Chapter 3
3
ANNA
L iam laughs softly and helps me up, then grabs a wad of toilet paper to clean me up. The gesture is so normal that it's almost comical compared to what just happened—-the culmination of all my wildest fantasies. "So, uh..."
"Years?" I ask, incredulous, as I try to straighten my clothes and hair.
It takes him a beat to understand what I'm talking about, but when he does, he looks away. How in the hell can he be flustered after what he just did to me? "Yeah. Brody would kill me if he knew, but yeah."
I’m skeptical as I look him over, but I don't sense a lie. "Me too," I admit. "For, like, forever. So it looks like Brody would kill us both."
"Looks that way."
We're quiet for a few seconds, and then we both laugh at the same time.
"What now?" I ask. "I mean, what are we going to say to everyone?"
Liam shrugs. "We say nothing. We went to check on Brody but couldn't find him. Now we're looking."
"And the kissing part?"
"Not relevant to the search mission."
"I like how you think."
He grins at me, and I lean forward and press a soft kiss against his mouth. "We should go find Brody."
"Yeah. Let's get him home, and then..."
I raise an eyebrow. "And then?"
Liam looks pained, as if he doesn't know what to do now that the sex is over. My body is still thrumming from how well he fucked me, but I can't deny that I'm sort of on the same page. How do we navigate this now? Was it just a one-time thing, or is there more to figure out between us? "Let's, um, just play it by ear, I guess."
He runs his knuckles over my cheek, the motion too tender for just a hookup. I fight the urge to lean into his touch, hoping he'll cup my face. "I have to see you again before you go back home."
It's an easy decision. "Yes. I want that, too."
"Good." His smile is heartbreakingly gorgeous on his sex-flushed face. "We, ah, obviously can't let your brother know...."
"Oh God, definitely not. Let's go find him before he finds us."
We leave the bathroom, and while Liam immediately starts looking for Brody, I make a beeline for the kitchen to get some water. The party is still going, and no one seems to have noticed my absence. I grab two cups of water and return to the living room.
Liam looks up when he sees me. "I found him. He's asleep outside on the lawn. Come help me carry him to my car?"
"Sure."
I hand him the water, and he thanks me. Together, we head outside and find my brother splayed out on the grass. I help Liam sit him up and start to pour some water into his mouth. He sputters, but some of it goes down, and a few seconds later, he blinks awake.
"Anna?" he mumbles. "What's going on?"
"You're wasted, Brody. Come on. Let's get you home."
"Home? What about the party?"
Liam shrugs. "It's over, man. Time to go."
"Ugh," he groans, trying to stand up and almost falling over again. "Fine, whatever."
I take one side, and Liam takes the other. Together, we haul him to Liam's car and help him into the back seat. He's asleep again before we can even close the door. I fish through his pockets and find his keys.
"I'll drive myself back to Brody's. Are you taking him home with you?"
"It's probably best," Liam sighs, annoyed as he looks at my brother. "I'll have to get him back to some semblance of life before practice tomorrow, and I live on the ground floor. I don't like trying to haul him up the stairs at his apartment."
"Probably a good call, then."
"So, see you soon?"
"Yeah," I whisper, smiling.
Liam returns the smile and pulls me in for one more kiss, soft and sweet. My heart flutters as I lean against the car, but I nervously glance at Brody just to make sure he's still knocked out.
"I'll text you," he promises, walking around the other side of the car to get in. "I swear."
Why is this so hard? I've seen Liam a million times before, and it's never felt like a piece of me was breaking off when he left before. "I believe you." I force a smile and get into my brother's car.
My thoughts race as I pull out of the parking lot and head back to my brother's apartment. Being a college town, it's only a few miles away, but my mind is running so fast that I can barely process one thought before another forces its way in.
I just had sex with Liam. My brother's best friend. We fucked at a party.
The reality of it all hits me like a ton of bricks, and I almost pull over because I'm shaking so much. What have I done? How could I do that to Brody? Liam was always off-limits, and now I've thrown away years of friendship and trust by hooking up with him.
What the hell is wrong with me?
No. That's the wrong road to go down. We're all adults, and Liam is his own person. He and I don't have to make decisions on whether or not Brody will be chill with it. No doubt he'd feel betrayed if he found out, but that doesn't mean he gets a say in what Liam and I do with our personal lives.
I can't deny that it makes me feel better to think about it like that. Brody has no idea, and if we're careful, he'll never know. He'll never have to know … except for the fact it's clear that Liam and I aren't done with each other yet. The more we see each other, the bigger the secret we have to keep will be.
* * *
Back at Brody's apartment, I shower and throw on my pajamas, leaving my phone in the other room so I don't obsess over it. Liam said he'd call, so I should believe him. I'm a ball of nerves as I crawl into the futon bed Brody's been letting me use in the guest room and grab my bag, fishing the phone out.
Nothing.
Oh, well. It's only been an hour or so, and he did have to get drunk Brody settled for the night. Maybe I just have to wait a little longer.
Thankfully, Liam quickly puts me out of my misery.
Liam: Are you awake?
Me: Yeah. I was waiting for you.
Liam: Sorry. I wanted to get Brody inside before I texted.
Me: I understand. Is he okay?
Liam: Yeah he's fine. Puking up a lung right now but otherwise okay.
Me: Ew.
Liam: Yeah. At least I didn't have to clean it up.
I grin down at my phone, imagining him taking care of Brody. Some things never change.
Me: Do you plan on being his babysitter forever?
Liam: God, I hope not.
Liam: Hey. Come to football practice tomorrow.
The offer is a surprise. I've never cared for the sport, but I used Brody playing as an excuse to see Liam in his element quite a few times in the past. It seemed silly to do now that we were older, but seeing him hard at work? Hmm. It isn't a terrible idea.
Me: You don't think Brody will get suspicious?
Liam: He's going to be so hungover I don't think he's going to have two brain cells to rub together.
Me: LMAO, fair point. Okay. Text me when and where and I'll be there.
Liam: Awesome. It starts at 8, so be there at 7:30 just to be safe.
Me: Right. I'm going to sleep now.
Liam: Work hard, play hard, baby. I'll see you in the AM.
I turn the phone on silent and plug it in, then roll over and pull the blanket up. I haven’t gotten used to the noise of the city outside the window, and it takes me longer than usual to fall asleep. As I lie there, my mind drifts back to what happened between Liam and me tonight, and I smile as I drift off, parts of me tingling as I remember just how good he made me feel.