“I love you more, hon.” I squeeze her in response. She leaves, and when the door closes, I make a move for my phone to call Jamie.
“Hello?” she answers, and I sigh, leaning against my headboard.
“Girl, you won’t believe what happened today ...”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LIAM
Unease rolls off me in waves as I constantly decrease my speed. Using one hand, I undo the buttons near my neck, feeling instant relief. The deal with Mom was that I was supposed to stay the whole event, and I did. But I didn’t exactly go back home when I left. I take deep breaths as my emotions course through me, given my interaction with her. I feel everything, yet nothing at all.
On one hand, I’m so mad at myself, considering how my brain seems to malfunction when she’s nearby. After coming up with ways to avoid her this summer and all of the fall semester, I even asked Chase for advice, for God’s sake. But no—my heart refuses to understand she’s not good for me anymore.
She wants me to stay out of her way, so why can’t I listen?
I’m not the same kid I was all those years ago, but when I see those eyes—the mostgorgeouseyes I’ve ever had the privilege of looking into—every single thought I have about protecting myself goes out the damn window. How can she still have so much power over me? I have a promising career, I’m studying oneof the hardest majors out there, and yet, she still occupies space in my brain, though I’m not putting up much of a fight.
So, without even thinking, I call probably the only person I can talk to about this.
“Second time in one day, Parker. I’m honored.” I say nothing. How is it that I spent semesters hating this guy, and now I’m calling him out of my own free will? “Sooo, how did it go? You making out with Harrison yet?” His suggestive tone lights a fire in me, and I merge in front of some idiot who has no concept of what a blinker means.
“First off, the nickname isnot cute. Secondly, I wouldn’t tell you that anyway.”
A chuckle sounds through the phone. “I’ll take that as a no.” Exit signs light up and fade away as I drive by them, silence enveloping my car, even though Chase is still on the line. “Dude, I know you’re new to the concept of phone calls, but when you call someone, talking is involved.”
“You think we should take orbital mechanics in the fall?”
“I’d love to, but my father’s wanting me to start getting some finance courses under my belt. Though, I heard Dr. Anders is the best.”
I thank goodness he goes along with the stupid small talk. “Is he grooming you to be the next millionaire?”
He snorts. “Since birth, but yeah, this is another way to make sure I know who’s paying my tuition every semester.”
A sad smile starts on my face. “Brutal, man.”
“Story of my life, unfortunately.” He huffs before redirecting the conversation. “So, was she flirting with someone else, or ...”
A frustrated sigh leaves me, my thumbs drumming on the wheel as my pent-up emotions stir up something. “It didn’t go the best. Look, I called to say thanks for the advice. That’s it.”
He mumbles “No problem,” but it doesn’t feel like the end of what he has to say. “You’re such an idiot.”
My hand clenches the steering wheel as disbelief fills me. “Excuse me?”
“I know you did something moronic.”
“I followed your advice.”
He doesn’t miss a beat. “Again, moronic. You should never follow my advice.”
My heart drops at the admission. “Chase, what the hell?”
He chuckles. “It’s good advice if you were in a situation where the other person also hates you. That’s why it doesn’t work in this case.”
I shake my head as I start to inch right, the exit I want coming up. “Why would you ...? Never mind.” The jerk dares to laugh at me. When I head back to campus, I’m strangling the life out of him.
“I knew you were still in love with her,” he says, and my lips purse at the true statement. I almost miss my exit, and I think long and hard as to why I called him, of all people.
“Shut up.” My heart clenches at the words, the stupid organ not knowing when to keep itself in check.
