One More Chance (Part 2)(19)
“Hi,” Quinn and I say in unison. “I’ll be back,” Quinn says excusing herself.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jason says kindly.
I look at Rebecca, because I haven’t heard a thing about him, “Hopefully all good.”
“Definitely all good,” he says with a smile, showing he has a dimple on his left cheek.
“Okay, we are going to go grab some drinks,” Rebecca says pulling Rob away.
“They aren’t very subtle are they?” Jason says laughing, causing me to laugh, “No, not at all,” I reply.
“Well it’s very nice to meet you; it’s nice to finally be able to put a face to the name. Rebecca talks about you all the time.”
“She’s never mentioned you to me before,” I admit.
“Yeah, I’m not surprised.”
“Why?”
“I was in a relationship and recently got out of one.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. It needed to happen, we are much better off not together,” he states.
“Oh, well that’s good then.”
“Do you want to go into the other room so we can actually talk?”
“Sure,” I say as I follow him to the dining room. The music isn’t as loud and there aren’t as many people.
“Ah that’s better,” he says as he takes a seat on the couch, I follow suit.
For the next hour and a half, I get to learn about Jason. He’s athletic and loves basketball, though he doesn’t play for the school. He works part time at a tattoo parlor and attends school full time. He seems like an honest to goodness good guy and for the first time in a long time, I’m excited.
Liam
“Who is Hails talking to?” I ask Brody for the second time.
“I don’t know who he is,” he says sounding frustrated, “Why do you care? You told her to move on.”
“Because, I still don’t want her to be with a douchebag.”
“She’s a pretty good judge of character. If he’s feeding her bullshit, she’ll know.”
“I know, but find out what you can about him.”
“You don’t like him?”
“No.”
“I wonder why that is big bro,” he says with a look.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Sure it isn’t.”
“It’s not. I told you I’m happy. I’m engaged.”
“Then you shouldn’t worry about what Haley does or who she talks to.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s no longer your concern,” he reminds me.
“She’ll always be my concern. I want her happy.”
“Then you could fix that. You make her happy dipshit.”
“It didn’t work, you know this already.”
“Please, stop trying to bullshit me. You could work and you know it, you’re fucking scared.”
“Scared of what?” I ask annoyed.
“Commitment with Haley.” Brody says calling me out.
“Why would I be afraid? I wanted to fucking marry her,” I say pissed off.
“Then marry her.”
“No. I’m marrying Nina.”
“Because she’s the right girl for you?” he asks looking angry.
“We work.”
“Are you even in love with her?”
“I wouldn’t have proposed to her if I wasn’t.”
“You were thinking you could have married Meg one day and you weren’t in love with her. So what…are you settling or what?”
“No, I’m not fucking settling.”
“Liam, I think you’re afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Haley,” Brody says.
“What? Why would I be afraid of her?” I ask, not believing what my brother is saying.
“Because, she’s the one girl who truly hurt you.”
“It wasn’t even like that,” I lie. That’s exactly what happened.
“You can lie to me all you want, but I’m telling you now, when she settles down, it’s you who’s going to kick yourself in the ass because you let her go.”
“What the hell changed in you?” I ask bitterly.
“I grew up, which apparently you still need to do.”
“I’m happy.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“You’re pissing me off,” I say annoyed.
“Good. How do you feel knowing that Haley’s going to London for the summer?”
“Fine,” I lie again.
“No, seriously,” he says calling me out yet again.
“I’m happy for her.”
“You aren’t going to see her for month’s dude, are you really okay with that?”