A sheepish expression comes over him. “I came from the shelter and wanted to swing by since I didn’t see you there. I, um, didn’t realize you had company.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing once again. “We can talk about that thing ... another day.” Jamie looks confused, but deep down, I know what he wants to bring up.
Last night, me crying in his arms.
Me skirting the lines of our friendship when we’re still trying to build that trust.
“Are you sure?” I lean against the doorframe as he stands up straighter, looking down at me, a cute smile coming over his face despite the war going on in those emerald eyes.
He nods. “Catch up, okay? Don’t worry about it.” He sticks his hands inside his hoodie pocket, and I want to talk about it now ... I justcan’t. And here I am, using Jamie as an easy way out.
“Okay. I’ll see you later?” He nods, his eyes lighting up a tiny bit. His focus moves to Jamie, who I’m sure is gawking behind me.
He says, “Nice meeting you, Jamie.” Spinning on his heel, he walks off, and I stand there like a complete idiot. Jamie closes the door while I move out of the way, still dumbfounded as she pins me down with her stare. Her arms are crossed and her expression is almost annoyed.
“Bianca Everly Harrison, you have five seconds to tell me everything you’ve been hiding from me.”
“Okay, you guys are so cute,” she simply says while she prepares her clothes to take into the bathroom. I grab a soda from my mini fridge, not responding. A smirk forms on her face as she locks herself in my en suite, leaving me with my thoughts. I try, but fail, to not think about the whirlwind that has been life this past month. The main twist: Liam Jax Parker.
We’ve gone from strangers, to sort of acquaintances, to coworkers, to I don’t even know what. And the way he gazed at me the other night ... Even in the dark, I could make out every little detail on his face. The way his long, full eyelashes—that I’m one hundred percent jealous of—fluttered as he looked at me.
Held me close and whispered those same words from all those years ago.
You’re safe with me, always.
“Is this what people look like when they’re in love?” I put a hand to my heart, an audible yelp leaving me as Jamie asks, standing there with her arms crossed once again. “If so, remind me never to do it.” She walks toward the bed in her matching pajamas, and I roll my eyes at that. Jamie has one of the purest hearts I know, but after everything she’s been through, she guards it well. While it may be hard, I know when the perfect guy comes, she’ll fall even harder than I already have with mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
LIAM
My phone rings and I don’t hesitate to pick it up, the morning light blinding the crap out of me. “Hello?” A chuckle comes from the other side of the phone, and I squint at the name with a sigh.
“You know, I’m very offended.”
I get up, stretching slightly as I look at the slight stubble growing on my face in the mirror. “Mm, pray tell?” I answer sarcastically and switch the phone’s speaker to my earbuds, missing half of what Chase said.
“... you know?” I mutter a mild grunt. “You didn’t listen to a word I said.”
“What do you want, Chase? You bored without me or something?”
He doesn’t answer the question directly. “How’s it going with Harrison?” His use of a nickname still doesn’t sit right with me, and I finally realize what this phone call is for.
“That’s between me and her, don’t you think?”
He laughs. “Oh, come on, dude. I did help, sorta.”
I roll my eyes and run a hand through my hair, the strands at the nape of my neck suffering their usual. “Why are you so nosy?”
He scoffs. “Because I finally get to talk to you after two years of trying, sue me for wanting to bond with my roomie, bro.”
You know, a couple of weeks ago, I wouldn’t have even considered being something more than just roommates with Chase. Yet, he’s never given up, he’s always tried to reach out. Maybe it’s about time I do too.
“It’s going well, but fair warning, I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Makes sense,” he says.
“How’s the dorm been since I left?”
He gasps, and I instantly regret asking him anything. “Did Liam ‘Campus Grouch’ Parker ask me something? I’m shocked. I think I’m gonna faint.”
