Liam~
By the time we get to the party, the place is crowded with people. I can hear the music beating all the way to the driveway.
I spot Mickey, Hunter and Blake’s trucks. Nice to know the guys are here already. With them here to keep the party going, I can give all my attention to Mila.
I park next to Hailey’s blue convertible Mini Cooper. The girl’s something else. We only tolerate her because she hangs out with Maddy who’s a sweetheart.
Hunter’s been trying to get her attention for the past two months. I think he’s about to call it a lost cause and move onto greener pastures, though. I just hope he stays away from Hailey. We love Maddy, but Hailey? Not so much. I don’t know why they’re friends. Suppose opposites attract in their case, because Maddy is all angel, where Hailey’s bitch on heels
I run around the truck to open the door for Mila. I smile when I think of how I had to help her get in back at her house. It was the cutest damn thing ever when she asked me if I had climbing gear for her to use so she could get into my truck.
Roars of laughter fill the air and I hear Hunter whoop from somewhere in the back.
I push my arm in behind Mila, and as I lift her out of the truck, I press her body against mine. Her hands grip my shoulders and a carefree giggle bubbles up her throat.
Yeah, that’s more like it. Attention on me girl.
“Stick with me girl I’ll make you famous.” Talk about a lame line. That sounded much better in my head than out loud. Crap, I sound like a dick.
“Is that so?” she teases.
She blushes, giving away that her words might just have a double meaning. Do they? Or am I reading too much into them? Damn, I’m becoming a pervert like that dick Ross.
I pull her against me, testing the waters. She doesn’t tense up, instead her hands instantly go around my neck. She hasn’t stopped smiling up at me. The sadness in her eyes is gone. They look warm, inviting even.
I could kiss her right now. I want to kiss her. Shit, I’ve wanted to taste her for so long.
“Liam.”
My head falls back and I let out a growl in frustration. Mila steps away from me as Hailey and Maddy walk over to us.
“Why are you standing out here? The party’s inside.” Hailey places her arm around my waist, takes hold of my arm and tries to snuggle closer.
I’m tired of this shit. You smile at a girl and they think they own your soul, body and balls.
They used to be cool girls to hang around with, now I only tolerate Hailey for Maddy’s sake. Maddy is a sweet chick, but Hailey has gone off the deep end. Lately, rumors have started going around that Hailey charges for sex. I mean, you show her the money and she shows you ‘wet and wild’ porno style.
Yeah … ah, like hell no! I try to shrug away, cross my arms over my chest and take another step back just for safety’s sake.
This girl is like an octopus that found her next meal, because she comes at me again. Da-yaamn. They don’t come with suction control anymore. She tries to get her claws around my arm again and I’m forced to take another step back.
I’m irritated with her interrupting us.
“Why don’t you get back to the party?” I ask.
“We can wait for you,” Hailey says, not catching onto the fact that I’m trying to get rid of her.
Say what? Nu-uh. Hell no! Would you get off me, woman?
“I’m busy.” I wish she would take a hint already.
“With what?” She frowns at me, then finally she acknowledges Mila’s presence for the first time. She tilts her head to the side and frowns at Mila before looking back to me. “With her?” she asks, going from flirty to super bitch at the speed of Mach 4.
Did I wander into the twilight zone or what? Since when do I report to Hailey Young?
“I’m going to go. Thanks for the ride, Liam,” Mila says, and that’s when I really know I’m in the twilight zone, because in no reality of mine do I end up with Hailey Young, queen-fucking-bitch of Bloomington, who is weirder than shit on a flying pig, while Mila walks away from me.
I slam the passenger door closed and don’t even bother with Hailey and Maddy.
If they screw this up for me I’m going to hit level ten on my pissed meter. I know I don’t have the best reputation, but I’m nowhere near as bad as Mickey, or the others, and I’m far from desperate.
Mila’s already heading for the front door and I can’t see her face to see if she’s upset.
“Mila,” her name rushes from me. I go after her and grab her hand. I ignore my name being called, and pull Mila into my side. “Sorry about that. Some people don’t know when to take a hint.”
“They’re your friends,” she says. At least she’s not pulling away.
“Only by association. There are only four people at college I call friends.”
“Mickey, Hunter, Blake …” She does that cute thing where she bites the corner of her mouth and peeks to the sky. How did I not notice before today that this is something she does whenever she puts her thinking cap on? “I give up.”
“You really don’t know?” She really has no idea that I have the hots for her.
“Nope.” She pops her ‘p’, shoves her fingertips in the back pockets of her shorts and glances up at me. I thought I was in love with this girl but every second I get to spend with her, I fall harder. I’m destined to stay on my knees in front of her.
“See if you can figure it out by the end of the night.” This should be interesting.
“You’re not going to tell me?” Her mouth drops open and she stops walking. Her eyes focus on me. “You’re really not going to tell me,” she says, taking a step closer.
“Nope,” I pop the ‘p’ the way she does.
“And I can’t convince you to?”
“Nope.”
“Not even with a dare?”
Hold up. A what?
She smiles a huge smile. She saw me hesitate. “Ah-hah. What will it be? I’ll trade a dare for your secret.”
I look around, trying to think of something. I want to make it fun. Just then Hunter hollers as he swings from the tree into the lake.
“Liam,” Mila’s voice is filled with apprehension. She must’ve noticed the direction I’m looking in. “That’s not a dare, that’s suicidal! Are you insane?”
“You want to know the fourth person I consider my friend, then swing it, babe.” I turn around and walk in the direction of the bar. I have every confidence she won’t do it. I might as well get us drinks.
“Mila, you want a-” the rest of my sentence dies away when I don’t see her behind me.
“Did Mila bail on your ass already, dipshit?” I ignore Blake, my eyes darting in the direction of the lake.
“She’s doing it!” I can’t believe it. She’s already halfway across the lawn. I break out into a sprint so I can get to the lake before she swings. I watch her weave through the other kids, determination in every step she takes.
She walks to where Hunter is standing, hitting on some girl. I watch her talk to him. I have no idea what she’s saying to him, but for the first time Hunter doesn’t smile. Instead, he listens, nods, then says something back. There’s some nodding from her side and then they both move to the edge where Hunter grabs hold of the rope.
My throat tightens as Hunter puts his other arm around my girl. This time I’m really going to kill him, as in D.E.A.D.
He’s as good as road kill.
A heavy arm falls around my shoulder. “Hey man, what’s up?” Blake. Just in time to see how I kill his brother.
“I’m gonna rip his spleen through his ass,” I practically hiss.
“What’s he up to now?” Blake sounds bored.
“You know my Mila?” I scowl at Blake and point towards the lake. “Hunter’s all over her.”
We both stand and watch as Hunter pulls Mila into his body and then my throat closes right up. My heart plummets to somewhere at my feet. There’s not a drop of moisture left in my mouth as Hunter lifts Mila, and she puts her fucking legs around his waist.
“Damn. How much did he drink?” Blake asks.
I can’t answer as I watch Mila cling to my cousin. Hunter pushes them away from the edge and it’s about all I can take in as they swing together, splash into the water together, come up together.
She keeps clinging to Hunter. I can’t take any more of this shit. It feels as if my heart is being ripped from my chest by two of the people I care most about in this world. I didn’t see this coming and the shock makes my thoughts feel all jumbled.
I shrug Blake’s arm away and stalk towards the bar.
“Liam, wait up,” Blake calls behind me.
“I’ll deal with Hunter later. He knows Mila was mine. You don’t have to worry that I’ll make a scene here,” I say to reassure him.
“Was? You’re gonna give up so quickly? You’ve wanted that girl ever since she started at college two years ago.” Blake grabs the seat next to me.
“Give up? You mean Mila’s toast?” Mickey asks.
“Not now, Mickey,” Blake warns, giving him a dark glare to shut him up.
“What do you want me to do? Chase after her the rest of my life? I tried. I failed.”
“We don’t fail, man. Us Wrights aren’t wired that way.” Blake swivels the chair so he’s leaning against the counter of the bar, facing the crowds. “There’s Sadie, I’m gonna go help her quickly.” He gets up and pats me on the back. “If she’s the one, you never give up. You keep trying until you get it right.”
Mila~
“Thanks, Hunter!” I sputter through the water. When I saw him standing by the lake, I took my chance. Just because I can’t swim doesn’t mean I’m not taking the dare. I knew he could help me win the bet.
“Anytime.” He pulls me up and out of the water.
Rubbing the last of the water out of my eyes, I go to the spot I left my bag at. I pick it up and start in the direction I last saw Liam in.
No sign of Liam. Feeling a bit disappointed that he didn’t see the jump, I finally spot him at the bar. I tie my hair in a ponytail and figure my clothes will eventually dry.
“You missed it,” I say as I get to the bar.
“No, I pretty much saw it all,” Liam says in a low voice. He tips the beer back, takes a sip, and, not looking at me, he continues, “I saw the whole damn thing. If you grabbed hold of Hunter any tighter, you guys might’ve become one up there. I’m sure he had a hell of a good time.”
Prickles of shock rush all over my body. I didn’t expect this reaction from him. Heat flushes up my neck. Why would Liam be so jealous of his cousin doing me a favor?
“Oh.” The word falls lamely from my tongue.
For a second, I don’t know what else to say. I rock back on my feet. He takes another sip of his beer as the air tenses between us.
Think, Mila. Just think this through for a second. Fine, maybe I should’ve asked him instead of Hunter? Damn, how was I supposed to know Liam was the jealous type? It’s not like I-
My brain freezes because I did cling to Hunter. I didn’t mean it that way, but Liam obviously saw it differently. Does he really care that much?
I pull my wet shirt away from my chest and swallow hard. I better just apologize and make a run for it. Do what I do best. This kind of shit just isn’t for me. This is no way to keep a low profile.
“I’m sorry you saw it that way. Hunter was just doing me a favor. I-I…” Screw this, just run.
I turn to leave but I don’t want him to take it out on Hunter. He was only helping me. Disappointment swirls inside of me. I’m hurt that Liam’s just jumping to conclusions, but I can see why. I should’ve thought this through better.
I turn back and I’m slammed with the full force of Liam’s penetrating brown eyes.
Spit it out, and haul ass girl. “I can’t swim … that’s why I asked him to help me. It was just a stupid dare. I’m sorry.” Shit, I’m babbling again. I’m going down in flames. “I was wrong … I’m sorry … I shouldn’t have taken the dare.” Shut your trap. Go, girl, just run!
I weave through all the people as quickly as I can. It was a mistake coming. This whole stupid day has been one huge miserable mistake. I keep going, out the side gate, right by his truck, and I’m heading for the main gate when my body gets yanked back.
Panic slams hard into the pit of my stomach. “Oh shit!”
My heart leaps to my throat and I’m doing some serious swallowing to keep the rest of my organs from following. I bring my hands up and grab hold of the arms that’s pulling me back like a pair of steel clamps.
“I didn’t know you can’t swim,” Liam breathlessly says.
My racing heart stutters. I don’t know if it’s from relief that he’s the one holding me and it’s not just another bad memory, or that he actually came after me.
He turns me around as if I’m nothing.
“You scared the living shit out of me, Liam. You can’t just go around grabbing me like that,” I let him have a piece of my mind, and while I’m at it, I place both my hands on his chest and push him with every bit of strength I have.
Yeah, so much for going up against the Hulk. The guy’s made of solid muscle. He doesn’t even budge an inch.
He reaches for me again, hugging me to him as if I didn’t just lash out at him.
“Why do you keep hugging me today?” I try to squirm away but he won’t let me. “I don’t understand why you wanted me to come in the first place,” I huff upset, but my voice loses its force, going from intense to soft, as my bravery fizzles out.
The longer I keep looking up at him, the more I want to stand in his arms and forget why I was pushing him away in the first place.
I drop my gaze to his chest and I’m just about to apologize for wetting him when he starts to ramble like an absolutely crazy person, I might add.
“You’re the friend, the fourth person. I don’t understand why you can’t see it.”
His hands slide from my back to my shoulders and then one keeps going until his fingers wrap around the back of my neck.
“Since that first day you walked down the hallway, trying to hide behind Nathan, thinking no one would see you. I don’t know if you remember that day?”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer, he just keeps going. My mouth drops open, because here is Liam of all people telling me what, exactly?
“You wore faded jeans,” he chuckles and it makes him only sexier.
He pulls me closer so I’m flattened against him. I can feel his heart racing as fast as mine. His eyes are smoldering, almost black. I’ve never seen them so dark.
When he continues, his voice is softer.
“You always wear jeans and these kinda tops that hang off your shoulder. I love that about you. But that first day, God, you were drownin’ in that shirt. You had it rolled up a couple of times so it wouldn’t keep fallin’ over your hands. I loved the way your hands moved, rolling up the sleeves every time they came undone. It’s like you were trying your best to not look pretty … but you failed, because you were gorgeous.”
His fingers slide a hot path down my left arm, takes hold of my hand and he brings it up between us, placing it on his chest. I watch how his hand swallows mine whole.
“I wanted to hold your hand that day already. I wanted to hold your hand every day since.”
He did?
Liam likes me? Of course I know Liam likes me. But I mean, does he really, really like me? Like the way I like him?
Oh wow.
Why? It’s the last day of college! I want to kick him for waiting so long. I’ve been dreaming about this moment for two damn years.
“Why didn’t you? What took you so long?”
“You kept saying no to everyone.”
Oh, there’s that. Thanks for the reminder, Liam.
Incredulous laughter bubbles up my throat. I’ve spent the last six years doing my best to fly under the radar. I’m the only one of my friends who doesn’t own a phone. No email, no internet … nothing. Everything so the cult can’t find me.
I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them take this moment from me, too. I want to be able to experience a normal relationship.
I let my eyes drink in every inch of Liam’s strong features. No one does it for me like he does. I want a chance with him. I want to fall hopelessly in love.
I think of an excuse, something believable. A reason I can keep saying no … but I come up empty handed. I can’t let my past keep ruining my future.
I’ve seen Harper flirt enough times to know how it’s done. I lift myself up on my toes and with a thundering heart, I pray I’m not making a total ass of myself. I let my hands slip up to Liam’s neck, but I can’t bring myself to go higher than his jaw.
The tingles in my abdomen are going to explode into full blown fireworks any second now.
I exhale slowly when my mouth reaches his ear. You can do it, Mila. Everyone flirts!
“I kept saying no because they weren’t you.” Oh dear God, that sounded so corny!
He pulls me closer to him until I can feel his body heat warming mine.
“Next time you need a lifeguard, ask me,” he whispers against my cheek, and I swear this moment is so intense I can feel it between my legs, like a second heart beating.
“Okay,” I say in my sweetest voice.
He clenches his jaw and drops his hands to my hips. Gripping me tightly, he pulls my body flush with his. My breath hitches when I feel him, hard against me. I’ve never felt that specific part of a guy’s body pressing against me before. There’s a delicious clenching in my abdomen, and I suppress the need to rub my legs together, to press closer against him.
His mouth stops an inch from mine, as if he’s waiting for me to pull away. I can’t stand it anymore. He’s been teasing me like this the whole day, making me think he’s going to kiss me only to pull away.
My stomach tightens and my heart races. My insides turn to mush and then…
“We should get back to the party,” he whispers.
“Uh-huh,” is all I manage to mumble as he drags me back to the rest of the people.