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Ian blanched at Jake’s blunt question, shaking his head at him shamefully. “Jesus, Jake. Have a little tact,” he said in a low voice.
“Yeah, we are,” Liam answered firmly, ignoring Ian. “Things are a little delicate because of the work situation, but I’d say we’re athingat this point.”
Jake shifted his eyes toward Ian before looking at Liam gently. “That’s surprising.”
“Why do you say that?” Liam deadpanned. He felt the same ire from when he’d walked into the bar rising within him. Was it surprising because he was a huge nerd? Or surprising because they seemed unable to let go over a mistake that Sadie had made months ago?
“Well, you’re both so …different.”
“Jake, that’s rich coming from you,” Ian broke in before Liam could respond. “There’s no one more different than you and Lena, and that works, right?”
“Yeah, I know,” Jake hedged. “Sadie and I just had—”
“Look. Jake,” Liam said sharply, rising from his bar stool and stretching to his full height. “You need to get over that.”
They both looked over at Liam with surprise, but he didn’t give Jake a chance to respond before he questioned him.
“Has she been openly hitting on you in all the times she’s hung out with you since last summer?”
“No,” Jake answered plainly, openly side-eyeing Liam.
“Then move on. Stop punishing her.” He was by no means raising his voice, but his tone was definitely unforgiving. It was a voice intended to strike fear into misbehaving children who’d been tormenting their poor teachers, and apparently giant outdoorsmen who could kick his ass into next week if they really felt like it.
Jake looked at Liam for a few beats, considering what he said as he leveled his sharp hazel eyes on him.
Liam eyed Jake’s familiar ham-like fists warily. He wasn’t that nerdy kid anymore who’d just take it; he was ready for a fight. He knew his strengths at this point—he was fast and wily. So he was surprised when, instead of punching his lights out, Jake reached out his hand, holding it in the air between them. “You’re right, man. Accept my apologies?”
“Sure,” said Liam, his surprise ebbed by relief as he firmly shook Jake’s hand. Looking down at their joined hands, it struck him that Jake’s hand didn’t look that much bigger than his from this perspective. “But you should really apologize to Sadie.”
“You’re right,” he admitted, releasing Liam’s hand as the bartender came by with their last drink. “Let me talk to Lena first, but we’ll make sure to make amends with Sadie.”
“I think she’d like that,” Liam admitted tentatively.
A congenial smile spreading over his cheeks, Jake slapped Liam on the back before turning around to pick up his and Lena’s drinks. “Let’s get these drinks delivered, guys, and hope that we can make it back before that arrogant bastard Seth Harper sees us.”
“That was so much fun,” Sadie said as Liam followed her into her dark apartment. “I’m so glad we went, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am,” Liam said honestly, closing her door behind him. He could have done without the night out, but seeing her so happy, so excited to be a part of the group, had been entertaining. He’d always been happy to sit back and watch the Sadie Sullivan Show, whether it was in Algebra class, on the couch, or in a bar.
Dim light shone through the windows, bathing her white couch and bare walls in a gray glow. It made her look like she was in a black and white film as she stripped off her jacket and stepped toward him, her eyes connecting with his.
“I know you didn’t want to come,” she said softly. “So, thank you.”
“I want to be where you are,” he admitted gruffly. “If you wanted to go, then so did I.”
A slight smile tugged at her lips, and her hair caught the light as she made her way across the room. His eyelids drooped a bit as he watched her; the beer he’d consumed had left him feeling languid and slow. When she stopped and reached her hand up to graze his cheek, he saw that her eyes looked drowsy, too.
Closing his eyes as her hand brushed his skin, he inhaled deeply before closing the space between them, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close, and breathing her in. She smelled like the fruity scent of the beer she’d been drinking, and he could still feel the cold air from outside on her face.
They just stood there in the dark room; their bodies melded together until she suddenly pulled her face back from his. Her eyes darted over his features as she considered him before moving her head forward, her lips lightly grazing his, her hands pressing on his chest.
Liam let her lightly kiss him while he stood still, his eyelids drooping closed. Images of her from the past and present suddenly assaulted him—sitting in Algebra class, crying behind Tyler as he beat him, popping her head in his office to talk about the play, and instructing the kids at rehearsal. His thoughts compelled him to lean forward in an attempt to get as close to her as possible, to never let her go. He rested his hands lightly on her hips while their lips pressed against each other in soft, lazy motions.
Sadie suddenly pulled away, looking at him in confusion—she seemed to have a million thoughts swimming around in her eyes as she opened and closed her mouth a couple times.
“Liam, I just—” She cut herself off, not continuing as they gazed at each other. She looked so confused, so overwhelmed, and Liam didn’t know if there was a right thing to say in that moment in the darkness with Sadie Sullivan. So he said the one thing he knew worked with her.
“Go in your room,” he said quietly, motioning his head forward a bit. “Take off your clothes and lie down on your bed.”
