Chapter Nine

I let the next few weeks fly by.

I moved my seat from Liam to avoid the nerve to stare at him and drink in the beauty of him. I had yet to tell Jacob, Tyler, or Mason about what happened between Ethan and me. I was too embarrassed and confused. I was also afraid of the criticism instead of comfort.

When one Saturday morning came, I got dressed and headed straight for Starbucks. I ordered a medium-sized dark roast to get me thinking straight. As I took a swig of my coffee, I whipped out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. I finally found my sister's connection on speed dial, but my thumb hovered her name. I contemplated calling her because I knew she would want to know what was up with me lately. That's if she hadn't already gotten the scoop from Jacob. I rolled my eyes at the thought of my sister and Jacob being typical gossip queens amongst each other. I peered down at Tiffany's name and her number beneath when a voice called from behind me.

"Hey?" My head shot up as I met the gaze of two electric blue eyes. I was instantly warmed by the familiar smile of Liam. I watched him take a seat beside me and didn't care that he never asked. "It's been a while since I got the chance to talk to you."

I arched a brow. "Me?" I repeated. "Why?"

Liam snickered a bit. "For one, you moved your seat in our class and run out before I can catch up to you," he said. "Two, I barely have a conversation with the coach at practice, let alone you."

I felt guilt-ridden when he said that. I understood how shitty I must've seemed for moving my seat and avoiding Liam at the expense of catching the classes after Psyche of Sexuality and hockey season being at full swing. On the other hand, I wasn't obligated to explain myself. Still, I did. "I had a rough start of the semester," I reasoned. "So, I needed to make space for myself to clear my head."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Liam said.

I shook my head. "Don't be."

"Do you feel better now?"

I shrugged. "Not as much as I hoped," I admitted.

Liam nodded. "I get that," he said. "I recently broke up with my girlfriend during Christmas break. How it ended left me with darker days."

"Well, we are not that far apart concerning relationships recently," I accidentally spilled. I pursed my lips as a way to keep my mouth shut.

"She's an idiot for leaving you," Liam blurted.

That threw me off because one: he didn't know me. Two, "He," I corrected. "And I'm the one who left."

Something crossed Liam's face. It was a look between embarrassment and pity for me. "My bad," he said. "I didn't know... That must've been hard."

I nodded.

"May I ask why?"

I hesitated. I wasn't sure if I wanted to open up about that. However, something about Liam made me relaxed. I felt like I could tell him anything and everything. That was simply the vibe he gave off. So, I told him. "The relationship wasn't right for me," I said. "I needed something I felt he would never give. But I did something stupid recently, and now I don't think I can live with myself." I felt my voice crack at the end of that sentence. I hoped Liam didn't hear, but he did.

Liam's hand found the circle of my back. The spot he touched tendered and was hyperaware of him. "You missed him and had what I call a relapse," he said as if it was written on my face.

"How the hell did you figure that out?" Those words slipped off my tongue before I could blink.

Liam shrugged. "I did the same thing last weekend," he admitted. "Accidentally bumped into her at a party, exchanged a few drunk confessions, and opened up a wound that had yet to heal."

"There was hot chocolate involved on my end," I said, lighthearted.

Liam glanced at me with smiling eyes. Then, just like that, we burst out laughing. "Yeah, hot chocolate makes you do anything," he joked.

"I guess," I said, looking down at my coffee.

Liam and I fell silent, but it was comfortable and only for a moment. Liam shifted in his seat to face me. How he stared at me nearly cut off the breath pulsing through my lungs. "So, Valentine's Day is tomorrow..." he started.

"Oh, God," I joked, which made him chuckle.

"Wait, stay with me," Liam said. "The campus will be flooded with teddy bears, hearts, and chocolate - all the cheesy shit that will make you puke. I thought we should link up and go someplace where Valentine's Day won't haunt us."

I scrunch my nose playfully. "Am I being asked out by a Californian beach babe?" I teased.

"Say yes because I will make sure the night will be amazing."

I gazed at him with a provoking stare in my eyes. "I'll say yes," I said. "But don't bother to bring condoms because nothing surrounding that is happening."

Liam flew his hands up. "Believe me," he said. "I am more than in need of something simple and innocent."

I arched a brow. "Innocent?" I repeated. "Do I appear innocent to you?"

"Honestly," Liam started to stay, teasingly, "You seem like a wild card I wouldn't touch..."

"What a compliment," I played along.

Liam laughed. "No, on a serious note..." he remarked. Liam paused, mulling over something in his head. Finally, his blue eyes found me once again as he said, "I think you're perfect."

I scoffed. "I wish."

"Don't make me be cheesy about it," Liam poked at me.

I let out a sigh, but I was happy. "Thanks for making my day," I told him.

"Then, I did my job."

"No... you really did."

Liam nodded. "Good," he said. "You made my day, too."