Page 8 of Hate To Love You
“Your … Your goal should be to …” He’s so annoying. “… to do a good job, face your products, keep the floors clean, and—”
“And get you to like me.”
“Teague …”
“But before I get you to like me … I gotta figure out why you hate me.”
Liam nudges Teague out of the way, then returns to the dolly full of their remaining stock. “We still have the rest of the aisles to fill and finish fronting. Stop dawdling.” He pushes the dolly along.
Teague steps in front of it, blocking its way. “You know what, Peanut? Whatever it is I said or did to you back in the day to make you think so badly of me, I’m gonna make up for it. Promise.”
Liam glowers at Teague, his eyes ablaze with rage.
The former captain of the wrestling team simply won’t give up until everyone in this insufferable town gives him everything he wants. It’s perhaps for that very reason that Liam insists on keeping the glare affixed to his face. It’s a challenge suddenly, a challenge of endurance, and he refuses to give up.
“I’m a man of my word,” insists Teague, lifting his chin and appearing proud. “This summer, I’m gonna make you downright fall in love with me.”
4
Flip The Coin
There was a time earlier in Teague Jenson’s life when everything mattered too much.
What his classmates thought of him.
Whether his mom would remember his birthday.
Whether he’d ever make his dad proud.
Then something changed his first year at Fairview High. He simply chose to stop caring. It didn’t bother him if his hair had an uncooperative day after meticulously fixing it in the morning. He spent less time figuring out if his clothing was mismatched. He stopped worrying whether his friends thought he was too loud, too weird, or too competitive. He’d be criticized no matter what he did, so why waste the sweat?
His newfound edge became his identity.
And it did wonders. After proving himself a fierce competitor, he earned the respect of the athletes. After showing how carefree, open-minded, and outlandish he was, he earned the respect of the misfits and arty types. By the end of his freshman year, he had amassed a crowd of eccentric friends and admirers who were utterly spellbound by his proudly unapologetic nature. He felt happier. He felt accomplished.
He felt free.
That freedom ended every day he got home and reminded himself anew how little his family noticed him.
Even today. “Hey, Dad!” calls out Teague as he arrives home from his new job at Gary’s Grocers, apron slung over a shoulder, tossing the keys to his truck on the counter. “Sorry about being late. Had to jump a coworker’s car. Left her radio on or something, and by the time—”
“I’m on a call,” says his dad, cutting him off. Teague didn’t notice the phone pressed to his ear. “You’re on your own tonight for dinner. Mom’s out. No, no, it’s nothing, yes, I’m here,” he says back to the phone, voice turning polite as he resumes his call. “I’m aware numbers are down this quarter, but—”
It’s anyone’s guess what he means by “Mom’s out”.
Teague decides not to guess at all.
He heads straight to the backyard to greet Rus, his scraggly-haired dog with unlimited energy. He’s the only creature in the universe who gives Teague his undivided attention and love. Rus used to be an indoor dog until Mom decided her allergies were all the dog’s fault, and if they wanted to keep him, he would have to stay outside. Fifteen-year-old Teague instantly set out to making a doghouse, a dog shed, and a covered enclosure right by the back door where Rus could comfortably find protection from the sun or rain any time of day. “The dog wing” Teague used to call it, as part of it was literally attached to the house—and it was securely built, well-designed, and has even withstood literal hurricanes.
Teague puts in his all for the ones he cares about.
But especially his dog.
Rus rushes right up to Teague and tries licking every inch of his face. “Hey, boy! Ya miss me?” He laughs as Rus’s tongue dances all over. “You’re awfully spunky today. Did you finally catch your tail? Find the end of the rainbow? Slay a cat? I won’t tell anyone.” He rubs his dog’s ears, then sits on the patio benchand lets Rus love on him some more while he enjoys the last hours of daylight.
Soon, Rus has calmed down with his head in Teague’s lap. He pulls out his phone and thumbs through the notifications. Some emails from the college. Six unread messages from a friend who is enjoying summer up in Wisconsin where he quickly moved after graduation, apparently chasing some job opportunity. A couple of new followers on Instagram. A thank-you DM from the coworker whose car he jumped today—how thoughtful!But he doesn’t see any notifications he was hoping for.
Like a surprise friend request from Peanut.
