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I know where he lives and where he went to school and who his closest friends are.
And, recently, I learned he groans in the back of his throat when he’s kissing someone.
All that knowledge—and more—circles in my head as I wander down the side of the boat toward the front section that’s carving a path through the water. Toward the figure sitting and staring out at the water. Apparently, I’ve stopped ignoring him. Or pretending to, rather.
“This seat taken?”
Liam glances over, then up. “Not my boat.”
Not the warmest of invitations, but honestly? Liam and I are on better terms than I ever thought I’d be with a guy from Glenmont, let alonehim.
He’stheguy from Glenmont.
I sink down beside him, letting my feet dangle off the edge underneath the rope railing the same way he is doing. Stray splashes of white spray hit my calves, the salt making my skin tingle in each spot it touches.
The boat lurches as a wave tilts us to the side. I quickly grab the rope, the fibers digging into my palm thanks to how tightly I’m holding it.
Liam tracks the movement. “Not very nautical?”
“I get seasick,” I admit.
He stares at me for a few seconds, then starts laughing. It’s not a light chuckle. It’s a long, deep, genuine,loudlaugh, and it puts an involuntary smile on my face.
“Shut up.”
“Why agree to come? Trying to impress Tyler?” The amusement drains from his expression.
“By vomiting on his boat?” I raise a skeptical brow. “I’m not trying to impress him.”
“You’re not.” It’s a statement and a question.
I tilt my head so his blocks the setting sun. “You seem awfully preoccupied with Tyler.”
Liam scoffs. “Just go to his place tonight if you’re wanting to hook up. I slept like shit last night.”
Annoyance blazes inside of me like a match catching fire. “If I want to hook up with him—which I never said I did, by the way—I’ll do it wherever the hell I want.”
He scoffs, then looks away, out at the ocean. “Whatever.”
“Are you jealous?” I ask, quietly. Like a real question, not a taunt.
“Why would I be jealous?”
“Because you kissed me last night.”
A muscle jumps in his jaw. “I thought we weren’t talking about it.”
I say nothing to that. Just watch as the sun starts to dip below the horizon. Shades of orange and pink skim and shimmer across the surface of the ocean as the light slowly fades. Salty air tugs at the braid of my hair, pulling a few strands out.
Liam is silent as well, which does nothing to distract me from the nausea swirling in my stomach.
I wonder what we look like to anyone looking. Just a guy and a girl sitting side by side, I guess. Feelings aren’t visible. They only show what we allow to be seen.
I’ve never worked harder to hide my feelings, and I think I’m still doing a terrible job of it.
It’s obvious where the concert is taking place. There are tons of other boats already loitering in the water offshore; the point is swarming with crowds that are visible from here.
Tyler navigates us into an open stretch. There’s a lot of jargon tossed around that’s nonsensical—at least to me. Most everyone else on board seems to understand. It ends with us marooned in one spot with the help of a heavy anchor and slackened sails.
