One Chance (8 page)

“That’s not it and you know it.”

“You are seriously reading into something that is not there,” I retort.

“I know what I saw.”

“You didn’t see anything,” I say irritated.

“Then last night he hung out with you outside, but only after Brody and I went to bed,” she says looking like she got a clue to a game.

“I’m telling you, it was nothing.  He was just locking up.”

“Yeah
, I’m sure that’s all it was.”

“Kenzie seriously, you’ve known the guy as long as I have.  Has he ever been interested in either one of us?”

“Well, no.”

“So what makes you think something’s changed now?”

“Wishful thinking I guess,” she says looking down towards the table.

“Wishful thinking?”

“Yeah, he’s only getting hotter with age.  You can’t seriously tell me you wouldn’t screw him.”

“
Stop it.  You can forget that.  He’s committed to Meg if you don’t recall last night’s dinner, plus I’m looking at a few guys.”

“Yes
, I remember.  Fine, I want details on these guys you are talking and looking at.  You need to get yourself out there.  You’re in college Hails.”

“I know
and I am,” I say defending myself yet again.

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“Fine, I’ll make you a deal.”

“Let’s hear it,” she says not looking impressed.

“Since we only have two months of school left, I will start dating and will have a boyfriend by the end of the year.”

“That you have to bring home so I can meet,” she says with a serious look.

“Fine, I will bring him home for you to meet,” I say giving in.

“Bring who home to meet?” Brody asks as he walks in followed by Meg and Liam.

“Haley’s future boyfriend,” Kenzie says excitedly.

“Future boyfriend?” Brody asks with a strange look.

“She’s determined to set me up,” I say, wishing I could disappear instantly.

“Oh my gosh, I have the perfect guy for you when we get back to campus,” Meg chimes in.

“Who?” Liam and I ask at the same time.

“Bryson,” she says like it’s the answer to all my problems.

“Bryson McGuire?” I ask.

“Yes, you two would be perfect together.”

“He’s an asshole Meg,” Liam chimes in.

“Oh stop,” she says slapping Liam’s chest, “He’s had a crush on you since he first saw you,” she continues saying.

“Umm…”

“Is he hot?” Kenzie asks.

“Yes he’s hot,” Meg says happily.

“He’s alright,” I say honestly.

“Okay, so what is your type?  I can totally find a guy for you,” Meg says a little too excitedly.

“Thanks
, but I can find my own guy,” I say hoping we could switch topics.

“
Haley you need the help, Meg definitely help her out,” Kenzie says to Meg, completely ignoring me or my wishes.  That’s Kenzie for you though.

“Absolutely,” she says walking towards me, “I’m leaving
, so I wanted to say bye before heading out,” she says before giving me a quick hug.

“Have a safe flight,” I tell her kindly.

Everyone says farewell to Meg and her and Liam leave.

“Did you seriously have to do that?” I ask Kenzie bitterly.

“What?  You do need help.”

“I’m quite capable of finding my own man.”

“Then why are you still single?” she asks calling me out.

“Because I want to enjoy college without having to worry about a stupid relationship.  Is that too much to ask?”

“But just imagine how much more exciting it could be,” she says sounding hopeful.

“Kenzie let it go.  When she’s ready to date she’ll find a guy and date,” Brody says giving his two cents.

“Thank you,” I say glad he said that.

Chapter Six

“Hey Hails, do you want to come to the party with us at the beach tonight?” Kenzie asks.

“Already planning on it,” I say before heading for a quick shower.

“Oh, well you can ride with us if you want to.”

“Sure,” I say before closing the door.  I get shower
ed and changed into jeans, flip-flops, a tee-shirt and grab a hoodie because it’s only March, it’s cold and the breeze at the beach is going to make it even colder.

“That’s what you’re wearing?” Kenzie asks with disgust written all over her face.  She
’s standing in my room in a short denim skirt, a pink sweater, and a pair of flip-flops.

“Yes, you do realize its March right?”

“Yeah, but we are going to be around a fire.”

“If you think that will keep you warm, then by all means go the way you are.  I’m dressing warm.”

“Suit yourself,” she says before heading back to her room.

Brody, Kenzie, and I hop into Brody’s car and he drives us to the bonfire.  It’s only about twenty minutes away.  By the time we grab a spot and hop out
, it’s already getting dark.

“Damn it’s cold,” Brody says as we start the walk towards the crowd of people.

“Told you,” I say to Kenzie.

“I’m fine.”

“Babe you have to be cold,” Brody says walking over towards her.

“Nope, I’m good,” she says with an annoyed tone to her voice.

The party has people from our graduating class and older.  The place is packed and people are laughing, singing, having a grand ol’ time.

“Do you ladies want a drink?” Brody asks.

“Yes please,” I tell him.  He walks over and grabs three beers out of the cooler before coming back towards us.  It doesn’t take long for me to throw my hoodie on due to the breeze from the ocean.

Three hours later
, I’m slightly intoxicated, though I’ve been nursing my drinks.  “Hey, how are you doing?”  Billy, a guy from high school asks.

“I’m good, how about yourself?”

“Can’t complain.  Your hair looks nice.”

“Thanks.”  We continue to make small talk until Kenzie interrupts.

“Hey Hails, we’re leaving, you ready to go?”

“Oh umm, yeah I guess,” I say looking at her.

“I can take you home,” Billy suggests.

“Are you sure?” I ask not really wanting to go home just yet.

“Yeah.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you sure?” Kenzie asks looking between Billy and me.

“Yeah, it’s cool.  Drive carefully.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow,” she says before heading back towards Brody.  I wave to him and then turn my attention back to Billy.

“How’s college going?” he asks.

“Great actually.  What school are you going to?”

“I’m at Alabama.”

“Oh wow, that’s cool.”

“I
’m loving it there, but it’s not home ya know?”

“Yeah, I hear that.  I love Michigan, but it’s not here,” I say looking around, enjoying the beach setting.

“Want to have a seat closer to the fire so we can talk?” Billy asks sweetly.

“Sure, that sounds great,” I say as I lead us towards the bonfire.  The crowd has simmered down tremendously due to the temperature.  I watch as Billy throws a few more pieces of wood on the fire before taking a seat beside me.

I’m not sure how long we sit talking to each other about college, and high school before I watch Liam walk up to us.

“Hey
, I thought you left,” he says as he takes a seat on the other side of me.

“No, I decided to stay.  Brody and Kenzie left though.”

“Do you want a ride home then?”

“I told her I’d take her,” Billy chimes in.

“Oh okay, well I can save you a trip since I live across the street from her,” he says like it’s no big deal.

“I don’t mind,” Billy says.  I sit and watch them go back and forth about who’s going to take me home.

“Thanks Billy, I appreciate the offer, but since Liam’s headed the same way as me, I’ll just go with him,” I tell him kindly, ending their conversation.

“How soon
will you be ready to go?” Liam asks.

“Actually I’m ready to go now. I’m tired,” I say as I stand up, “It was good seeing you again Billy,” I say before giving him a hug goodbye.  I follow Liam to his car unsure of where he parked.

“You know he’s an asshole right?” Liam asks as we walk.

“He’s
nice to me.”

“That’s because he wants to screw you.”

“Wow, we were only talking.”

“For now.”

“Excuse me?” I ask as I stop walking to stare at him.

“Shit
, I didn’t mean it like that, just that he would have tried something with you on the way home.”

“I know how to handle myself.”

“I didn’t say you didn’t,” he says holding his hands up in surrender.

“Let’s just go home,” I say walking towards his car that I now see in sight.

Liam holds the door open for me to slide into his car before making his way around to the driver’s side and sliding in.

For the first ten minutes of the drive home, neither of us says a word.  “Listen, when we get back to school, Meg is going to try to hook you up with every
guy possible.”

“Lovely,” I say annoyed at the thought.

“If you want any advice or information on any of them, let me know,” he says surprising me.

“Why would I need to do that?” I ask confused.

“Because I can tell you how they are, well some of them I’m sure,” he says kindly.

“I’ve already
seen how you are and so far 2 out of 2 are assholes.”

“What?”
he asks taken back.

“Bryson and Billy, both assholes remember?”
I remind him.

“Oh shit, yeah that’s right.  At
least I’m being honest with you,” he says with a look.

“I guess.”  The rest of the drive home is a regular conversation about how the bonfire went.  Liam parks in his driveway and we both get out of the car.  “Thanks for driving me home,” I say before starting to head across the street.

“Not a problem.  If you want to carpool to school we can,” he says catching me off guard.

“You probably aren’t coming home when I am.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Since when?”

“I’m coming home for a month before heading back.”

“Oh, okay, well we can figure
it out then,” I say before turning to walk to my house.  Ten hours in a car with Liam, can I do that?  Hell I want to, but what would we talk about?  That’s a long time to be stuck in a car with someone.

“Goodnight Haley,” he calls out
, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Night Liam,” I say before heading inside.

There’s three days left before we have to head back to school

“Where are you going tonight?” Kenzie asks with a smug look.

“Hanna’s house.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s my friend and she invited me over.  Where are you going?”

“Brody wants to go to Logan’s house.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Yeah, I’m excited.”

“How soon are you leaving?”

“In like fifteen minutes.  Brody’s in a rush,” she says laughing.

“Oh, well be careful and I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“You aren’t coming home tonight?”

“Probably not.”

“Planning on getting drunk huh?” she laughs as we walk down the stairs.

“Who plans on getting drunk?” Brody asks looking between the two of us.

“Haley.”

“Why is that?” Brody asks with a curious look.

“I’m not planning on anything, just going prepared.”

“What do you mean going prepared?” Brody asks looking concerned.

“I’m spending the night, so if I do drink too much
, I don’t have to worry about driving home.”

“Oh, well I can drive you back,” he says kindly.

“I’m not going to Logan’s.”

“Where are you going?” he asks surprised.

“Hanna’s house.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Brody asks.

“Yeah why not?”

“Her parties tend to get a little out of hand.”

“He’s right Hails, maybe you should come with us,” Kenzie says, worry written all over her face.

“I’ll be fine, I
promise,” I say I as head towards the door.

“Are you sure?” Kenzie asks as they follow me out the door.

“Yes, how long ago did Mom and Dad leave?” I ask, noticing their car is gone.

“You were in the shower, they said to have fun and be safe.”

“Oh, okay well I will see you guys tomorrow,” I say as I open my car door.

“Hey, where you guy
’s all going tonight?” Liam yells from across the street.

“Kenzie and I are going to Logan’s and Haley’s going to
Hanna’s,” Brody replies.

“I may see you guys later.  I’m making rounds tonight,” he says happily.

“Have fun, be careful,” I say to the three of them before getting in my car and leaving.  It doesn’t take long to get to Hanna’s, maybe around twenty to twenty-five minutes.  The place already looks busy, so I find a parking spot, deciding to leave my bag in the car in case I decide to head home.

“Hey bitch,”
Hanna says as I enter the house.

“Hey, wow this place is booming,” I say looking around noticing all the people already.

“I know right.  Can I get you a drink?”

“Sure, just show me where they are,” I tell her as I follow her to the kitchen.

“Holy shit Haley Lawrence, is that you?” a guy says.  I turn to look at him and notice its Max, one of Liam’s best friends from high school.

“Hey Max,” I say with a smile.

“You look amazing,” he says as he clearly checks me out.

“Thanks,” I laugh as
Hanna hands me my beer.

“Solo tonight?”

“Nope, I’m here with Hanna,” I say as I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

“She lives here.”

“Yep and your point is?”

“No Brody or Kenzie tonight?”

“No, they’re at Logan’s party.”

“I don’t like that kid.”

“What kid?” I ask confused if he’s talking about Brody or Logan.

“Logan.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Brody, I love him, he’s family.  I’m surprised though
, we always thought you two would end up together,” he says out of nowhere.

“What?  I never dated Brody.”

“I know, which is weird, considering how you two did everything together.”

“How do you know that?”  I ask as I take a swig of beer.

“At school you two went everywhere together and when I’d come over to hang out with Liam, you were always together, either at your house or his house.”

“Oh, well things worked out the way they should have.”

“You saying you wouldn’t date him?”

“Brody?  No, he’s with my sister and they are great together.”

“Yeah, I don’t get that.”

“Don’t get what?”

“Your sister was anything but the relationship type.  I’m surprised they’re still together.”

“I told you they are great.  They will probably get married one day.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

I take a large gulp of beer wondering where this conversation is coming from, “I couldn’t be happier about it.  I don’t want Brody.”

“That’s great to hear.  So who is it that you do want?” he asks as he walks closer to me.

“
Aren’t you in a relationship?” I ask, recalling hearing someone say something about his girlfriend.

“I
was until about a month ago.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that.”

“No worries, it’s for the best.  So you trying to find a make-out buddy tonight?” he asks bluntly.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it.  You game?”
I ask all serious.

“Game for what?” Liam asks out of nowhere.

“Haley’s going to be my make-out buddy,” he says proudly.

“I thought you said you were hopping parties tonight with me?”

“We are.”

“Then I doubt we’re go
ing to be here long.  Sorry Hails,” Liam says looking anything but sorry.

“No worries, I can find someone else,” I say looking around. 
Hanna went to mingle and I don’t see her anywhere.  The living room is packed with people, though most I don’t know.  The dining room is filled with people playing beer pong and focused solely on the game.