Page 21 of Forever Yours
Talk about tough love. After a trip to the bathroom, where I do in fact see that I have snot on my face, I slowly make my way back to the room. There’s no fixing this. I can’t make Liam love me. I’ve been trying to accomplish that for years.
I sit down on the bed. Reina sits up straight and throws the magazine to the side.
“What did that asshole do?”
I raise an eyebrow. “How do you know anyone was an asshole?”
She rolls her eyes. “Liam’s a guy and you’re crazy about him. He’s the only one that could make you cry like that. Men are bastards. I’m beginning to think they’re only good for orgasms and making women cry. I’m thinking about having a relationship with my vibrator instead.”
I cross my legs and shift back on my bed until my back hits the wall. My mouth curves up in a small smile. “I like your logic.”
She backs up against her wall and grabs a pillow to put behind her. “Okay, out with it. Start at the beginning, and don’t forget the good parts.” She smiles wickedly. “And by the good parts, I mean the sex.”
Once I start talking, I can’t stop. I tell her everything. I don’t tell her about the oral sex in the study room, but I basically tell her everything. Liam was upfront about his inability to love me, so why does it still hurt so much?
She sighs and leans forward as I finish. “So, you just ran out? You didn’t stay around to see how he felt?”
I sniffle. “Why should I stay around? We both know what he was going to say. He’s attracted to me, he thinks I’m great, but…” I shrug. “He’s just not in love with me. And I’m tired of trying to pretend like I’m okay with that. He’s never going to feel the way I do.” A single tear tracks down my face and I wipe it away.
“You’re really going to give up like that?” She stands up to pace. “I expected more from you, Sophie Richards. You saw something you wanted, and you went for it. You don’t just give up on it.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Reina, I can’t make someone love me.”
She waves her hand in dismissal and snorts. “You are so dumb for such a smart person.” She stops pacing to stare at me. “Liam is in love with you, silly. He probably has been for as long as you’ve loved him. Any idiot can see it in the way he watches you and is so freakin’ protective of you. The lug-head is head over heels gaga for you. He’s just too stupid to admit it to himself. Big man is a big ole’ fraidy cat.”
I shake my head in denial. “That’s not true. It can’t be. He’s had every opportunity. I told him I love him. Why would he be scared?”
She shoots me a surprised glance. “You don’t really think guys know how to get their heads out of their asses when it comes to love, do you?” She shakes her head in amazement. “You really are naïve, girl. Love and relationships are like a really shitty game. You make a move, he makes a move, yada, yada, yada. The first one to admit they’re in love loses.”
She sends me a significant look and I cringe. “However, since that ship has sailed, we get to make the next move, and my sweet, innocent friend that next move is going to be a doozy.” She rubs her hands together and I swear the sound that comes out of her is a cackle.
I rear back and almost hit my head against the wall. “What do you have in mind, Reina? And why are you getting involved in this?” I’m almost scared to ask.
She grins. “Because I’m your best friend, you idiot. And you haven’t judged me once since we’ve been roommates and there have been plenty of opportunities.” She walks over to me and pats my leg lightly. “You remind me a bit of me before I had all the innocence sucked out of me.” Her brown eyes are sad as she gazes over at me. “I want you to get your happy ending.”
I sigh and lean forward to grab her hand with my own. “Thanks, Reina. You’re a great friend.”
She squeezes my hand and then grins. Her grin is wicked and has my head spinning. “Okay, enough of the girl bonding. Time to break this guy’s heart and make him regret the day he ever stuck his penis into a female.”
“Um, could we stick to something a little less brutal? I don’t want to physically hurt him.”
“Oh, it won’t be physical, but he’ll feel it alright. We’re going to do what he would least expect.” She claps her hands together. “This will be so much fun.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“Honey, you’re going to blow his mind. You’re going to move on and act like nothing has happened at all. If you want to mope behind these walls, you can. But otherwise, you’ll listen to Mama Reina, and we’ll make him think you’ve forgotten all about him.”
I sigh and my shoulders fall. “I don’t think that’ll work Reina. He won’t care.”
“Of course, he will. The man is obsessed with you. We’re going to exploit that a little. Get ready to go out and party, my friend, because that’s what we’re going to do. For the next few weeks, you won’t even have time to think about him. Between other boys asking you out and all the parties I’m about to drag you to, he’ll think you’re completely over him. It’ll drive him crazy.”
I cradle my face in my hands. I love Reina, but I just want to wallow in my misery. But what if she’s right? No matter what, I need to be able to move on. Liam has shown me he doesn’t really care, or at least doesn’t care enough, so it’s time to really cut ties. Even if the thought of it makes my heart break again.
Chapter Twenty-five
Friendships between guys are easy. Punch him in the face if you’re mad at him, give him a slap on the back if he’s been a good friend, etc… There’s no games and shit like with girls. They twist you up like a pretzel with their tears. -Liam
Liam
