Mike perched on the edge of the desk. "Don't be difficult Liam. You shouldn't be involved with her, and you know it."
"It's none of your concern."
"It is our concern! We're involved in this too!" Jack shouted.
"No, you're not."
Jack's hazel eyes narrowed as his solid jaw clenched. He was shorter and thinner than Liam, with a lithe, soccer player build. Right now his light brown hair was a darker shade from sweat as it curled down to his collar and clung to the broad angles of his face. His nose had been broken when they were twelve, and it was still a little bent to the side with a small bump in the middle of it.
"Really?" Jack inquired. "Go tell that to the girl across the hall. She's there for you, not us!"
Liam's arms dropped as he took an angry step forward. "Hey," Doug intervened. "Cut it out. Both of you."
Jack's eyes still simmered with resentment, but he took a small step back. Liam glared at him, his jaw clenched, as his nostrils flared. "Look," Mike said, shooting Jack a warning look. "All we're saying is that you shouldn't be involved with her Liam, and you know it."
Liam scowled at him, but there was nothing that he could say to defend himself. Mike was right; he shouldn't be involved with her. "I know," he replied. "But I'm not going to let her go."
"Oh, for crying out loud!" Jack exclaimed.
"Jack!" Doug hissed warningly. Jack sneered at him. Doug didn't back down though as his ocean blue eyes remained fixed on Jack. His dark blond hair was cut short, and right now stood in little spikes on top of his head from tugging at it, which had always been his habit when he was agitated. He was shorter and stockier than all of them, but he was wholesome and cute, a combination that had always made people think that he was younger than he was, and had never failed to make women flock to him.
"Look Liam, you can't keep seeing her," Mike said firmly. "First of all, we can't keep finding girls for you, second of all she's going to end up hearing about it, and then what are you going to do, tell her the truth? No, you're not. Third of all, you're just going to hurt her."
He was fuming as he glared at his best friends. "I know that!"
"Well then, don't you think you should end it soon, now?"
"No."
"Shit!" Jack exclaimed.
"Are you insane?" Mike demanded as his patience finally frayed. "Are you listening to yourself? You agree with everything, and yet you're still being an ass!"
Liam's patience, and his temper, was close to exploding. It was the most selfish thing he had ever done, and he despised himself for it, but he couldn't bring himself to end it with her. The thought alone sent a cold bolt of dread through his heart.
"I'm not ending it with her."
Mike stood rigidly. "I cannot believe that you're being so fucking selfish. What about her? Don't you think she deserves better?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then end it with her!"
"No."
"Liam, you have to," Doug said calmly.
"No, I don't."
"You're a selfish bastard!" Mike exploded.
Liam rounded on him with his fists clenched. "Yes, I am," he snarled.
"You have no reason for hanging on to her!" Jack yelled. "None!"
"I love her!" Liam bellowed.
They gaped at him in amazement, but it was nothing compared to the astonishment that jolted through his system at his words. He took a small step back as the realization really slammed home. Jesus, what had he done? He had never meant for things to go this far, never planned to care for her at all, never mind fall in love with her.
