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I reach out and take a sip of my iced coffee, then slide the one I bought for him over to his waiting hand. He accepts it with a grateful smile.
"You're the best," he says, his eyes reflecting his appreciation.
I can't help but roll my eyes. "If you say so."
I despise it when he compliments me, simply because I know he genuinely means every word he says. Liam is, without a doubt, the sweetest person I've ever had the privilege of meeting. The very first time Leia and Liam crossed paths, she was left speechless - a rare occurrence. She simply couldn't fathom that he could be a real, living person.
I've always considered myself a magnet for misfortune, which is why I consider it a stroke of luck to have met Liam on our very first day of class. Our connection is an odd one, but it works; Liam is a bit quirky, and I am too, which may explain why we've hit it off so well.
Liam clears his throat, drawing my attention back to our conversation. "So," he begins tentatively.
I tilt my head curiously. "So," I reply, trying to figure out where he's going with this.
Liam has always been a bit peculiar, a quality I adore. We're both a little unconventional, and I suspect that's why we've formed such a strong bond.
He continues, "I heard you and Lincoln are friends now."
I attempt to sound nonchalant, though my curiosity is piqued. "Oh. I mean, not really. He apologized, and we made up. I think the whole friendship thing was probably just to be nice."
A thoughtful expression crosses Liam's face as he replies, "I thought it might be a big deal because Ronan has brought it up every day since it happened."
I shrug, though I'm inwardly burning with questions. "There's not much to bring up."
"That's what I thought too," Liam says, taking a sip of his drink and grinning at me, his dimples making an appearance. "But then, Lincoln had the strangest reaction to the teasing."
Leaning in closer, I inquire, "What do you mean?"
"Normally, Lincoln lets everything roll right off his back. Nothing can bother him unless it involves hockey or his family," Liam says, his words dragging on, and my patience wanes.
"Please, spit it out!" I plead, gripping his sweatshirt sleeve and pulling us closer until our heads are huddled together.
A loud laugh escapes him, drawing the attention of our nearby seat neighbors. We both instinctively shrink down in our seats, embarrassed.
"He gets all worked up whenever your name is brought up," Liam finally divulges.
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Is that bad?"
"No, Sutt," Liam shakes his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's so damn good!"
I release his sleeve and slump back in my chair, my thoughts spinning. I don't want Lincoln to be worked up when my name comes up. It's not ideal. The last thing I need is for him to be rude to me again. I'd rather not find myself in the position of crying in front of him once more. In my life, tears have been reserved for the cruel words my parents have hurled at me, but this sudden rush of emotions is something else entirely.
Lincoln has the uncanny ability to make me feel off-balance, and, according to Liam, I seem to have the same effect on him. It's a strange connection, and I can't help but ponder its implications.
"I want to move on from the whole thing," I confess.
"Are you sure?" Liam asks, doubt apparent in his eyes.
The truth is, I'm not sure at all. But before I'm given a chance to spew more half-truths, the professor starts the class, and our conversation is reluctantly put on hold. However, I'm acutely aware that this topic won't be forgotten easily.
Forty-five minutes later, as the class comes to an end, Liam and I diligently pack up our school supplies, eager to make a quick exit before the crowds gather near the doors. But before I can stand up, Liam stops me in my tracks with a simple question.
"Do you want to come over?" he asks. "I'm done with classes for the day, and I bet we could knock out this assignment in a couple of hours."
"To your house?" I question, needing to know an essential detail.
"Yep," he affirms.
I press further, my curiosity piqued. "Are your roommates going to be there?"
