Page 43 of Accidental Love

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Liam

The moment I stepped outside of the hospital, I saw a familiar car idling at the curb. As I walked toward it, I smiled. My mother really had thought this all through. Just as I approached the car, the driver’s window rolled down, revealing my grinning sister.

“I have been sitting down here waiting for you for like half an hour.” Julie said, trying to sound irritated but failing.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, coming to a stop.

“What do you think I am doing here, you ass-munch? I am here to help you get your girl. Now get your ass in the car before you freeze,” she said before quickly rolling the window up. I grinned, making my way to the passenger’s side. With my one uninjured arm I opened the door and slid inside. The moment I was inside the car I shivered. I hadn’t realized it was that cold outside. “Ready to go?” Julie asked. I quickly nodded while trying to get my seatbelt on. It took me a good minute before I did, and the moment it clicked Julie took off.

“Did Mom tell you to drive me?” I asked.

“Yes, but I also volunteered. You can’t drive with a broken left arm, and plus, I want to see you get back together with Jenna,” she said as she drove in the direction of where Candy must live. It looked to be on the same side of town where Jenna used to live.

“So you know?” I asked, staring out the front window. I didn’t even have to clarify what I meant, as Julie nodded.

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you angry? Or as angry as mom is or was?”

“No, I knew about it,” she said simply.

“Wait, what? You knew? How? Did everyone know?” I asked, surprised. Another person knew about the deal I had with Jenna?

“Well I didn’t really know, but I guessed. The first time you brought her over for dinner I figured something was weird. Especially when you talked about when you got together. The timeline didn’t add up, and you two clearly weren’t as comfortable around one another as you are now. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.” She shrugged. “Plus, my brother having a serious relationship. Please.”

“Hey, I can have a serious relationship!” I said defensively.

“Yeah, now. Before Jenna you were with girls, one after another. I’m surprised you haven’t attracted anything from them all, to be honest.”

I sent a glare at the side of her face. Julie ignored me as she continued to drive.

“So why aren’t you angry about us lying about being in a relationship?” I asked after a few minutes.

“Because I knew you would eventually tell us. And once I got to know Jenna, I couldn’t stay mad. She is amazing, even for someone who is nineteen.”

“Twenty,” I corrected her, although I had no idea why.

“Okay, for a ‘twenty-year-old’. She really helped me out, and once I saw how in love with you she was, I couldn’t be mad. Although I don’t know what she sees in you,” she joked.

“Haha, so fucking funny,” I muttered. My knee started to bounce as we continued to drive. If only I could make all the cars on the road freeze or disappear. The rest of the ride to Candy’s apartment was silent. I was too focused on wanting to be there already, and what I would say to Jenna when I saw her.

“Okay, I think this is the one,” Julie said as she parked the car in front of a run-down apartment building. “Don’t screw this up, Liam. I swear if you do I will have to hurt you.”

“Thanks for the confidence.”

“No problem, big bro! Now get in there!” She softly pushed my injured arm. Taking a deep breath, I sent my sister a small smile before opening the door and stepping out. As I made my way to the apartment number that was written on the piece of paper I held, I felt myself grow nervous. It had been a week since I had last seen Jenna. I knew it wasn’t a long time, but it felt like it. I felt like I hadn’t seen her in five years.

Coming to a stop in front of apartment 4C, I rolled my neck. Okay, I can do this. I can do this, I chanted in my head. All you have to do is knock on the door, and if she opens it up, just grab her and kiss her, I said to myself. No, that may scare her. Talk to her first, another part of me chimed in. For the love of God! I groaned mentally.

Taking one last deep breath, I raised my fist and rapped on the door three times. As I stood there waiting, my right hand shook a little and I clenched what fingers I could in my cast on my left. I silently prayed that Jenna would be the one to open the door. Finally, just as I thought my heart would burst out of my chest, the door opened.

“Jenna—” I started to say, but stopped. “You’re not Jenna,” I said dumbly. In front of me was Candy.

“Liam!” She stared back at me.

“Jen—” I said, then cleared my throat. “I mean, Candy, where is Jenna? Is she here?”

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