“But why?”
His finger edges the rim of his cup, and he shrugs. “Because he was lying to the locker room about whatever happened between you two and you were—” His voice trails off. “Caleb’s little sister. It’s what he would have done if he wasn’t off at college. Coach wasn’t happy, but it was fine.”
“Oh my god.” I jump, and the motion startles Liam. “Thatwas why you had a one-game suspension?” Senior year of high school, Liam missed a game becausereasons. I never learned the true story, but he was grumpy and broody the two weeks leading up to the homecoming game and dance.
The week before the dance, a rumor spread that I was off-limits because of something Liam said, like he decided he couldn’t be the only one in a bad mood and wanted to drag me down with him. The one offer I had received was rescinded, and no one else bothered to ask me.
I marched over to his house to tell him I didn’t want to go to the stupid thing anyway and pitied the miserable soul he planned on taking while he leaned shirtless in his doorframe with a pointed intensity on my face.
“You feel better, Peaches?”he asked as I caught my breath and nodded.“Great. You can hurry home now.”He shooed me away with the flick of his wrist like I was a peasant girl who deigned to bother the prince. Then shut the door on my burning cheeks.
The night of the dance, I wasn’t allowed to watch TV. Between sort of stabbing Charlie Bennet and the horror of no one asking me to homecoming, Caroline couldn’t allow such frivolities.I never should’ve let Nana show them to you. Those movies of yours give you the wrong idea.Like somehow, these mid-century films were too progressive.
Liam was surprisingly home, watchingTake Me Out to the Ballgame,his personal Gene Kelly favorite,in his bedroom. He caught me staring, elbows perched on the ledge of my window to get a better look, and opened his own. I braced myself for a zinger, but he didn’t say anything. Suddenly, the movie grew louder, the TV moved closer, and neither of us acknowledged the olive branch.
“Uhm yeah. That’s why.” The tips of Liam’s ears redden. “Why do you need a date for the wedding anyway?”
“Caroline.” I sigh. “She’s very much of the one-track mind that it would be complete and utter humiliation for the family if I showed up alone—and I’m trying to keep the peace and not ruin Caleb’s big day.”
“Ah.” Liam leans back and focuses his attention across the street. “So why don’t I take you?”
My heart stammers.
“Huh?”
“Why don’t I take you? Save your brother and Holly a plate and keep your mom’s embarrassment at bay—”
Go with Liam? My past-high-school self pauses her iPod Nano playing a mix of Dashboard Confessional and Yellowcard for the fifty-thousandth time and squeals.Wait, what did he ask us? Say yes. Say yes. He’s dreamy,she screams, trapped inside her anxiety-ridden, still-trying-to-perfect-her-top-eight-on-MySpace cage.
Okay, Lizzie McGuire doodle, chill. Your naive ass got us in enough trouble already.
Heat rises on my cheeks, and I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear, fingers brushing the bruise on my forehead.
His brow furrows. “Did you get checked out?” He leans in, and my eyes flash to his mouth.
“Kiss Me”shuffles on the Nano in my mind because sixteen-year-old me isn’t the jaded spinster I am desperately proud of becoming.
“Yes, Mr. Kelly, I did, and I have a concussion.”
“Is that so?” He smirks knowingly, fingers lightly trailing the spot.
“And your know-it-all expression really makes me want to go to the wedding with you.”
“Come on.” His eye crinkles deepen, pulling me further into his orbit. “We can call a truce for the night, or I can let you win everything, whatever you want.”
His knee brushes against mine, and fireworks careen out from the point of contact, spiraling inside in an explosion of vivid color. My inability to control this little crush and an open bar would be a recipe for disaster. No, best to guard ourselves now.
“Thank you, but I’ve accepted this offer before, and it didn’t exactly turn out well for me,” I manage, flinching at how harsh that sounded.
Liam blinks. “Right, we’re still on that then.” He clears his throat and glances at his watch.
“No, it’s just—” A tiny fire flickers in my stomach, recalling Caroline telling me to“aim a little lower, sweetheart,”because of whathe did.I shouldn’t have to get over something currently wreaking havoc on my life, and I shouldn’t feel guilty about my boundaries. “I don’t understand how you expect me to trust you after everything.”
“But Charlie gets a pass because . . .” Liam narrows a pointed gaze on my face.
“I’m not seriously asking Charlie either, okay? Does that smooth your damn ego?”
“Right, let’s forget I offered.” He stands, avoiding my eyes, and tosses his cup in the trash. “Thanks for putting up with my company, Peaches.”
