“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just thinking. You’re right, we won’t see each other, but when we do, can we try to be civil?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Did you drive here all by yourself last night?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did you come by yourself?”
“Because Brody wasn’t ready to go.”
“So you left him there?” I ask surprised.
“Yeah. You shouldn’t have driven that late at night by yourself.”
“I was fine. Where’s Nina?” I ask confused.
“You left because you were pissed off at me and she’s at my parent’s house,” he says like it’s nothing.”
“You’re right, I was pissed off. You just left her there?” I ask surprised.”
“It’s fine; she knows what’s going on.”
“What’s going on?” I say confused.
“With the house, Haley, what I said was wrong last night. This house isn’t stupid, I was wrong for saying that and I’m sorry,” he says looking apologetic.
“No this house isn’t stupid. I do love this house and at one point so did you,” I remind him.
“You’re right, I did. It’s a great house and I know you love it, that’s why I was giving it to you; not as a hand out or anything like that, but because this is your house Haley.”
“Then I will buy this house from you. You aren’t giving me anything,” I say standing firm.
“The house is already paid off.”
“Then I will make payments to you. The internship I’m doing this summer is a paid internship, and I have money saved.”
“Haley, I don’t want your money,” he says sounding frustrated.
“That’s the only way I will take this house. Either you sell it to me or you will be taking it back. What’s it going to be?” I ask sternly.
“Fine, I’ll sell you the house for $1.00 then,” he says looking completely serious.
“No, it’s worth more than that. I will buy the house for the same price you purchased it for.”
“Not a chance,” he says looking pissed.
“Then you are going to be taking your house back.”
“No I’m not, how about a hundred dollars? I’m not taking any more than that Haley, so you might as well agree to it.”
“Fine,” I say frustrated as I grab my purse and pull out my checkbook.
“You don’t need to pay me now.”
“Yes I do,” I say as I write the check out to Liam Masters for one hundred dollars. “Here you go,” I say as I hand him the check. He’s reluctant, but takes the check anyway. “When do you have to head back?”
“I don’t. My season’s over for this year.”
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Enjoy the break and visit some friends.”
“That sounds like fun,” I say.
“Yeah, it sucks the seasons over, but whatever, there’s always next year,” he says like it’s no big deal.
“How do you like Minnesota?”
“I don’t,” he says quickly, which causes me to laugh.
“Where would you rather be?”
“I’m grateful the team picked me up, but I wish I was somewhere warmer.”
“It’s cold here too and you played football here.”
“It was different here, I loved this school. This is where I dreamed of going to college and I did.”
“You’re still a big name around here.”
“I bet,” he says with a sexy smirk.
“Smug shit.”
“No I’m not, I’m being realistic. I helped the team and we won last year, which speaks volumes,” he says excitedly.
“Yeah, that’s true,” I admit.
“How’s it going for you?”
“It’s better now,” I admit.
What do you mean?” he asks with a look.
“Really…like you don’t know already. I know you talk to people here.”
“True, but what are you talking about, what happened?” he asks, looking like he has no idea what happened.
“The first few months sucked, but eventually the rumors and shit stopped.”
“What rumors?” he asks looking thoroughly lost.
“On why we ended and what type of person I was. Like I said, it sucked, but eventually they stopped.”
“I’m glad they stopped.”
“Yeah, now I’m good and back to loving school here.”
“How’s the sorority going?” he asks changing subjects.
“Great, it’s a house full of good girls this time,” I say arrogantly.
“I hear you. I am sorry about what Meg did to you, you have to know that,” he says looking sincere.