Page 60 of Unfinished

“That’s crazy. You can’t give up your family’s school and legacy to come to my school. It ranks way down on the list of good schools for your degree.”

“Then I'll switch degrees. I don’t need to have a degree in business, I need a masters' degree,” Liam growled.

“That doesn’t change the fact that I still won’t have time. Six hours or living right next to me doesn’t stop the fact that I’ll be spending all my time on school and work.”

“But I can kiss you every night. I can walk you to class. I can walk you to work. On the rare chance that you have some free time, I can actually be there with you.”

“No, Liam.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not giving up my schooling, my family, my friend, or my work for you. I don’t want you to do it for me.” I raised my voice.

“I would never ask you to, and you never asked me to. I want to do this because I can’t give you up.” Liam’s voice rose too.

“No, Liam. Go to TKU. Finish your degree. Do what you need to do. Date whoever you want. Don’t wait for me.”

I hung up the phone because the tears were forming and I didn’t want him to hear my voice cracking. I wouldn’t put my life on hold for him, and I’d be damned if I let him do it for me. Arguing about this wasn’t going to change anything for either one of us.

Chapter 27

Liam

Don’t wait for me. That was it. I wasn’t doing this anymore. I wasn’t waiting for her to agree. I’d take matters into my own hands. My mom put her and her dad through hell. I was taking away her damned excuses. I kept pacing in my father’s hospital room and he was watching me.

“What are you planning?” My father asked.

“Mom fucked up and I am going to make it right,” I snarled.

“Oh, you are?”

“I am paying her rent so she doesn’t have to work.”

“Shouldn’t you check with her first?”

“She’ll say no.”

“So, shouldn’t you respect that?” I stopped pacing and looked at my father.

“No. She’s using this as an excuse to not be with me.”

“You need to give her time.”

“So some asshole can swoop in and try to take her from me?”

“You know damn well who we are. There are ways we can prevent that. If you think some asshole can swoop in and take her from you, you lack faith in her,” my dad said.

“I don’t want to risk it. Things haven’t been easy with me, things may never be easy with me and our family. What can I actually give her that she wants?”

“She wants your support and understanding. If you want to keep talking to her, then agree to a friendship. Visit her before school starts and be her friend. Spend the next four years sharing everything with each other from a distance and visiting each other when you can, be friends. But give her the damn space she needs to become the woman she wants to be. We can take care of any other potential issues if needed.”

I hated it, but it was the only option I had at that point. If I kept her as a friend, I’d stay in her life, and when school was over, we’d have the opportunity to be together again.

“Are you sure I can’t transfer to FIT?” I asked my dad.

“Absolutely not,” my dad said and it was final, there would be no convincing him.

“Hey, man.” Bas walked into the room, I turned my head to him and nodded.

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