But when I step out on the porch, I realize it's not Parker who's waiting for me.
"Liam?"
"Hey." A faint smile forms on his lips. He's in his letterman jacket, his blond hair looking damp.
Did he come from football practice? I can even smell traces of his shampoo. But what is he doing here? I thought he was done trying to win me back.
"Um, Liam, why are you here?"
"I just...I heard what happened to Parker's sister. I just wanted to know how Aria is doing...and Parker, too."
I cross my arms over my chest, conscious of the fact that I'm just in a thin white tank and sleep shorts. Good thing I'm wearing a bra. "Why didn't you go to his house to personally check up on him?"
"I didn't think he'd be happy to see me."
He's right. Still, I say, "You don't know that."
He huffs out a laugh. "Wanna bet?"
My lips twitch, but I don't comment.
"So, you and him are doing great?"
"Not at the moment," I find myself saying. Why I'm telling him this, I have no idea.
Maybe because I'm frustrated with Parker and talking to my ex-boyfriend about it is just my way of venting. Or maybe it's simply because I feel so helpless about the situation, and I just want someone to talk to.
"Why?" His brows pinch together in a frown. "What happened?"
I heave a sigh. "I shouldn't even be telling you this. It doesn't feel right."
"Would it make you feel better if you imagined me as Quinn or Brayden?"
I hold in a smile, shaking my head. "I don't think so."
Liam smirk. "Can't fault me for trying."
It amazes me how easy it is to talk to him. Not that I still have feelings for him—they're already long gone. It just feels like I'm talking to an old friend. But I guess it makes sense. Aside from being the guy I dated for two years, he'd also been my best friend. He used to be the first person I talked to whenever I had a problem, and the same went with him. If we had broken up on good terms, maybe we would still be friends.
But as much as I'm tempted to open up to him, I can't. It really doesn't feel right. Like I'm betraying Parker somehow.
"So, um, how are things with Peyton?"
His eyebrows shoot up. "You really want to know?"
"No," I say honestly. "But I need something to distract me." Even if it means talking about my ex-best friend.
"Okay," he nods, tucking his hands into the pockets of his letterman jacket. "Nothing's really changed though. Peyton and I are still very much done."
"You know she still has feelings for you, right? She wants you back."
"I know. But the thing is, I've done a lot of thinking. About what happened, about what we did to you and Parker. And I realized how toxic we were together." He chuckles humorlessly, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was really fucking shitty of us to do. We both had these awesome relationships that we just threw away without a second thought. We took you and Parker for granted. I took you for granted." His lips curve into a rueful smile as he stares at me. "Look what happened. I lost the best thing that ever happened to me to someone else."
I cut my eyes away, not knowing what to say to that. Should I feel guilty that I'm actually thankful it happened? That I'm happy he cheated on me because it led me to Parker?
"I'm not saying this because I want you back. I'm not gonna lie, I still do. But I'm no longer delusional to believe that's going to happen." He swallows hard, regret looming over his features. "I'm really fucking sorry, Sawyer. I'm sorry for making you cry, for causing you pain—hell, for being a shitty boyfriend. You deserved better."
I take a deep breath to ease the sudden tightness in my chest. I thought he already gave me closure that day in the coffee shop. Turned out this was the closure I needed.
My smile is tinged with a little sadness as I stare back at him. "I told you I've already forgiven you, but thanks for saying that, anyway. It's nice to hear it from you."
Liam gives me a tight smile, letting silence fall between us before saying, "I should probably go. It's getting late." Then he surprises me by wrapping his arms around me to give me a brief hug.
He's already walking back to his car when I call after him," You can always text him, you know?"
"I'll try." He smirks over his shoulder before getting into his car and driving away.
With a soft laugh, I turn around to step back inside the house when a voice stops me.
"What the hell was Liam doing here?"
Parker's here. He found me.
Happiness and relief swirling in my chest, I whirl around to face the boy who owns my heart.
Only for my smile to fade when I see his stony face staring at me, his dark eyes full of accusation under the porch lights. Why does he look angry?
But then his words finally register, and I frown. "It's not what you think."
"So I only imagined him hugging you?" he says coldly.
"It was just a friendly hug. There was nothing to it."
He ignores that. "You didn't answer my question. What was he doing here?"
My skin prickles with annoyance. Is he seriously implying that there's something going on between me and Liam? That I'm cheating on him? Annoyance turns into anger, causing me to shoot him a furious look.
"You gave me nothing but radio silence for days. It took me driving to your house to finally see you." And you didn't even look happy to have me there. "Now you're here, and instead of making up for practically ghosting me, you're jumping into an insane conclusion."
Shame flashes in his eyes...and something
