Page 54 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
It’s possible he lost the connection, but I’m not sure. Maybe he needed to go out for a few minutes? Wouldn’t he tell me, though? I mean, he’s not my boyfriend and doesn’t owe me anything, but some human courtesy would be nice.
“Ugh.” I rub my temples. Why am I making such a big deal about some stranger I met online?
Fine, he’s not a stranger. We’ve been gaming a lot this weekend and I sort of feel like I know him. Not personally, really. We haven’t spoken about anything other than gaming stuff. But I thought I had a feel for the kind of person he is.
Then again, online isn’t always what it seems. How many times have I streamed with a brave face when I was really crumbling inside?
I sent him a few texts, too, but he hasn’t responded to any of them. What in the world happened?
Fifteen minutes later, I figure he won’t be back. I don’t want to wait around for him like some girl waiting for her boyfriendto call. So I start a new gameplay that I’ll upload today or tomorrow.
“I’m home,” Katie says as she enters the room. She tosses some snacks at me. I love when she goes to the grocery because she always comes back with yummy stuff. She gotCheetos, my favorite.
“Thanks, bestie,” I say as I yank the thing open and toss a few into my mouth. Then I sigh. “Heaven.”
She peers at the computer with a lifted brow. “Weren’t you playing with Liam?”
I chomp down some more cheesy puffed goodness. “I was, but he kind of disappeared. Something probably came up. I’m recording a gameplay for the channel. Want to be part of it?”
She shakes her head. “I have to organize the groceries I dumped in the kitchen. I just came up to say hi and give you your treat.”
I beam at her. “And that’s why I love you. Do you need help downstairs?”
She waves her hand. “It’s fine. Have fun.” She nods toward the screen. “You just missed your target.”
“Crap,” I mutter as I search for the guy I need to find in the desert.
She watches me for a bit and leaves the room.
I play for a little longer before my phone dings with a text. Finally! I grab it and read Liam’s message.
Go outside to the porch. There’s something for you.
My insides burst with excitement and warmth and happiness and all the good things. Is that why he left? He somehow got me a present and left it at the door.
But wait…how does he know where I live—rather, Katie lives? I mean, if someone was determined, they could find out, I guess. It freaks me out for a second, but I tell myself to relax. Liam is a good guy. He’d never hurt me.
Still, I grab an umbrella from the bucket near Katie’s front door and slowly peek out. It’s getting very dark out, but I can see a form sitting on the front steps. His back faces me, though, so I can’t get a good look at him.
Wait…is Liam here? He lives in Kansas. Would he travel all the way here to surprise a girl he only met a few days ago?
The floor creaks under my feet as I widen the door and step onto the porch, holding the umbrella like a weapon.
The person twists around. It’s Ethan Palmer.
What the heck?
He scrambles to his feet, giving me an uncertain smile. “Hey.”
“Hey…” I haven’t spoken to him since yesterday and don’t even know how I feel about everything that happened between us. Are we friends? Do we tolerate each other? Are we just two kids who go to school together?
My gaze flits around “I’m supposed to um…well, I don’t really know.”
He nods slowly, his bangs falling into his eyes as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “You mean Liam?”
I squint at him. “How do you know Liam?”
He brushes his hand through his hair, messing it up in a way that’s so hot it’d make girls go weak at the knees.
