The Lies That Define Us Part 9

"Yeah, there is," he sneered.

I stood, sand billowing around me in my haste to get up. "You know what," I shoved a finger into his chest as hard as I could. "You're an a.s.shole. You told me to come to the party, here I am, and now you're being nothing but rude. I guess I should've stayed in my room."

Fire simmered in his eyes. "I didn't know inviting you to my party was also an invitation for you to flirt with my friends."

"Whoa, man-"

"Shut up," Liam and I both shouted at Brady.

Brady's eyes widened with shock, and he raised his hands in the air before walking away with a shake of his head. I knew I needed to hunt him down and apologize, or better yet run after him, but I couldn't get my feet to move.

"You are the most confusing person I've ever met," I screamed at Liam. That was saying something considering the life I'd fled.

"And you're infuriating," he countered, his nostrils flaring while his hands fisted at his sides.

I glared defiantly back at him.

"Go back to the house and stay out of my way," he ordered, lowering his head and trying to intimidate me.

I'd spent the last few years scared of every hard look and harsh word sent my way, but the last two weeks I'd begun to come into my own, and I was learning that inside me lay a fighter.

"No." The word came out clipped.

"No?" His lips lifted on one side in a smirk.

"That's what I said. And if you don't mind, there's a party, and I'd like to have fun. Excuse me." I brushed past him and felt his body move with mine as he turned to follow me. I did my best to pretend that his oppressive form wasn't leering behind me.

"Stay away from my friends, Ari." His voice stopped me cold.

I whipped back around and nearly collided with his chest. "You are so un-f.u.c.king-believable." I glared, hoping I looked half as menacing as he did. "You don't own the world, Liam. You can't tell me who I can and cannot speak to. And you are so f.u.c.king hot and cold that I get whiplash. You need to get your s.h.i.+t together."

He narrowed his eyes on me and grasped my wrist. I gasped at the contact and the warmth that slid up my arm. Liam never touched me unless he had to, or in this case, apparently wanted to.

He lowered until his lips brushed my ear. Another involuntary gasp pa.s.sed through my lips and he chuckled. "Just remember who's the reason you have a roof over your head."

I broke out of whatever haze had clouded my brain and pushed against his hard chest, shoving him away. He moved, but only because he wanted to. My strength was no match to his size.

He merely laughed at me. I shook my head roughly and stormed away.

I didn't know where I was heading, but as long as it was away from Liam then that was great.

I'd thought there were a lot of people in Liam's backyard, but that amount in no way compared to the people on the beach. I didn't know how someone actually knew so many people. I doubted that he really did, but still.

I pa.s.sed a table set up and grabbed a plate, piling it high with food before walking on down the beach where the crowd cleared.

I found an empty spot and sat down.

I was alone in the middle of a raging party, and maybe I should have cared about that fact, but I didn't.

I'd spent a lot of time in solitude, so, unlike a lot of people, I found comfort in being alone.

While I ate, I thought.

And what I thought about was Liam, and how much I wished I could hate him, but I couldn't, even though I should have. I'd never before felt such an intense pull to someone before, and I was helpless to deny it, but I had to. If I got too close to him, I'd only hurt him.

And if Blaise found me I'd do more than hurt him.

I'd kill him.

Liam.

I stood on the beach with a beer in my hand, watching the fireworks explode above the ocean in colors of red, white, and blue.

Around me people cheered and conversed, but I'd removed myself from the crowd, lurking in the back where I could watch Ari.

I didn't know why I loved fighting with her so much. I wasn't sure it was even about the fight, but more about getting a reaction from her. She could be so flat with her emotions, and too quiet, but when I pushed the right b.u.t.tons, her Tiger side came out, and I selfishly loved it.

I'd vowed not to get close to her, telling myself her living with me was only a temporary thing, and I didn't want a relations.h.i.+p anyway. Not after what I'd been put through the last time.

But Ari was managing to get under my skin, and it'd only been a little over two weeks that she'd been there.

I knew Ollie had definitely arranged it on purpose in the hopes that I would finally fall for a girl. I really ought to punch him, but I knew the guy wanted me to be as happy as he was. What he didn't realize was there was no chance of happiness for someone like me.

I was poison.

I lifted the beer to my lips and eyed Ari where she sat a few yards in front of me. She didn't know I was there, because if she did I was sure she'd tell me off for earlier.

I'd been livid when Brady asked her to dance and then became even madder for feeling that way. Ari was nothing to me.

I gulped down the last of the beer, watching the way the wind blew her long wavy hair around her shoulders. I wanted to grab her, fist my hands in her hair, and kiss her like I'd never kissed anyone before. But I wouldn't, because despite what most people believed I did have some sort of self-control. Just not much of it.

I argued with Ari, because if I didn't that little bit of control might slip and I didn't know what would happen if it did. It wouldn't be anything good, that was for sure.

I knew it was selfish of me to be like a little kid with a toy I didn't want to play with, but didn't want anyone else to have either but I couldn't help it.

The fireworks ended and Ari stood.

I took several steps back, blending into the shadows and gra.s.ses around me.

She kept her head down as she made her way back to the steps leading up to the backyard. To anyone else she might have seemed oblivious to everything going on, but not to me. I saw the way her eyes flickered from side to side, briefly glancing over each body she pa.s.sed as if she was searching for something or someone.

Secrets.

We all had them.

And something told me Ari's eclipsed mine.

After only a few hours of sleep, I'd gotten up, changed into my wetsuit, grabbed my surfboard, and headed out into the ocean. The sun was just coming up as I paddled out.

I hadn't been able to quiet my mind enough for sleep, so I'd decided the best course of action was to get some early-morning surf time in.

Being out on the water soothed my soul; it was one of the only things that did.

Out in the water was where I belonged. Away from the chaos of the world. Surrounded by the turbulent ocean, I found the patience I could never seem to find on land.

I sat up on my board and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the water lapping against me and the chirps of birds overhead. I inhaled a breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out. I blinked my eyes open and leaned my head back to look at the sky above. It was beginning to bloom with oranges and purples.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and then laid my hands flat on my board.

And then I waited.

And waited some more.

Until finally my wave came.

I paddled out and felt my body begin to fill with that familiar rush. The grin on my face was unavoidable.

This, right here, right now, this is what I live for and why my heart keeps beating.

When I finally headed back to sh.o.r.e, the sun was completely up. I grabbed my board and held it under my arm as I walked the rest of the way out of the water.

I had my head down, water dripping from my hair down my face, and wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, so when someone called out to me it nearly scared the c.r.a.p out of me. At least I had an excellent poker face so I didn't look the least bit surprised.

"You're really good. Like insanely good."

I looked up and to my right to see Ari walking toward me from a few feet away. Her hair blew around her shoulders and her eyes were wide and alert despite the fact I'd heard her wake up screaming yet again. She wore a pair of jeans and a white t-s.h.i.+rt with a jacket which she clutched to her chest.

I tipped my head and muttered, "Thanks."

She let out a humorless laugh. "You don't like compliments?"

I looked at her like she was crazy. "I said thanks."

"It was the way you said it." She glared up at me. "I was trying to be nice, but I see now that's futile when it comes to you."

"Thank you," I said again, trying to inject some kindness in my tone.

Her lips slowly raised into a smile. "That was better." Pointing up toward the house, she asked, "Breakfast?"

"Sure." I shrugged, starting that way. "What do you have in mind?" I was trying to be nice, and from her answering smile it appeared I was succeeding.

"Egg sandwiches?" She raised a questioning brow.

"Sounds good to me."

We reached the house, and I propped my board outside against the siding and stripped out of my wetsuit, leaving me in my board shorts. I thought Ari had gone inside, but when I picked up my wetsuit, I saw that she was still standing there staring at me with an open mouth.

"Like what you see?" I waved a hand from my face down to my chest.

She nodded and then quickly shook her head. "S-Sorry," she stuttered, before running inside as fast as she could.

I chuckled under my breath and shook my head. Ari was definitely as frightened by our mutual attraction as I was.

I took my wetsuit over to the hose and rinsed it off. I fixed it onto the hanger and carried it inside to the bathroom where I let them dry.

Ari was already busy in the kitchen and barely acknowledged my presence when I pa.s.sed.

I jogged upstairs to my room to shower, and in no time I was changing into a pair of khaki pants, a gray t-s.h.i.+rt, and a beanie. I didn't have much variety in my clothes; I liked what I liked and that was it.

When I stepped into the kitchen, Ari had finished making our breakfast. The plates were sitting on the raised bar counter while she poured us gla.s.ses of ice water.

"Smells good," I commented. I was going to try my best to be nice. We'd see how long it lasted. I was betting on five minutes. If that. The urge to pick on her like a boy with a schoolyard crush would overcome me soon enough.

I took a seat, and a moment later Ari sat down beside me.

"I don't go into work until this afternoon, so I thought I'd clean the house."

"I clean," I stated, looking at her like she'd lost her mind. My neat-freak status rung loud and clear the moment she walked in the door. Ollie thought it was hilarious, so he always liked to dirty the place up any time he came by. He especially liked to streak his Cheeto-covered fingers over the walls.

"I know," she shrugged, picking up her sandwich, "but you don't make me pay rent, so it feels wrong to contribute nothing. So, I'm cleaning."

"I'm sure I could find something more helpful for you to do." I took a bite of my sandwich and waited for her response.

She raised a brow. "Like what?"

I thought for a moment. "Alphabetize the cereal boxes."

She choked on her bite of sandwich. When I didn't crack a smile or laugh, she gasped, "You're serious?"

"Of course. I take my cereal organization very seriously. It's currently sorted by color in case you hadn't noticed. ROYGBIV for life...or not life, since it's really beginning to bug me. I think alphabetical order will make me feel much better."

Her mouth parted, and she looked at me in shock. "You're actually serious."

I nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"

She shook her head and laughed under her breath. "Okay, sure. I'll alphabetize the cereal."

"After that you can wash my underwear."

She paled. "No way in h.e.l.l am I going anywhere near your underwear."