Page 22 of Hate To Love You
Liam seems to struggle with that. “It … wasn’t a challenge.”
Teague lifts an eyebrow. “Really? What was it then? An effort to humiliate me?” He leans in closer to Liam. With how close they already are, he’s now pressed up against his side with nowhere to escape. “You gotta know by now, I am un-humiliate-able. Still, it’s kinda cute that you tried. And … maybe I deserved it a little.”
Liam lifts his face and gives Teague a confused, tortured look.
Literally an inch between their lips.
Between their noses.
Their eyes.
They could literally kiss right now. They basically already are. Just a nudge from someone on the couch will force their lips to touch, even without their permission. It’s basic physics. Gravity. A natural magnetic pull between bodies.
Is that sexual tension Teague feels? It can’t be an illusion.
Something is churning between them, Teague is certain. That must be why Liam is so resistant. So annoyed and hot all the time when it comes to Teague. If it wasn’t true, Liam would have turned away or left the couch by now.
Not to mention what he said earlier—about Teague being evil and playing with Liam’s feelings. Or whatever wording he used. Why would he say that if there weren’t feelings already there to be played with? Did Teague hear him right? Is he overthinking it?
Teague’s heart takes a leap.
He’s going to kiss Liam. Right now. He’s going to kiss Liam on the mouth, sweetly, like an experiment, a toe in the water, just to finally break this unnecessary and unbearable tension that’s been clearly driving the two of them crazy.
And if he’s wrong and all of this is in his head, well, he can just blame being a horny satyr.
But for some inexplicable reason, it’s then that Gracie chooses to selectively hear something Teague just said. “Wait. Challenge? Did you just mention the straight face challenge?”
“Ooh,” sings Deena, clapping. “I love that game.”
“Game?” asks Teague, looking at each of them. “Straight face what?”
“You’ve never played?? It’s so much fun!” cries Gracie. “It’s a Theatre focusing thing. Look, I’ll play a round with Deena right now. It’s basically a staring contest, except you can blink, but you can’t smile. Watch.” She sits down on the coffee table across from Deena’s chair, and the two lock eyes. All the conversation in the room halts as they stare at each other. Gracie’s eyes grow so large, her expression turns funny. In a matter of fifteen seconds, Deena’s straight face breaks and she lets out a belt of laughter. “I win!” cries Gracie. “See? It’s harder than it looks.”
“Dude, that’s easy,” says Zeke. “Y’all Theatre nerds are weird. Bernie, dude, let’s go.”
“Let’s go!” agrees Bernie with a smack of his hands together, then the two lock eyes and try their own round. Bernie only lasts half a minute before he suddenly can’t take it and looks away. “Okay, that’s more intense than I expected. Can’t do it. Nope.”
All four of them turn expectantly to Teague and Liam.
Teague suddenly realizes what’s being asked of them in the ringing silence. “Oh, uh …” He lets out a nervous chuckle. “No, it’s alright. I wouldn’t put Liam through staring at my scary-ass eyes. Besides, I have goat horns on my head. Satyrs are horny bastards, remember?”
To Teague’s surprise, however, it’s Liam who says: “Why not? Scared you’ll lose?”
Teague turns to him, eyebrows lifted. “That … sure sounds like a gauntlet’s being thrown.”
“Because it is.” Liam stiffens up, smirking.
Teague faces him fully. Is this really happening? Is Liam really surrendering to this ridiculous game? How out of character for the stoic, un-playful, moody Liam who a moment ago seemed to be checking his phone for a reason to leave.
Teague nods. “Alright. You’re on. Starting … now!”
The boys lock eyes, not unlike the way two bulls lock horns.
Needle focus, iron faces, and mounting intensity.
The others in the room are probably watching them, but nothing in the universe outside of this eye contact exists anymore to Teague. It’s only his eyes and Liam’s.
Their blank faces. Their flat-lined lips.
