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Chapter 44: Liam
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one night stand. Chapter 45: Gia
I'm not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to this.All right...yes, I do.I'd been thinking that I had no business getting involved with a guy who is twenty years old and still in college. Someone who is leaving town in a few months and won't be looking back once he makes it to the NFL.When I found Tyler standing in the doorway of my classroom, I had a moment of weakness and thought-why not? Maybe I need to give our relationship one last shot. We certainly weren't perfect, but I did love him. And Tyler is a good man.I could do a lot worse.That's exactly what my thought process had been forty minutes ago. It's also how I ended up in a restaurant, having dinner with Tyler. But somewhere in those forty minutes from when I saw him at my door to us sitting at a table and waiting for our dinner to arrive, I realize deep down that it will never work.Now that I'm here, and see the hopeful expression written across his earnest face as he tells me about all the ways he'll change i
one night stand. Chapter 46: Gia
Like I'm some desperate, older woman chasing after some hot college athlete. I cringe at the mental image I've painted in my mind.The entire time we were together, Liam pushed for more, and I held him at arm's length because I was scared of getting involved with someone his age. Someone who was moving on to bigger and better things.It was stupid on my part. And now that stupidity has cost me my relationship with Liam.Decision made, I spin on my heels and head for the front entrance. I need to get out of here. As I push out through the glass door into the parking lot, a hand locks on my elbow before steering me off to the side. Goose bumps prickle along my skin. Everything in me seizes at Liam's proximity.It's been weeks since we've seen one another or been this close."Did you know?" His voice is low and hard.I wish to God that I didn't understand the question.When I fail to respond, he growls, "Did you know Bauer was my coach?"My heart riots painfully against my chest.
one night stand. Chapter 47: Liam
My gaze travels around the new apartment my family moved into. It might not be much, but it's the best we could come up with on short notice. Hell, we were lucky to snag one with three bedrooms.So...there's that, at least.No one is happy about the move. Both Cullum and Claire have been uncharacteristically quiet about it. They understand there wasn't much choice in the matter. And Dad...well, he's been silent for obvious reasons.It feels like I let everyone down by not being able to buy us more time with the bank and save our home. The only positive is that we have a plan moving forward. My brother will continue to work until I start earning a paycheck. As soon as that happens, he'll quit his job and focus on high school. I'll handle the bills from now on until my father has completed an outpatient treatment program and can be trusted to deal with that responsibility again.Whenever that is.It sucks that everything had to fall completely to shit. I'd thought we were at le
one night stand. Chapter 48: Gia
"Does that explanation help you understand the problem better?"Claire nods before scribbling down the answer in her notebook. Once done, she glances up. Her expression is oddly pensive. "Why can't Mr. Schmidt explain it like that? The way he teaches is so confusing. It doesn't make sense to me."A smile of encouragement touches my lips. "I know it might seem that way, but mathematics can be difficult to teach. The concepts aren't always easy to grasp or understand, and that makes it challenging."I give Claire a little pat on the back. I'm so proud of the progress she's made. I've never seen anyone work so hard to comprehend one problem. She's so determined. Over the last two months, what I've learned is that Claire doesn't give up easily."Look how well you're doing! I think you can accomplish anything you set your mind to."She beams. Claire is like a flower that has grown and bloomed under positive reinforcement.Her gaze is full of gratitude. "Without your help, the
one night stand. Chapter 49: Gia
I clear my throat along with those thoughts. "Thank you for coming. I was going to call my car service to repair the tire."His gray gaze locks on mine, holding it captive until my knees turn weak. "It's not a big deal. I'll have it changed in no time and you can be on your way."I shift my weight, wishing this was easier. "Well, thank you. I appreciate you getting here so quickly."Emotion flickers in his gaze. Silence stretches between us and I wonder if he'll address the strange situation we now find ourselves in. Instead, he says, "Is there a spare in the trunk?"Air rushes from my lungs. "Yes!" I back away to the front of the car. "I'll pop open the trunk."His attention stays focused on me as he nods.I have no idea what he's thinking. Is he happy to see me or does it no longer matter?My fingers tremble as I lean inside the driver's side door and hit the button that will release the trunk. While I do that, Liam walks back to his car to grab his tools. Within minute
one night stand. Chapter 50: Liam
I drop Claire off at the apartment and stop in briefly to make sure everything is running smoothly before picking up a few bills that need to be paid. After seeing Gia again-and touching her-I have all this unwanted energy careening through my system. And it's messing with my head.It took every ounce of self-restraint not to haul that woman into my arms and kiss the hell out of her. To get her to admit that we're perfect for one another. And that all the obstacles standing in our way don't matter. Nothing matters if she's not in my life. After more than a month, I want her just as much, if not more, than I did before. The moment she stepped out of the car was like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind from my body. I've tried to stay away from her.To forget her.I really have. But I'm done with that.I can't do it anymore.The need to expel some of this useless energy from my body pounds through me and I head over to the athletic center on campus to lift weights. Maybe run
one night stand. Chapter 51: Gia
We sit in a diner across the street from the garage Liam's friend owns. As a personal favor to him, Tony is going to patch my tire today. It should be ready in about an hour.Even though he doesn't necessarily need to stay and babysit me, Liam has made it clear that he isn't leaving until the tire is taken care of. I should feel thankful, instead his presence makes me feel skittish and on edge.Especially after yesterday. He hasn't touched me today, but still...my body is tense. It's driving me crazy. My nerves are stretched tight. Any moment and I'll shatter.The waitress brings two mugs of steaming coffee before silently retreating. Neither of us bother to order anything to eat. In a last-ditch effort at self-preservation, I say one more time, "You don't have to stay. It doesn't sound like it'll take all that long, and then I'll be on my way."He takes a sip of his coffee before flashing me a smile. One dark brow rises. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"The edges of my
one night stand. Chapter 52: Gia
Three days have passed since the conversation with Liam in the coffee shop. Even though everything in me is screaming to reach out and say-yes, yes, yes! I haven't. I keep vacillating. If this were solely about me following my heart, it would be a no brainer.But it's not that simple. Life is never that simple. I have to do what's best for both of us. Not just for me, but Liam as well. The dark-haired football player is leading with his heart. I can't allow myself to do that. No one in Liam's life has cared enough to put him first. And he deserves that. More than anything, he deserves to have someone make decisions based solely on what's best for him and him alone. That's what I'm trying to do.I care too much about him to do anything less. Tango is curled up on my lap, purring away. I'm about to delve into a stack of papers to grade when the doorbell rings. With a glance at the door, I set down my blue marking pen and scoop up the cat before moving him to the other si
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