His shoulders relax and he sends me a grateful smile. “You do? Good. I was afraid we were on the wrong page.”
Oh, you have no idea.
“I found the ring,” I blurted.
His head jerked back so suddenly his whole chair moved with him, making an awful sound against the wood floors. People in our immediate vicinity turned in our direction. I wanted to melt into a puddle at the floor. I should have waited until we were in a private place. It hadn’t even occurred to me he could make this into a scene.
“What?” I’d never heard his voice quite that high before.
I lowered mine in response, hoping to smooth his ruffled feathers before he got upset. “The ring. The engagement ring? I found it when I was at your apartment last week.”
Silence filled the space between us and my ears began to ring, blotting out the sound of the bad karaoke from a couple of sorority girls in the corner. But over the ringing, I heard Liam’s voice berating me for my love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude.
“You thought I was going to propose to you?”
Then it was my turn to gape at him like a fish. “Weren’t you?”
His eyes flicked back and forth as he studied me. He leaned back and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You were going to break up with me, weren’t you?” He actually laughed and then leaned in across the table. “You were going to break up with me even though you thought I was going to propose.”
The warmth from the alcohol curdled in my stomach. I swallowed hard and pressed my hands into the table for balance. I wasn’t going to throw up in public. I didn’t even do that when I was fresh out of high school and acclimating to the constant flow of booze as a frosh. “You could do so much better than me, Andrew. I’m leaving this summer for a volunteer opportunity overseas. We wouldn’t even get to spend a lot of time together.” All my carefully rehearsed reasons now sounded pathetic and flimsy in light of Liam’s accusations and the pure disbelief on Andrew’s face.
He shook his head and got to his feet. “You’re a real piece of work, Charlie. But for the record, I was never gonna propose to you. That ring is a family heirloom. My mom gave it to me last week for my twenty-fifth birthday.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he was already walking away. I downed the rest of the cosmo to wash out the bad taste in my mouth, but not even it could drown out the sound of Liam’s words and Andrew’s accusations.
Chapter Two
Liam
I kept an eye on their table as best I could, but the bar was packed on a Saturday night. By the time I looked up, I’d lost sight of them and their table was empty. As I filled drink requests for person after person my gaze flitted around the room trying find either of them. I cursed under my breath. Never should have let her do this on a night when I was working so I couldn’t keep a close eye on her.
A half-hour later, it seemed half of the university had decided to show up so I hadn’t been able to tear myself away. My eyes are gritty from the flashing lights and lack of sleep. I wish I could say it’s because I’ve spent it with a woman, but I picked up extra shifts here and the pet rescue where I work as a vet tech for extra cash. If I was being honest it’s been a hot minute since I’ve even had time for another woman.
The next girl in line, a pretty brunette with skin-tight jeans and a killer smile, didn’t even do anything for me. “Sex on the beach,” she requested.
But it did nothing for me. Not even when she perched on the bar stool and arched her back to thrust her pretty breasts in the line of my gaze. “Coming right up,” I told her. I was still focused on scanning the crowd to try and spot Charlie and her latest guy, so I only gave her breasts a cursory glance. The brunette pouted until I placed her drink in front of her and she flounced off for another target.
Normally, it didn’t bother me that Charlie chose my job as her dumping ground. It kept her close in case something went wrong that way I could be there to handle things for her. But something about this particular one was making me twitchy.
“The hell’s wrong with you?” asked the other bartender on duty. He was a pretty chill dude who played ball for FSU named Tripp. I wasn’t as into sports, but we got along well enough. He and Charlie lived in the same apartment complex with her friends and they always ended up hanging out together.
“What do you mean?” I leaned around the next customer to study a flash of blonde hair. Not Charlie.
“You’re being twitchy.”
I turned to him and grabbed the vodka for the drink I was making. “I’m not being twitchy.”
“If you were any twitchier, I’d think you took one too many balls to the head.”
The mental image produced by his words made me wince. “Charlie broke up with another one of her guys tonight. I’ve got a bad feeling about it, that’s all.”
Tripp snorted. “Are you sure that’s the real reason?”
I started cleaning the counters between customers to keep my hands busy. Twitchy, my ass. “Of course it’s the real reason. What else would it be?”
He elbowed me, knocking me off balance. He may be leaner than me, but it’s all muscle, the little shit. “Can you think of another reason why you’d be so worried about who she’s dating?”
“Aside from the fact that she’s my best friend and I want to make sure she’s okay?”
Tripp rolled his eyes as he prepped his next drink. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself.”
“That is the reason.” I was pretty sure.
“I’m friends with Charlie and I’ve never been that concerned with her love life, let me tell you.”
I wiped the counters again, even though they were still pristine. “I’m not concerned with her love life. Jesus, dude. I don’t like the look of that Andrew guy and I’ve always kept an eye out for her.”
“Sure, if that’s what you wanna call it.” He paused and gestured toward the counter. “Pretty sure it’s clean enough.”
“Fuck off,” I told him as the next person stepped up to order a drink. My body relaxed when I saw it was the man I was looking for. “Andrew. Hey, man.”
His lip curled. “I need the key to Charlie’s place. She said you’d have one. We broke up and I have some stuff of mine to get and she won’t be going home for a couple hours. I want to get it tonight.”
Relieved at the fact that he hadn’t flipped his shit and having spotted Charlie by the end of the bar nursing another beer, I pulled the key off my ring. She’d let him borrow it before, so I didn’t even think twice. I was more worried about checking on her. “I’m sorry to hear that. If you’ll lock up and leave the key on her counter for her, that’d be great.”
He left without another word after pocketing the key and wound his way through the crowd to get to Charlie.
“Why does she even go for those losers?” Tripp asked.
I shook my head. “She’s determined to find the perfect guy for the perfect version of her life she has mapped out in her head. As soon as one of them shows a side that doesn’t fit in with the man she’s conjured up, she checks out.”
“That’s messed up. No one’s perfect.”
“Pretty sure she’d have the perfect guy and come up with an excuse to bolt,” I said absently as I glanced back over at the two of them. Charlie’s face was tense, her lips pressed together like she was holding back her words. Never a good sign.
“Still, maybe he was a good guy.”
I took a step closer as I saw Charlie’s face blanches of all color. “If he were the right guy, he would have fought for her, you know?”
“Maybe he was scared.”
“He had an engagement ring, she said. That normally means it’s pretty serious.”
I still didn’t know how I felt about that. She dated and sometimes it got serious, but never permanent-serious. She’d never gotten close to getting engaged. I couldn’t sort out why my stomach had dropped when she’d told me about the ring. Maybe it was the thought of things changing. Maybe it was the threat
of losing my best friend. If Tripp had it his way, he’d say it’s because I had feelings for her.
That couldn’t be it.
Could it?
I shoved the thought away. There was no way in hell that had happened. We’ve been close for a long time, but it’s always been platonic.
“You okay?” Tripp asked, no longer teasing.
I couldn’t answer because I wasn’t sure if I was. It was as though the Earth had shifted right under my feet. Everything around me was the same, but something intrinsic had changed. I just didn’t understand what.
From the distance separating us, I could see a tear slip down Charlie’s cheek and that broke me from my stupor. It didn’t matter what was happening. She was clearly upset, and it was time to get her away from that guy, I didn’t care if it pissed him off.
I didn’t know what the hell he’d said, but it looked like she was about to full-out cry, which she never did…ever. Her face was red and her eyes bright with unshed emotion. The single tear she’d let go had left a shimmery trail down her cheek. He had her pinned in a corner against the bar and I could hear his outraged voice above the din, though I couldn’t distinguish what he was saying from so far away. I found myself pushing through the crowd without another thought and was beside her in less than a minute.
“My mom was right about you,” I heard him say as I got closer. “I never should have wasted my time on someone so worthless. I never would have proposed to you. I can’t believe you’d even think so. Marrying you would have been the worst decision of my life.”
“Ready to go home?” I asked Charlie. I paid no mind to the fuck-stain who turned to gape at me. As far as I was concerned, he no longer existed. I’d have Tripp cover the rest of my shift. If my manager gave me shit, I’d tell him to screw off.
Fuck-stain glared at me. “We’re talking here.”
Charlie’s gaze skittered over to him, but I cupped her chin and brought it back to me. “Let’s go home,” I said, my tone gentle. “I’ll pick you up some wine and we’ll watch all the chick shit you want.” A huge concession, considering I loathed all those girlie movies. My mom and sisters watched them non-stop growing up and sitting through one was enough to make me hurl.
Fuck-stain scoffed and glared some more, and I wondered how I’d ever thought he was good enough for her. Until further notice, no one was good enough for her. He was lucky I didn’t put my fist in his face.
“I’d rather watch an action movie,” she said. The corner of her mouth tilted up, and if it hadn’t wavered, if there hadn’t been the slightest glimmer of sadness in her eyes, I wouldn’t have done what I did next. We would have gone out, grabbed some wine and food, and continued with our lives the way they were.
But it was that show of vulnerability that hit me right in the gut. She was hurting and all I wanted to do was take her up in my arms and make it go away. This guy had beat her down, torn up her self-esteem, and when she’d stood up to him, he hadn’t been able to handle it.
“I’m ready to go,” she said and squared her shoulders, but I was still staring at her mouth.
Fuck-stain made an angry noise in the back of his throat, but neither of us were paying any attention to him.
Ignoring him, my own objections, and common sense, I closed the distance between us and pressed my mouth to hers.
After a moment of surprise where her body froze against mine, her lips parted with a little moan, and it burrowed deep down inside me and took root. All I could think about as we were pressed together was how right it felt. She leaned against me, her breasts pressing against my chest, and I slid a hand down to the small of her back to keep her close. My senses both sharpened and dulled at the same time. Everything involving her was crystal clear, but everything else—the pulse of the music, the dull roar of conversation, even her fuckin’ ex—all faded to the background.
There was only her. It had taken me most of my life to really see her. And now it was like I only had eyes for her.
Chapter Three
Charlie
Liam was kissing me.
Liam. My best friend.
What the fuck?
“What the fuck?” Andrew echoed.
I pushed Liam away after a long moment and turned my head, unable to process what had happened. His harsh breathing sounded like he’d run a marathon, whereas I seemed to forget how to breathe altogether. The alcohol made my head spin and the repeated sound of Andrew shouting was giving me a headache.
“Can you not?” Liam said. His body vibrated against mine. I chanced a look and would have pulled back if it weren’t for the hand he had pressed against my back. I’d never seen him so furious.
As my body relaxed, he pulled me even closer. He was protecting me, like he had since the day my mother abandoned me with my dying father. My assumption was confirmed when he let go of me to push me behind his back. From the view over his shoulder, I could see Andrew fuming, his face red and his hands fisted at his side.
“Screw you.” Andrew’s voice shook and a vein pulsed at his temple.
“Just go, man,” Liam snapped. “We’re done here.”
Andrew’s eyes turned cold, determined. “Not even close.”
Liam kept me tucked behind him until Andrew pushed his way through the crowd, then he turned and cupped my face with both hands. “God, I’m sorry. You okay?”
“Well, I guess you were right,” I mumbled.
His thumbs traced my cheeks in one last lingering touch and then he pulled me away from the curious crowd to a pair of empty bar stools. He tugged me onto one and braced an arm on the bar. We were sitting so close I could hear him above the music and shouted conversations. It reminded me of how it felt when his body was pressed against mine and I shivered.
“About what?” he asked. His lips glistened in the glow of strobe lights. I’d never paid attention to them before, but now I knew what they felt like. I couldn’t help but wonder, despite everything, what it’d be like to feel them on mine again.
I shook my head at the memory of his heat wrapped around me. The kiss was a way to get Andrew to back off. That’s all. “That I break their hearts. I never would have done this here if I’d known he would cause such a scene.”
He scowled. “Don’t apologize for that dipshit. He’s only upset because he knows what he’s missing.”
I sniffled and wiped at my eyes. I was not going to cry. “He wasn’t going to propose. Didn’t you hear? I’m not good enough for his perfect family. I don’t know why I keep dating. It’s a good thing I’m leaving after this semester.”
Liam straightened. “You’re what?”
All I wanted was to go home—not the little apartment I rented near school—but home, where Liam and I grew up. It’s funny, my mom had run out on us when dad got sick when I was thirteen and I’d always promised myself I’d never turn out like her. I guess some things run in the family.
“I was going to tell you later, but I got offered an opportunity to volunteer overseas. They need nurses to give vaccines, run free clinics. That sort of thing.”
He rocked back on his stool and rubbed a hand over his face. “Wow, Charlie, that’s great.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry I dragged you into all this. Next time, I’ll make sure to find another place to break up.”
His gaze met mine. “Next time?” Was it a trick of the dim lighting or was he upset?
The heat in his eyes prompted the memory of the kiss. I had to knock it out of my brain before all I could do when I was around him was think about kissing him. “Well, probably not since there’s no point in dating if I’m leaving soon anyway.” At his silence, I kept babbling. “Anyway, thank you for jumping in. Kissing me was probably a better choice than punching him and getting fired. He was so sure you and I had something going behind his back, so it must have pissed him off something bad. Joke’s on him though, right?” I attempted a smile, but I could only muster up a grimace. This was why friends never kissed. It made everything awkward as hell.
I could only hope our friendship would survive it.
He looked away and eased himself back. “A joke. Right.”
Silence filled the space between us and I didn’t like it. There had never been space in our friendship before and I hated to be the reason there was now.
“Liam, is everything going to be okay?” My voice trembled, but I carried on. “I don’t care about Andrew, but I can’t lose you. I know you were trying to protect me. You’re a good friend. Can we just…go back to the way things were?” Somehow I’d gotten my hands on a cocktail napkin. I looked down in my lap to avoid his expression as he considered my words. The napkin was shredded in a pile on my thighs.
His hand covered mine as I began to shred the pieces into even smaller ones. I looked up and found him smiling at me, the traces of awkwardness gone. “It’s alright. I was protecting you, like you said. Besides, I’d never let a douchebag like him mess with us. We’re good.”
I slumped and laughed, but it was shaky. For a second there, I thought maybe he’d been seriously hurt. For a second there, I’d even given half a thought to what it’d be like to kiss him on a regular basis. Then, I remembered what he said about me breaking hearts. I’d never want to hurt Liam. He was the most important person in my life. “Good. You had me worried.”
“Naw, it was only a kiss.”
“It wasn’t even a good one,” I said with a smile to soften the burn as I gathered the remains of the mutilated napkin and left it on the counter. Joking seemed easier than acknowledging that I hadn’t wanted the kiss to end.
Liam grinned back at me and I knew everything between us would be okay. At least until I left, but I’d worry about that later. “Now I know you’re talking out of your ass,” he said. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Friend Zone Series Box Set Page 2