“You sure he’s just a best friend and nothing more?”
The words make me angry. “How long have you been holding on to that one, Liam?”
“Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re spending an awful amount of energy on someone who clearly doesn’t deserve it.”
“Coming here was a bad idea,” I say, and this time I’m really about to leave when Liam steps right in front of me.
“Are you seriously trying to stop me by blocking my way?” I ask.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“Yes. I am.”
“I’ll help your friend,” Liam says. “I’ll make sure he stays out of prison. You have my word. But you’ll have to do something for me in return.”
“What’s that?”
“Go on a real date,” Liam says. “And not in some unforeseeable future, I mean this weekend. I’ll take you to your favorite restaurant, we’ll have your favorite food and we’ll come back to my place.” He steps up closer to me. “For dessert.”
“Are you seriously telling me the only way you’ll help my friend is if I go out with you?” I say. “That’s blackmail, Liam.”
“Is that what they call it?”
I roll my eyes. “Get out of my way, Liam!”
“I was kidding, okay?” Liam says. “I’ll help your stupid friend.”
“Then I’ll go on your stupid date.”
He grins suggestively. “One date with me,” he says. “And you’ll realize that you’re making the best decision of your life.”
“Then why do I feel like I’m making a deal with the Devil?”
“Because you are,” Liam says. “But let’s face it, Sebastian. You’re sick and tired of being an angel. A little bit of the devil inside you won’t hurt.”
If that’s not innuendo I don’t know what is. “How soon do you think you can resolve the Teague situation?”
Liam actually grimaces this time. “Within the next few days.”
“You mean that?”
Liam looks right at me. “You have my word.”
Behold the Silence of Pain
TEAGUE
“Teague, you’re being an idiot!” Sebastian yells from the car.
But I don’t listen to him.
I can’t.
I have a purpose.
And a pain in my chest that’s threatening to make me do things that I don’t want to do and I want that pain to end. It’s been weeks and I’ve had enough of people telling me what I can and cannot do. If she won’t see me any other way then she will have to see me my way. No one, not even Sebastian will come in the way of that. I’m sick and tired of doing what’s safe.
I see Mia in the café and Selena and her other friends are there. When I go inside the whole place goes silent. For a minute, I’m tempted to listen to Sebastian and go back, but then I take a step forward and there’s no going back after that.