Relinquishing Liberty (20 page)

“Let’s see what we have here. Oh, it’s a text from lover-boy! Let’s see what it says, shall we?” I dove across him, but his arm was too far out of my reach.

“It says ‘Thanks for rocking my world today. You did things to me that are probably illegal in 49 out of the 50 states’. I knew there was a dirty little vixen underneath that good-girl facade!” Brett gave me a suggestive grin and wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

“It does not say that!” I ripped the phone out of his hand and read what Shayne
really
said.

Shayne:
I miss you. It’s not the same sleeping without you here in my arms. :(

Shayne:
Sweet dreams, babe. Thanks again for surprising me today. xoxo

God, could my boyfriend be any more perfect!?
I hadn’t even thought about not being able to sleep with him tonight until now. My heart sank a little knowing the other half of my bed would remain cold. We had only spent two nights together, but I was already beginning to develop a physical dependency on him. I slept easier knowing he was there with me.

Me:
I miss you too. And I know what you mean…it doesn’t feel right without you here. Just dream about me, and you won’t even realize I’m not there. G’night baby. <3

“So you surprised him today, huh? And what might I ask was your surprise?”

“Well, not that it’s any of your business, but I surprised him with lunch today. I got to meet his dad, too.”

I smiled, remembering the promise I made to his dad. It wouldn’t be a hard promise to keep. Shayne was proving to be so much more than I could have ever imagined. He was sweet, thoughtful, romantic, and not to mention he had an incredible body from what I’ve seen so far.

“I remember his dad. He’s a pretty cool guy. So when are you seeing lover-boy again?”

“Well, we have a date on Friday. Apparently he’s going all out for this one. I’m not sure if I should be excited or nervous.”

“I’d be nervous. Like,
really
nervous. In fact, if I were you, I’d be scared shitless. It would probably be wise just to back out now.” He nibbled on his bottom lip trying to hold back his laughter, but there was no hope for him. He rolled over cackling like a hyena, and I shoved him hard off of the couch for being such a dick.

“Can we just finish watching the movie?”

“All right, all right. I’ll behave.”

I woke up in daze with drool running down my cheek, leaving a trail across Brett’s shirt. I looked over at the TV and the credits were rolling while the James Bond theme song played in the background. My stomach churned when I tried to roll off of Brett’s chest, and I noticed all three wine bottles were lying on the floor, empty. My hand flew over my mouth when I felt the burn of bile making its way up my esophagus.

I made it to the bathroom just in time, throwing up the entire contents of stomach. Brett was right behind me, holding my hair back and rubbing slow circles across my back. I heard the sink turn on and Brett pressed a cold damp washcloth to my neck.

“Are you okay, darlin’?”

“Shit. I think I’m going to throw up again.” And I did, burying my head deep in the porcelain throne. After about two or three more rounds, my stomach finally threw in the towel. Defeated.

“Damn girl, you didn’t drink that much. I ended up finishing off the rest of your wine for you, and I feel fine.”

“Ughhh, maybe it was the pizza.” An echoing belch erupted from the depths of my gut, and I could taste the spicy pepperoni. That alone made me want to vomit again.

“I don’t think so, otherwise Maddie and I would be right by your side puking our insides out.”

“Oh shit, I forgot I took medicine for my back earlier. I didn’t even think about it mixing with the alcohol.”
How could I be so stupid?
I leaned my arm across the toilet and laid my head down. My stomach continued to churn, but I knew I was done throwing up. There was nothing left in me.

“Well, that’ll do it. Why don’t you get in bed, and I’ll get you a glass of ginger ale.”

I gave him a weak nod and crawled on my hands and knees across the hall to my room. I climbed into bed pulling the covers over my face, knowing I must look like hell. My abdominal muscles were screaming at me; they were going to hurt like a bitch tomorrow. All I could do was curl up in the fetal position and pray the agony would soon end. I heard Brett enter my room and shut the door behind him.

“Here you go, darlin’. The ginger ale should help settle your stomach, but make sure you take small sips. Unless you want me holding your hair back again.”

I slowly peeled back my blanket to reach for the glass, and my eyes fell upon the sweetest, most sincere smile peering back at me. My hand moved of its own accord, weaving past the glass in his hand and reaching out to cup his face. I brushed my thumb across his cheek, grazing the five o’clock shadow of stubble. I didn’t deserve such a caring, selfless friend, but I thanked God every day for that football smashing into my face.

“Thanks, Brett. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well, you’d probably be passed out on the bathroom floor with vomit caked in your hair.” He brushed back a loose strand of hair and rested his hand beside my ear. “Lucky for you, I’ve had extensive training holding girls’ hair back.”

I giggled and hunched over from the pain radiating throughout my abs. “Maddie?”

“Oh, yeah. You have no idea how many times she’s come home completely smashed, falling over and on the verge of blacking out. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had alcohol poisoning a few times, and if it wasn’t for me…” He ran his fingers through his hair strenuously. “Well…let’s just say it’s a good thing I was there.”

“She’s lucky to have you for a brother.”

“Yeah, well, she’s my baby sister. I’m not just going to leave her hanging.”

I loved how modest Brett was, brushing it off like it’s nothing, but I knew how close he and Maddie were. It was almost impossible to ignore when I witnessed it on a daily basis. I saw so many similarities between their relationship and the one I had with my brother. He would’ve done anything for me, and if he was here today, I have no doubt he’d be the one holding my hair back.

“Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course. You honestly think I would just leave you here like this?” He looked at me a little offended; like I was crazy for even thinking there was a possibility that he’d leave.

He pulled back the corner of the blanket and lied down on the opposite side of the bed facing me. My eyelids felt heavy as I looked across him laying his head on one arm, while the other one reached out and brushed my hair back.

“Will you tell me a bedtime story, Brett?” I looked up at him through hooded lashes and pushed out my bottom lip for emphasis. How could he say no to a face like this?

He threw his arm over his eyes as he let out a low, deep chuckle. “You want a bedtime story? Okay. What kind of story would you like, darlin’?”

“I don’t know. Tell me a true story. One about you, when you were younger.”

Brett’s face grew very serious as he looked straight into my eyes. “All right, I’ll tell you a story. Just keep in mind not every story has a happy ending. But I’m sure you’ll like this one since it involves your lover-boy.”

My eyebrows creased together. I wasn’t really sure how to take that, but I brushed it off and laid there quietly waiting for him to begin.

“Okay, where to begin. Well, it was my sophomore year of high school, just before I turned sixteen. I had been dating Janessa Collins for about a year and half, and everything had been perfect up until that point. We had great chemistry, a lot in common and hung out with the same group of friends.”

“Was she pretty?”

“Oh God, Liberty, she was drop dead gorgeous! Like she could have easily been a model. Every guy in school was jealous that I snagged the hottest chick in school. I guess that should have been a warning sign because I didn’t think one of my best friends would ever go after my girl.”

My hand flew over my mouth in shock. I couldn’t believe one of his friends…best friends…actually tried to steal his girlfriend. It sounded like something out of
Dawson’s Creek
.

“You’re not going to throw up again, are you?” He sat up with a concerned expression on his face, reaching out to me, ready to run to the bathroom if necessary.

“No, no, I was just surprised that one of your friends would actually do that to you.”

“Yeah, you and me both.” He shook his head, clearly irritated just thinking about it.

“So, what happened?”

“Well since I couldn’t drive yet, I was supposed to meet Janessa at the movies. I waited almost an hour, and by then the movie had already started. When she didn’t show up, I tried calling her cell phone; I must’ve called her at least a hundred times, but every time it went straight to her voicemail. I called her house, but her parents said someone already came to pick her, so I assumed maybe one of her friends was giving her a ride. Since I didn’t live too far from the movie theater, I decided to just start walking home.”

Brett bent his head forward with his fingers entwined behind his neck. “I was just about a block away from my house, and I passed by a car with the windows all fogged up. Then I noticed the car was rocking back and forth, and I knew exactly what was going on in there. It was so obvious. And of course me being the perverted teenager, I had to get a closer look. Now that I look back on it, I wish I had just kept walking. Honestly, I don’t know how I didn’t see it coming. I mean, everyone knew about his reputation. He practically flaunted it all over school. I just didn’t think Janessa would fall for his so-called charm.”

I already knew who he was referring to, but I had to hear it straight from him. “Who was with her?”

“You mean you haven’t figured it out by now? Why none other than your sweet lover-boy, Shayne Fuckin’ I-Have-To-Have-Every-Girl Thompson.”

I shook my head not wanting to believe it. Although Shayne had been very upfront about his past, it still hurt to hear about it, especially from someone who was directly affected by his frivolous sexcapades.

“Oh come on, Liberty. You knew he had a history of whoring himself out to every girl in school. It’s not like it was a secret. I just couldn’t believe he actually fucked my girl in the back of a car. I mean, for Christ’s sake, she was a virgin. She deserved better than that. That’s why I waited so long with her. I wanted it to actually mean something.”

I could see how much it pained Brett to talk about this. I’m not sure what had upset him more: the fact that Shayne screwed his girlfriend behind his back or that he betrayed their friendship.

“I’m so sorry, Brett. I can’t believe he actually did that. Is that why there’s so much animosity between you two?”

“It’s more than animosity, Liberty. I wanted to fucking kill him that night. I probably would have, too. I had to drag his sorry ass off of her and beat the shit out him. If it hadn’t been for one of the neighbors coming outside to see what all of the commotion was about, I probably would have finished the job. I couldn’t just walk off and let him get away with it.”

Brett was fuming. I’ve never seen him get so worked up over a girl; not even me. “He couldn’t leave just one girl untouched. No. He had to take mine. She was mine, dammit!”

“You loved her, didn’t you?” My voice softened.

“I thought I did. I thought she loved me too, but I guess I was wrong.”

“Brett, I am so sorry that Shayne pulled that shit with you…that they both did. You got to look at the bright side, though.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Maybe it was a good thing that it happened. I mean, she obviously wasn’t the one for you if she was willing to go off with Shayne and do…
that.
”

“True. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that he fucked things up for me. He always has and always will.”

“I don’t know about that. Shayne has changed quite a bit. I mean that was what, six years ago? I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about him stealing your girl again.”

“It’s a little too late for that, darlin’.”

Brett’s eyes met mine, and I felt my heart plummet. I knew that look, and it pained me to see it on him now. Every time I gazed in the mirror, that same face stared right back me. I had grown to know her well. We became acquainted four years ago when I lost the one person that made me feel whole. Pain radiated throughout my chest as my heart split right down the middle. I didn’t know how much more of I could take. I was hurting Brett just by being around him, but even more, I was hurting him by being with Shayne.

All I could muster up was a weak smile in return, but even that felt forced. Brett would never be happy unless I was his, and he would forever hold it against Shayne.

Silence surrounded us in an awkward embrace. What more was there to say? We’ve both laid our cards out on the table, and although it was valiant effort, we were both dead-set on how we felt about each other. The heart wants what the heart wants, and in this case, my heart wanted Shayne.

“Why don’t you try to get some shut-eye? You’ll feel a hell of a lot better in the morning after a good night’s sleep.”