Free Unrequited (Chosen #3) by Alisa Mullen Page A

Phish play on the stereo. After a few moments, Sean got in the car and threw his head back on the headrest.
    “That was the biggest clusterfuck probably in recent Boston history. I mean, I made her go. I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. He rubbed one of his hands over an eye. He looked exhausted.
    “Nah, dude, it wasn’t your fault. They were eventually going to meet. Sam is living back in Boston and she needs my help, you know? She is an old friend, just like Lizzie is to you. I can see you would do anything for her,” I replied, pulling out into traffic.
    “Yes. That is true,” he firmly stated and then shook his head. He wanted to say something else but didn’t. The dude was a vault of information and I knew hardly anyone could crack him.
    “Have you ever seen her like that before? I mean, I know Conner is gone and the whole song thing was hit close to home, you know, but Lizzie, God, she is acting like a bitch,” I said. I needed him to concur. I couldn’t have been the only one to think that she had overacted.
    “Lizzie can be a bitch. I have never faulted her for that. If she feels like someone is stepping on her territory, she is like a fucking werewolf with the largest fangs out there,” he laughed. “I mean, you obviously know what she did to Teagan when she found out he actually had a girlfriend the whole time they were together.”
    I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
    “Aw, man. Lizzie shredded him. I mean, she was explosive. One of our mutual friends said that people were just standing on the street while she berated him to hell and back. I think the only reason she didn’t use physical force was because that guy, Freddie was there. Then, the motherfucker shows up to her abortion appointment like nothing ever happened. She was destroyed, Nick. I didn’t know if she would survive that. I mean, shit, she is dealing so much better with Conner’s death than she did that week she was living with me,” he said.
    “She lived with you?” I asked stunned.
    “Well, she had no where else to go. Her family wanted her to keep the baby and Teagan didn’t. She didn’t have a job or anything. She just had that stupid red car,” he stated. “I basically cared for her back to mental health. Lots of movies and ice cream,” he chuckled. “And then the loser kept emailing her and telling her he wanted to see her. It was fucked up.” Sean looked out the window and started drumming his fingers. I looked over at him and thought about the next question I really wanted to ask him. I could just ask him. Lizzie had always told me that anything I wanted to know about her, I should ask her directly. Sean was here and I was upset. I didn’t know what Lizzie was going through tonight and I needed to know.
    “Why was she so upset, Sean?” I asked as I turned down the music. Even Phish couldn’t drown out the million thoughts going through my head.
    “About Teagan?” Sean looked confused.
    I shook my head. “Tonight. Why was Lizzie fuming tonight?”
    Sean turned in his seat to face me. “You don’t see it, do you?” He looked at me like I was the dumbest man in the world. I shook my head again apologetically.
    “It’s Sam. Man, that girl is a piece of work. I don’t know what Conner ever saw in her. Who knows, maybe she was a totally different person with him. Nick, she is trouble. Just the sex looks she was throwing your way tonight were not cool. No way. That girl wants you. Believe me, when I want a girl, I have that exact player face and those looks were practiced. Samantha isn’t here for any other reason than to be with you,” he firmly stated. “It’s messed up.”
    “What? That is crazy. We have always just been friends. That’s it,” I said. I wanted to pull the car over and throttle Sean. How would anyone think that? Sam knows that I love Lizzie. We talk about her all the time.
    Sean threw a “bull shit” look at me. “Lizzie tells me a lot, Nick. Be careful. I know you two