Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
And what was all that nonsense with Teague teasing about the two of them being a couple? Walking a dog together? Holding hands? Liam can’t care less what Teague’s dog is named.
When they reach their first drop-off, pulling into the parking lot of Nadine’s, Teague and Liam are spared the work of carrying in the supplies, as a couple of burly employees are sent out by the manager. Teague keeps insisting on helping, but the workers at Nadine’s don’t let him, doing the carrying themselves, leaving Liam and Teague lingering by the truck.
“Despite living here all my life, I’ve never been here before,” admits Teague with a sigh. “A bit out of my price range.”
Liam is still bothered. He can’t shake these intrusive thoughts. Still, he makes himself calmly respond: “Me neither. My big group wanted to go here for prom senior year, but then someone’s mom booked another place at half the cost.”
“No idea what would inspire me to pay all this money to come here anyway.” Teague kicks at a spot on the ground. “Unless I … maybe had a … special person to take here.” He gazes over at Liam across the hood of the truck. “I would spend every cent I had to make my better half happy.”
“That doesn’t sound very economical. Or smart.”
“Love isn’t economical or smart. It just is, Peanut. Last time!” Teague quickly cries with a lift of his hand, seeing Liam tense up. “Last use of my birthday present, promise, cross my heart.”
Liam sighs, quite suddenly unable to practice the patience he just mustered up. “What the hell is it with you today?” He spins on Teague. “Why are you messing with me like this?”
“Messing with you like what?”
“Stop acting so innocent. You’ve been playing games with me all day. Forcing yourself into the errand Mr. Michelson assigned to me. Taking me out to Spruce for lunch. Talking about boyfriends and walking dogs and …” Liam paces away from the truck with a scoff. “Are you that desperate for everyone in Fairview to love you that you’d stoop so low as to flirt with me?”
Teague’s eyebrows are lifted so high, his messy bangs take them away. “Pea—urgh—Liam, I swear, I’m not trying to—”
“You’ve held me hostage all day. Toying with me and … and my feelings. Maybe you just need to face the fact that some people you meet in life aren’t meant to fall for you and your charm,” Liam finally states, coming to a stop in front of a frozen Teague. “Some people, you will never win over.”
Teague doesn’t say anything to that, staring back at Liam, a glint of the evening sun in his eyes.
Even that glint makes him look so handsome.
It’s crushing, truly, to be standing this close to someone who, in another reality, might be exactly the kind of guy Liam needs, and to feel nothing but resentment and hurt for reasons that Liam cannot possibly in this state of mind surmise.
Not a moment later, the employees come out for the final load from the truck, and then the two are on the road again, heading back to the store.
No more words are said.
When they pull into the parking lot of Gary’s Grocers at long last, Teague kills the engine and flicks off the radio at once. “Hey,” he starts to say to Liam, “listen, I … I really didn’t mean—”
“I’m sorry.”
Liam’s apology appears to surprise them both.
He’d been thinking about it ever since they left Nadine’s. He’d been torturing himself every mile of the way, thinking how awful he seems to become in Teague’s presence. Is he being possessed by a demon? Does he need to go to therapy or an exorcist? Why does he turn into a monster when it comes to Teague Jenson? Teague didn’t even do anything all that bad, other than inserting himself into Liam’s errand, which in all honesty did lend far more help than if Liam had gone on his own.
“I’m sorry,” Liam says again. “For being so awful today.”
“No need to apologize!” insists Teague with sudden cheer, as if overwhelmed and grateful by Liam’s scrap of self-accountability. “Really, I still had the best afternoon with you. And weren’t those burgers to die for? I’ve never been there. And my first memory of that place is now with someone I care about.” Teague grins. “No harm, no foul, right?”
It’s honestly more annoying, how forgiving Teague is.
But Liam decides to accept a pardon where it’s given, even if it feels less like forgiveness and more like a giant eraser to his huge parking lot tantrum at Nadine’s. “Thank you,” he says awkwardly back. “And … maybe I’ll … make it up to you or something. Buy you a proper birthday cake from our bakery department. Get you an actual set of … of twenty candles.” Liam nods generally in Teague’s direction and even allows himself a little smile. “I never did sing Happy Birthday to you, I just realized. It’s probably for the best. I’m a terrible singer. Anyway, I’d better grab a couple of people to help us bring in this load.” Liam opens his door.