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

hooked up back in Texas. That girl didn’t dress up like that tonight for Lizzie. She wants you . I don’t know her game and I would never put any ideas into Lizzie’s head about how serious that girl is about you, but I am pretty sure she figured it out tonight.”
    “So, she is worried that I am going to hook up with Sam?” I scoffed.
    Sean shrugged his shoulders. “Hey man, you can leave me off here. I want to check in on another friend real quick.”
    I knew he was uncomfortable. I wanted to question him like he was on trial for murder but he wanted out of my car. I panicked. I needed to know exactly what he meant. Was I being played by Sam? Was Lizzie upset about me and not Conner? What the fuck happened with Teagan and her parents? Sean had met Teagan, right? Was Lizzie happier when she was in Teagan ignorant bliss?
    I pulled the car over and Sean turned to me. “I hate girl drama. I despise it. But I will always love Lizzie as a sister and she means the world to me. Before she met you, I would have endured Lizzie drama for a week. But she has you now. So do what’s right for you. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do. For all of our sake’s, please, please don’t break her heart when you decide because I won’t be as nice to you as I was to Teagan.” Sean popped open the door, slammed it, and walked away. I watched him light up a cigarette and start down the sidewalk. He doesn’t think I love her. He thinks we are over and we haven’t even started yet.
    I drove around the city in silence and thought about everything that Sam had said to me after Lizzie left the table. “How do you deal with her every day? She is so angry. You are Nick fucking Sawyer.”
    Sean was right. Samantha was here in Boston for me. There was no other reason. She didn’t have family here. The last time she came, she came for me. She has no idea who Lizzie is and what she means to me. Oh my God, I totally messed up.
    I hurriedly went back to the apartment. Lizzie and Niall were already in bed. When I took off my clothes and got in bed with her, she was still sniffling. I made her turn around and she pushed her face into my chest. I hugged her so tight.
    “I messed up, baby,” I said.
    “Sam wants you,” she said.
    “I think I just figured that out,” I said. “But, I don’t know why. She knows that I am with you. Why would she come back now?”
    Lizzie outlined my tattoo with her fingers and laughed. “Who wouldn’t want you, Nick? You said it yourself; women want you for your money and your status.”
    “None of that matters to me. I have never felt more alive than when I am in bed with you just like this. When it is just me and you, the rest of the world can go eat shit because this is the only thing I want. I want you and no matter what Sam does, it will never dissuade my love for you. You are it for me,” I said, kissing her softly on the lips.
    “I am sorry I had some wine. I know it should be fine, but I will call the doctor tomorrow anyway,” she whispered. “I think I went mental, Nick. She was all over you. She basically ruined any hopes of my liking her.”
    I kissed her neck, her shoulder, and whispered that it would all be okay. She nodded into my chest and then her tears dried up. I hummed a song that she and I had been working on for the past few weeks and soon her breathing evened out. I held her like that for hours while I tried to figure out a way to get Samantha out of my life. I would never let anyone or anything come between my girl and me again.

TWELVE - NICK
     
    The next morning, Lizzie and I woke up in everyday fashion. We showered, dressed, and ate. We didn’t talk very much but we were always touching each other. Last night had been hard for both of us and Lizzie was quiet.
    “I am sorry,” I said as I dropped her off in front of her office building. Her beautiful red curls were down today and she looked tired. She leaned across the console. “Me, too,” she said. We kissed soundly