”
“What kind of agreement?”
“Umm…friends with benefits kind of agreement,” I say shyly.
“No, no way. You aren’t lowering yourself to that,” he says adamantly.
“It’s fine. It works for both of us.”
“Haley, no it doesn’t. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Yes you are. I see the way you look at him; you’ve always looked at him that way. This isn’t just sex Haley and you know it.”
“What?” I ask shocked at his admission.
“The way you look at him, that’s the way I wished you would look at me.”
“What?” I shout, “You’re with Kenzie.”
“Yes I am and I love her, but there was a time when all I wanted was you. You were all I saw, hell, all I thought about.”
“Then why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I was going to, but then Kenzie asked me out; you said you didn’t care, so I figured why not.”
“You two are great together.”
“Yes we are and I love her, I’d do anything for her. But Haley you and Liam, it can’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“He’s on his last year of college then he’s going to go pro, and he’ll make it Hails you know he will. Then that leaves you here for two years with him gone, traveling the country playing football.”
“I know,” I say looking towards the ground.
“Haley, you deserve a great guy who will put you first, Liam’s not that guy.”
“But,”
“But nothing. Haley, he’s my brother; I love him, but what he’s doing with you isn’t fair to you.”
“It’s just sex though,” I defend.
“You and I both know it’s not just sex for you, but it is just sex for him. You are setting yourself up for disaster Hails.”
“I can handle it.”
“No you can’t and I’m not across the street to help you. I’m hours away; Kenzie is hours away. You need to end it now,” he says all serious.
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Does he know how you feel?”
“What? God no.”
“Then you need to stop it now.”
“I’ll talk to him. Why are you here so early?” I ask changing the subject.
“We decided to surprise you so we left after our last class yesterday. We got here in the middle of the night, so we slept at the hotel. Kenzie’s still at the hotel. I wanted to talk to Liam figuring I could catch him this morning before he has any classes and shit, but I didn’t expect to find you there.”
“Sorry,” I say with a shrug.
“It’s fine. Let’s go back, do you want me to drop you off at your house?” he asks kindly.
“No, you and Liam need to have a talk and no fighting this time,” I say with a stern look.
“I hear you,” he says as we continue on our walk back. By the time we get to the house, Liam is holding the door open for us to enter. The small cut on his lip is almost nonexistent now.
“I’m going to get my things and head home, so you two can talk.”
“You can stay,” Liam says surprising me.
“No, I think you two need to talk in private,” I say as I head towards his room. He has my dress and things already in a neat pile on the bed, so I grab them and my shoes, put them in a bag and head back out to the living room. Both boys are sitting, but neither is talking.
“Okay, I will see you both later. Brody, have Kenzie call me, Liam I’ll talk to you later.”
Liam nods his head and Brody shakes his. I walk out the door and head home wondering what the hell just happened.
Walking into the house I’m surprised to find Quinn home, fast asleep. I try to be quiet because it’s still early, so I tiptoe around and then decide to lie down for a little while longer.
“Why are you coming in right now?” Quinn asks, obviously awake now.
“Umm…had a small issue this morning.”
“What happened?” she asks as she turns to look at me.
“Brody showed up.”
“What?” she shrieks, “I thought they weren’t leaving until today.”
“Yeah, apparently they decided to leave last night. Brody came over this morning to talk to Liam and surprise, surprise, he found me in bed with Liam.”