Page 34 of Until We're More
Oh, sure, I try to win him over for a week, and Finn does it in a minute. No more expensive ham for you, George.
“Yeah, they’re just friends,” Finn said in an exaggerated way that warned me I wouldn’t like what came out of his big mouth next. “That’s why he had to flee his apartment Monday night and go to the Fainting Goat to get laid. Because he lives with his pretty friend now, and it’s driving him crazy.”
Brooklyn whipped her head toward me. “You hooked up with some random girl at the bar? Does Chelsea know?”
“Thanks, asshole,” I aimed at Finn before addressing Brooklyn. “No, I didn’t hook up with anyone. Thought about it, though. But before you go reading more into it, I wasn’t feeling it.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Brooklyn sighed. “Why can’t you just admit you have feelings for Chelsea? We all see it. Even Shane.”
Shane held up his hands. “I’m not getting in the middle of this. I’m just along for the ride.”
“I’m not explaining this to you guys one more time.” I tipped back the last of my beer and tossed the bottle into the recycling half of the trash can. “Besides, she’s going to leave in a month.”And one week.Not that I was counting.
“Otherwise you’d do something about it?” my sister asked, and I groaned. Why did I bother trying to talk to them about this? I should stay quiet like usual. For a moment, I envied Chelsea for having a family that didn’t constantly insert themselves into her life.Out of sight, out of mindwould be nice right about now.
Then I immediately felt bad because as big a pain in the ass as they were, I had no doubt they cared and thought they were doing what was best for me.
Brooklyn nudged Shane toward Finn. “Go check out the cat.”
“Wow, a cat,” Shane said, super loud. “It has ears and a tail, too.”
My little sister walked over to me, crossed her arms, and stared up at me.
I crossed my arms and stared right back. “You can’t intimidate me.”
“How about talk some sense into you?”
“Nope,” I said, then I accidentally laughed, and so did she.
Her features softened, and I’d rather take the glaring any day. “Liam, I’m afraid that if you don’t do something—if you don’t make a move—you’ll regret it.”
And I was afraid that if Ididmake a move, I’d regret it. Eventually. After the part that would undoubtedly be amazing. But I wasn’t going to say that to her—it’d give her ideas, and obviously she had more than enough already. “I appreciate that you care, but I need you to stay out of it. Chelsea and I are going to hang out for a month, and then she’ll go back to Colorado. On top of getting Finn ready for his match weekend after next, I have a huge fight to train for—the biggest fight of my career, B. That’s the long and short of it. Don’t try to turn it into something it’s not.”
“I swear, you’re as stubborn as Dad.”
“Right back at you.”
She frowned. “Low blow. And don’t try to use logic on me and say I said it first.”
“I gave up using logic on you a long time ago.”
Brooklyn’s jaw dropped, and I raised my voice and looked over her head at Shane and Finn. “So, what’s the deal? Are we going to this party or what?” I grabbed my keys and tossed them to my sister. I wasn’t drunk—and at this point, I was wishing I were—but I’d already had a beer and planned to have several more. No driving for me.
My sister sighed, but then she was pushing us out of the apartment, and we were on our way to a party that should be plenty loud enough to stop her attempts to talk me into something I already wanted to do.
…
By the time I made it home, I was sick of small talk—sick of talking in general. Also, I’d sobered up significantly, although it took me two tries to get the key into the lock. Drunkandexhausted wasn’t a great combo for the reflexes.
I tripped on something the second I stepped inside, further proving my point. I glanced down to see Chelsea’s high heels and purse. While I was a neat freak, she left stuff everywhere, and if it were anyone else, I might be annoyed. As it was, I stared at those items, my mood immediately improving upon seeing them on the floor. It meant she hadn’t stayed the night with Mr. Upstanding.
I grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge, chugged half of it, and then noticed the figure on the couch. Moonlight streamed in through the blinds, highlighting Chelsea’s sleeping form. She still had on the dress, but her hair was down around her shoulders, and she had an open book across her stomach.
As I moved closer, I noticed George tucked next to her, his nose against her breast, and then I was jealous of a cat. He peered up at me, quickly dismissed me, and returned his head to its alluring perch.
I reached over the back of the couch and lifted the book off her. Since I didn’t want to lose her spot, I almost bent one corner before remembering some rant she’d gone on about people doing that to library books. A pen sat on the side table, and I stuck it in place and set the book there.
A sigh fell from Chelsea’s lips, and she shifted, not opening her eyes but clearly struggling to get comfortable.
