Page 35 of Puck'n Bully
I wince dramatically. “No microwave for a year? Now, that’s tragic.”
“Tell me about it.” Liam tastes a spoonful of a green dip, nodding to himself before going back to eating some more bread with olive oil. “I think that was the moment Grams realized she was raising a crazy scientist.”
“Your grandma raised you?” I ask, surprised.
Liam nods, a sober look coming over his face. “My mom got pregnant with me when she was still in high school. She wanted to give me up but Grams insisted on raising me on her own. Mom went off to college and then, got married to a guy she was working with in Dubai. She has her own family now and doesn’t stay in touch. Her family doesn’t know I’m her son.”
“But you have your grandmother,” I say, hoping he wouldn’t look so sad and hopeless. “She looked after you, didn’t she?”
“Yeah. Grams is the best.” He dips a piece of bread in the green dip he’d just tried and holds it toward me. “You haven’t eaten anything since we sat down. Just have a taste of this while we wait for our food to arrive.”
The gesture makes me smile. Leaning forward, I wrap my mouth over the morsel of bread and take it from Liam. “It’s good,” I say, chewing through a mouthful.
I can’t help but enjoy his attention. He can be so darn sweet when he feels safe and relaxed. His walls are down and he’s allowing himself to come closer to me.
Leaning forward, I focus on him as he tells me a ridiculous story about a professor from his previous university who once fell asleep during his lecture.
“You’ve got to be lying!” I say, laughing hard.
Liam winks. “I have a video.”
Another big laugh escapes me. Something warm curls in my chest as I realize Liam is doing his best to amuse me and keep the conversation flowing.
I have never feltsogood in anyone’s company in my life. It’s easy to be with Liam and not feel burdened by the weight of the entire world on my shoulders.
“Our food is here,” Liam says as our server comes to our table with a huge tray.
The sight and smell of the freshly made food make my mouth water. I’m about to take a sip of the coke the waiter just put down when something catches my eye.
Over Liam’s shoulder, just past the bar, I see the last person I want to see.
Logan Johnson. My team captain.
He’s walking straight into the restaurant with a girl on his arm. Shit! He chose this place for a date too.
Every muscle in my body stiffens while my heart pounds against my chest.
This can’t happen. He can’t see me with Liam.
He can’t know I like guys. He can’t know I’mgay.
“Hayden, are you okay?” Liam asks, looking closely at me.
I glance at him, unsure how to act normal.
“You look pale. Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine,” I mutter, my gaze flicking back to Logan. He’s being welcomed in by one of the servers and hasn’t noticed me yet.
Fuck. He’ll see me any second now.
Panic surges through me, kicking up my instinct to run and hide.
Before I can come up with a plan, I do the worst thing possible.
Tightening my grip on my glass, I throw my cold drink at Liam.
He jerks back, his eyes wide with shock. “Why did you do that—”
