Page 43 of Falling for my Brother's Best Friend

Thirteen

Savannah

Leaving Grandma Dori and Juno behind, my mind slips into fix-it mode. Should I sleep on Juno’s couch or find somewhere else to stay? I could stay at Liam’s and make myself scarce, I guess. Knowing Grandma Dori, she’ll stay at Juno’s just to make sure I don’t return.

I drive around for a bit and eventually find myself heading down Liam’s long driveway. My gut twists at having to see him after last night, but there’s a conversation to be had between us. One that’s been looming for a long time. The longer we avoid it, the more often incidents like last night will happen.

One single headlight shines toward me, and I slow to a stop, knowing it’s him on his motorcycle. I rarely see him ride it. He stops, kills the engine, and straddles the bike next to my driver’s side window. The air around us is awkward and uncomfortable and I hate every second of it.

We’ve never been the best of friends, but before I moved in with him, we coexisted well. We could hold a conversation during the obligatory Bailey functions. Sure, we’d get a few jabs in on each other, but it was all in good fun.

He takes off his helmet. Since it’s the middle of summer, dusk won’t come until midnight, which means I can see the dark circles under his eyes. He didn’t sleep last night either.

“Hey,” he says.

I press the radio volume button on my steering wheel, leaving the sound of the crickets chirping as our only distraction. “Hi.”

“Can we talk?”

“Are you going on a ride?”

The slight turn of his lips on his right side says he wants to make a smart-ass comment. I admit, I kind of gave him a great opening.

“I was, but I’d rather talk to you.”

I gulp and nod. “Is Denver home?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” He pats the back of his bike. “How about I take you for a ride?”

“Or I could drive us.” I pat my steering wheel.

“That wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.”

“But it would be safer.”

He nods. “Give me a second to put it back in the garage.”

After putting his helmet back on, he circles around the back of my SUV and heads back up the driveway to his house. I follow and watch him park the motorcycle and put away his helmet. I’m so busy wondering what’s going to happen now with him in my truck that I don’t realize he’s ready to go until he’s knocking on the window.

I fumble to unlock the door, and he slides into my passenger seat. “Thanks.”

“Where to?” I do a U-turn in the driveway and head back the way I came.

“I’d rather not be Buzz Wheel’s hot news tomorrow.”

A sour taste coats my mouth. I never checked the blog last night, but I’m sure it reported our fight. Come tomorrow morning at work, someone will have passed around a screenshot, which means I’ll hide in my office until someone else is the center point of everyone’s gossip.

“Me neither. What are you thinking?” I stop at the end of his driveway, unsure if I should turn right or left.

“Hungry?”

Since Juno only had a container of pizza-flavored Pringles and some leftover orange chicken from Wok For U, I’m starving. “I could eat.”

“Left then.”

I turn into the street, and silence encases every molecule in my car.

Liam leans forward, his fingers on the button for the radio. “Do you mind?”

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