Free One Chance by T. Renee Fike Page B

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