“Wow,” I said.
“The food or the view?” I looked over, finding Liam passing me a paper sack. I laughed once and took it from him.
“I’ve eaten fast-food before,” I deadpanned.
“But everything is better in Washington,” he said.
“I think you’re right.”
I stared at the water below as I took a bite of the sandwich, he handed me, thinking. He was right. Everything was better here. The sun fell completely behind the top of the trees as I finished my food. I’d never felt so at ease. Everything was just…right.
“So, what’s your favorite—the food or the spot?” I asked.
“Can I say both?” he asked, winking at me, and my heart fluttered. “The spot.”
“You grew up around here, right?”
“I did. I know what you’re thinking…this place wasn’t popular like that. I came here after a lot of games. It helped me think.”
I nodded knowingly. First dates are awkward. It doesn’t matter if you’ve kissed, slept in the same bed, or even gone on one of those awkward reality shows where you married a person without knowing them. They. Are. Awkward.
I fidgeted with the straw from my cup. He came into my life at the speed of light—quickly and immensely present. From the very first night we met, when he slept on the floor beside my bed, I knew something would be different about him. At the time I thought he would be a friend. Now, he was more.
“So, when does the season start?” I asked. It was better than asking about the weather, right?
“A few months.” He hesitated. “I’m not playing.”
“What? Why? Because of your arm or whatever?”
“I’ve played off being injured way too long,” he said with a side grin.
“You mean you weren’t ever hurt?” I asked, surprised. I thought athletes were obsessed with their sport.
“I was. A long time ago. That’s a tale for another day.” He shrugged his broad shoulders and looked straight ahead at the only place that brought him peace. “Come on,” he said.
I watched him grab our drinks and leave me behind, sitting in the car. He sat on the edge of a rail that overlooked the scenery. Now would be a good time to tell him I hate heights. The girl inside me that was screaming about new experiences joined him on the rail. I took my drink from him, smiling.
“Thank you,” I said, unsure of what I was really thanking him for. The drink. The courage. The new experiences. Being here made me vulnerable, but in a good way. He was opening me up to something new and scary. Something I would have never tried if he hadn’t brought me here. I bonded with him in a way I never had before. It forced me to trust him.
“You look terrified.”
“I’m not,” I said. I didn’t bother looking behind me. I held his gaze, knowing I could fall to my death at any moment, and tried to keep my heartrate in check.
“Most people are scared of heights.”
“Are you?” I asked.
“Fucking terrified,” he said, and his eyes lit with amusement.
“Then why the hell are we sitting here?” I laughed.
“Because I couldn’t think of a better place to do this.”
Before I could process what, he meant, his lips pushed against mine. Stunned, I had to tell myself to relax before I could truly let go. I dropped my shoulders and parted my mouth slightly, letting him in. He was put on this earth to kiss, and I hoped my nerves didn’t push him away. He leaned back, resting his forehead against mine. Our chests rose and fell in sync.
“Do all kisses have to have a story?” I asked, biting my lip.
He griped the railing, thinking. “Nah. Just the first few. I just have hook you, so you’ll remember the good ones. Everything after is mediocre at best.” He was grinning a shit-eating grin and I pressed my lips in a hard line.
“You’re an ass.”
“I never claimed to be anything else,” he responded. He looked into my eyes, and he knew I didn’t mean it. He was the nicest person I had ever met, no matter what he thought. He glanced at his phone, letting out a curse.
“I need to get you back…but I want you to come over tomorrow night. There’s a party.”
I gave him a pointed look. “I’m sure there is.”
“I’m not drinking. Gabby will be there,” he said. When I didn’t look convinced, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine quickly. “I need a chance to redeem myself. I’m not always like that.”
“Fine. But if something else happens, there will not be a next time,” I said.
“Nothing will happen. You have my word.” He held his hands up, defending his actions.
I narrowed my eyes at him, not sure I liked where this was going. I’d only had one person who kept their word in my entire life. People let you down’ it was a part of who they were. My stomach was in knots; I wasn’t sure if I liked this guy or if it was my anxiety, but something didn’t feel right to me.
Twenty
Cars were already spilling out of the driveway. I navigated around them, stopping short of the back lot. Music was blaring as I walked inside, girls everywhere. Most of them looked the same. Long legs, fake eyelashes, and bleached hair. I ducked my head down and walked upstairs, not wanting to get sucked into a conversation with one of them. I couldn’t imagine pretending to care right now.
I bumped into someone as I walked upstairs. I looked up from the grey tennis shoes. Gabby. She was giving me a hard look, still not sure if she’d forgiven me.
“Liam.” She said my name as hard as she could. I almost laughed at her
