I sighed. “I just wish I knew how he really feels about me.”
Nick furrowed his brows. “Are you kidding me?”
“Huh?” I looked up at him.
Nick was shaking his head. “Liam, I haven’t seen Victor this head over heels for someone since – well, Tristan.”
I blinked and felt a brush creeping across my cheeks. “I thought it was my imagination.” I rubbed my arm and stared, embarrassed, at the sidewalk. “I didn’t want to assume.”
“Oh, come on!” Nick threw his arms in the air. “You just told me Victor almost kissed you, for god’s sake. Have youmetVictor? I don’t think that man even kisses his mother on the cheek.” Nick looked firmly into my eyes. “He likes you, Liam. A lot.”
I swallowed hard. Hearing someone else say it felt too strong, too real. My body felt hot and light, like it was going to float away in the wind. But then the image of Victor and Tristan in the picture frame flashed across my mind and I sighed.
“I don’t want to get in his way,” I muttered.
Victor frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“He’s obviously still in love with Tristan,” I said. “If he… likes me, then its just going to make him feel guilty.”
“Liam.” Nick took me by the shoulders. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to Victor since Tristan left him. I can see it in his eyes, in the way he walks and talks. I’m his best friend. Trust me.”
I caught the tangy scent of water before we reached the beach. The sound of the waves was harsh as it crashed against the rocks, instead of the soft picturesque lull of waves on sand.
A bulky-shouldered figure sat on the edge of the pier. I knew at once it was Victor. My throat tightened. Our fight was still fresh in my mind. Maybe it was too soon to talk. My legs twitched, wanting to turn and run away. But Nick was pressing forward. He looked over his shoulder and nodded at me.
“Victor,” I whispered. My voice was swallowed up by the crash of the evening tides. He didn’t hear me. But Nick spoke louder.
“Victor.”
His voice was loud and stern. Victor turned and had a fraction of a second to glimpse us before Nick swung and punched Victor right across the face. I gasped. The smack of his fist against Victor’s cheek was hard. For a second I was worried Nick broke his jaw. But then Victor turned, slowly, back to face him. There was no anger in his eyes.
“Victor!” I cried, rushing forward to him. I took his arm as he stood, lightly rubbing his sore face where Nick hit him. I whipped towards Nick. “What are you doing?”
“He deserved it,” Nick spat. Victor said nothing.
Tension hung thick in the air like the calm before the storm. The silence was suffocating. I had to say something.
“Victor, are you okay?” I asked. He merely nodded and said nothing, which made me anxiety worse. “Please say something.”
“I’m fine,” he muttered.
“You’refine,” Nick snapped. “But did you ever think that the rest of us might not be?”
Victor raised his eyes. I’d never seen Nick so angry, and I don't think Victor had either. His eyes were blazing.
“I know why you’re mad,” Victor said. Nick crossed his arms, waiting for his response. I didn’t like watching them fight. I whimpered and gripped Victor’s arm tighter, but he didn’t comment.
“Why?” Nick said.
“Because I won’t tell you about what happened between me and Tristan,” Victor stated. But instead of agreeing, Nick’s arms flew into the air.
“I don’t give a shit what happened between you two! That’s not the point!” Nick snapped. I felt Victor’s arm stiffen in my grip. He looked shocked. Nick went on, gesturing at me. “The point is that you have someone right in front of you who loves you, and you can’t put aside your moodiness for two seconds to notice it!”
A cold silence fell over the pier, broken only by the violent waves. One splashed across the rocks and sprayed over the wood by our feet.
Victor didn’t dare look down at me.
Nick sighed. “Look. I know what happened to you sucked. Itreallysucked, okay? But that’s no reason to take it out on Liam.”
