He didn’t want to forget. Now that was bad news for us. I wracked my brain, wondering what I should say. The truth? Should I hurt him so he would leave me alone?
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said.
“I said I would come. You’re touchy-feely,” I said, deciding to go with the latter. If I told him the truth, he would cause a scene. If I played it off as no big deal it would sting for both of us, but at least we could still be friends. And he could view me in the same light as he always had.
“I can’t keep my hands off you after last night,” he said, and I worked through my memories, trying to figure out what happened. Besides the kiss.
My face paled. “What happened?”
“The kiss…you slept in my bed,” he said, looking embarrassed.
“Oh yeah, that. I was afraid we did something else.” I laughed nervously. I wished he would pick up on my hints and leave me alone.
Actually, I wished Josie and Sara would leave us the hell alone so I could be with this guy. I knew that would never happen. He still had a hold of my hand when I looked up, spotting those two staring at us. I pulled my hand back.
“Let’s not make it a bigger deal than it was,” I said.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t feel anything.” He looked hurt, and that killed me. Unfortunately, Sara and Josie could hurt me a lot worse. If they did too much, I wouldn’t be able to go to school anymore. The thought of going back to the place I once called home made me sick.
“Of course, I did…it was a kiss, but I was kind of buzzed,” I said.
I was silenced by his lips smashing against mine. It was everything I remembered. His lips moved in perfect harmony; his tongue parted my mouth as it snaked inside, delicately brushing against mine. With my hands braced against his chest, I pushed back.
“I don’t want it to mean anything, Liam!”
“What?” He looked at me as if I had grown two heads. I brought my hand to my forehead, frustrated. That came out all wrong.
“What do you not get about that? Any normal, sane guy would’ve gotten the hint the first day!” My voice was much louder than I intended. I was pissed. The first person who got me, besides Kaleb, was being ripped away from me for no reason at all.
I could not believe I left him like that. His eyes were the definition of puppy dog sad. I ran into the bathroom. Locking myself in I slammed into the door, sliding down the back until I hit the floor. Hot tears pooled in my eyes, falling before I had the chance to talk myself out of crying.
I said I wouldn’t get close to anyone. I promised myself. Now I was heartbroken, and the nicest guy I’d ever met is standing in the hallway, wondering what the hell he’d done wrong.
I didn’t know how long I stayed in there. The songs had switched at least ten times, and I’d been called more vulgarities than I ever before as students tried to bust into the bathroom.
I wiped under both of my eyes before leaving the room. Not thinking clearly, I ran up the stairs and to his room. I just wanted to see it one last time. Everything was the way I remembered it. The bed was untouched, and messy like he was lying in it this morning. I walked over to it, running my hands along the side of it before leaving. This was stupid. I left the room, determined to get out before I could hurt myself or anyone else.
I didn’t come back to the heartbroken Liam I’d left. I came back to what I’d been warned about. He did a body shot off some chick on the couch while another one held on to him like she was some lost puppy dog that might lose its owner if she let go. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Shot after shot. Dance after dance. The kisses. They were all branded in my brain. I didn’t know how long I stood there before Gabby came to my side.
“There you are,” Gabby said, patting me on the shoulder. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Yeah, good call,” I said.
Sara walked up to Liam, glancing in my direction, and then wrapped her arms around him, kissing him as she danced to the song. Point made. I’d never hated a human being more than I hated her, and that was saying a lot after the childhood I spent with my dad.
“What the hell happened?” Gabby asked.
“I met the real Liam,” I said, laughing with no trace of humor. I was embarrassed for the time I’d spent with him. The kisses I’d shared with him. All for him to do that in front of the entire house.
She shook her head. “He used to be like that. Not anymore.”
“Guess who’s back,” I said, and I knew she didn’t miss the sarcasm.
“Let me drive you back,” she said.
“No, Tyler’s in there. Bedsides, you don’t want to miss that show.”
“Autumn!” I heard him before I saw him. Gabby’s eyes went wide, and I shook my head. I was not doing this. Especially not now. I learned the hard way: don’t anger a drunk person.
I stormed off, walking to my car. “Go back to Tyler. I promise I’m fine,” I told Gabby.
“Why are you leaving?” Liam ran up to me, stopping me before I could get to my car. His eyes were hazy as he looked at me, genuinely confused.
“It’s late,” I deadpanned.
“No, it’s not.” I hated the sound of his voice right now. He was always so strong and confident. Now he sounded like a child not getting his way.
“You’re drunk! You don’t know what time
