Page 28 of Hate To Love You
“Really? After spending all afternoon in it? My loyal steed?” He comes up and slaps the side of it, then gives Liam one of his signature crooked smiles. “You hungry? We can grab something to eat on the way. Pizza, fast food, tacos, whatever hits you right. And that’ll betwomeals we’ve shared today. Then I’ll take you home later on when you get bored of me.”
“Um … sure, yeah, that … that sounds fine.”
As Teague unlocks the truck and opens the door, Liam faces a terrifying jolt of fear, worries if this is the worst idea of his life, swallows it down in an instant, and forces himself to get into the truck with the horny, dollar-store satyr.
11
Tongue-Tied
Liam couldn’t have imagined this was how he would spend his evening.
Not at Gracie’s, eating his favorite gingersnap cookies.
Not at home, curled up with his phone with a mystery man on a dating app.
Not at the store, covering for someone’s night shift.
But driving around town with Teague Jenson, the guy he only moments ago loathed, then seconds later found himself kissing. Teague, whose insufferable charm all these years seemed reserved for everyone else in town and never for him. Teague, steering his “steed” like a chariot he’s proudly escorting Liam across town upon, windows rolled down, night breeze combing through their hair in gentle, thrilling waves.
What a strange and unexpected night this has become.
They hit up a pizza place first, then decide to just eat in the truck as opposed to taking it back to Teague’s. Over slice after slice of cheap pizza, the pair of them chat about everything that comes to mind—which is mostly the day-to-day gripes of working at Gary’s Grocers. Liam finds himself chuckling several times despite himself, perhaps holding back his full belts of laughter, clinging to a pinch of resolve to not let every last one of his walls down just yet. Teague goes on and on, pointingout absurdities Liam didn’t even realize about the store, like the placement of certain items in nonsensical aisles where they don’t sell as well or can’t be found. Liam is amazed at how observant Teague can be, apparently, when he otherwise seems to not be paying attention to much at all. And as Teague points out (and then imitates) a funny sound he always hears Mr. Michelson make when he’s in his office and thinks he’s alone, Liam explodes into laughter so loud, he’s sure the whole parking lot and half of Texas can hear them both.
Liam has never felt this free before. Maybe the same could be said about Teague, who looks like he’s beaming ear-to-ear every time he gazes at Liam.
When they finally arrive at Teague’s, it’s nearly midnight, but neither of them seem ready to end their time together. Liam finds himself hanging out in Teague’s backyard, lounging on an old swinging bench that hangs from the patio covering. Teague’s dog Rus rests on a comfortable doggy bed near the back door. Liam was protected from a face full of licking from the excitable dog when they first arrived and he got to meet him, thanks to a overly-protective Teague.
A lull in conversation leaves the two in a comfortable silence as they gaze into the starry night sky, sitting side-by-side on the swinging bench. It feels like they’ve talked about everything.
Almost everything. “We gonna avoid it all night?”
Liam instantly knows what he’s referring to. “Well …”
“I just don’t want you to have any lingering questions. I don’t know if you realize it, but … despite it looking like I’ve got dozens of friends, the truth is that none of them really know me all that well. I would reckon no one in town could name three personal facts about me, let alone the name of my dog, the fact that I have a dog, or … the more obvious fact that I’m into you.”
Liam turns to him.
Teague bites his lip as he continues gazing off into the dark yard. “And you know all three of those facts, so … I guess you officially know me better than anyone in town.” He turns his face, giving Liam a look into his eyes. “How’s that make you feel?”
Liam stares at Teague in wonder. He’s been doing that a lot tonight. “Terrible.”
Teague’s face wrinkles up. “What? Why?”
Liam frowns. “I … I shouldn’t have been mean to you. Back at Gracie’s. Or before. All day.”
“Don’t sweat it. Really, it’s no big—”
“It’s more than just tonight. I’ve been treating you terribly all month. At the store. Since the first moment I saw you. I had you wrong. Totally wrong. This whole time …” Liam averts his gaze. “You’re actually … possibly the fucking sweetest guy I think I’ve known. I mean, yeah, you’re an annoying showboat sometimes who always wants to be looked at by everyone,” he adds with a shrug, “but maybe that’s just a front to hide the fact that you’re actually super thoughtful and … and really kind. You see so much more around you and inside others than you ever let on.” He looks at him. “You seeme.”
Teague appears to sit with those words for a while. A breeze brushes past the backyard, stirring everything up, all the grass sighing and the arms of trees swaying.
Teague puts his arm over the back of the bench, scoots closer, and brings his face within inches of Liam’s. “For someone who’s such an annoying showboat who wants to be looked at …” His voice is soft and sensitive. “I’ve … never actually felt seen … until right now.”
Feelings can’t be contained a second longer.
Liam leans forward and pushes his lips against Teague’s, as if in a desperate search to reclaim whatever they discovered while pressed to the side of the truck.
He feels Teague respond instantly, like it’s the gift he’s been waiting for all night.
