One More Chance (Chance, Part 2) Read online

  “Liam, he’s going to be on campus today,” she blurts out.

  “Why?” I ask, trying to decide if I’m happy or sad with the news.

  “Some college interview thing.”

  “Okay, well I need to get to class,” I say, playing the new found information off as nothing.

  “Are you okay?” she asks, looking extremely concerned.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I won’t see him anyway. I’ll catch you later,” I say as I head towards my next class; it’s an English course, which isn’t much fun.

  Once my classes are done for the day, I couldn’t be more pissed off. I walk into the house and throw my bags down.

  “Shit, you heard about Liam coming today didn’t you?” Quinn asks, obviously able to tell I’m pissed off.

  “Yeah, I heard about it,” I gripe.

  “At least you won’t have to see him.”

  “Wrong.”

  “What?” she asks confused.

  “My stupid English professor is making us go tonight, to watch a real, live interview process.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yep. I’m so pissed, yet I’m not.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “You don’t have to. I’m going to stand in the back hopefully.”

  “That’s fine, we’ll go together. I’m sure Brody will come too.”

  “Yeah, cause that will go over real well.”

  “It’s already a shitty situation. When do we have to be there?”

  “It starts at six, but we have to get there early, because not everyone can get in.”

  “We’ll leave around five-thirty then?”

  “Works for me. If we can’t get in, I won’t be upset,” I admit.

  “Are you sure?” she asks with an inquisitive look.

  “I mean I’d love to see him, but I don’t know if that would be good for me. I’m actually doing better now, I can’t go backwards.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t let you.”

  We make some food before I decide to call Brody to fill him in that we are going tonight. He advised that he’s going to come along, though he probably won’t talk to his brother, because Liam’s still not talking to him either.

  Brody gets to the house at 5:15 p.m., “Are you ladies ready to go?”

  “Yeah, you don’t think he’d come here afterwards do you?” I ask nervously.

  “No, why?” Brody asks looking confused.

  “Technically, this is his house.”

  “It’s your house too.”

  “I’d be surprised if he did,” Quinn states.

  “Don’t worry about it. Let’s go,” he says as we head outside to walk to the building where Liam is going to be interviewed.

  “Holy shit,” I blurt as we get closer to the building, the place is decked out with cameramen and students everywhere, “Maybe we aren’t going to get in tonight.”

  “Actually we are,” Brody says showing us three VIP passes.

  “How did you get those?” Quinn asks curiously.

  “Really? He’s my brother,” he tells her like she forgot.

  I stop in my track immediately, “Does that mean he knows we’re coming?” I ask nervously.

  “He gave me three tickets, he has no idea whose coming with me, its fine Hails, relax.”

  “So you guys are talking again?” I ask hopeful for him.

  “Not much, but its progress, I guess,” he says with a shrug.

  “That’s good at least,” I say as Brody leads us towards a separate entrance.

  “How the hell do you know about this entrance?”

  “Liam told me,” he says, as we make our way through the hall that has no crowds or cameras.

  “Are we going to run into him here?” I ask cautiously.

  “No, he’s probably not here yet,” Brody says. He leads us up to the area where Liam is going to be interviewed. The place is empty except for some cameramen already setting up.

  “You can’t be in here,” a security guard says, but Brody shows him the VIP passes, “Sorry, pick your seats wherever you like,” he says before heading into a different direction.

  “Where do you want to sit?” Brody asks. I look around, trying to find a spot that he wouldn’t see us, but that I would have a good shot of him. “Earth to Haley,” Brody says as he snaps his fingers in front of my face.

  “Shit, sorry. I don’t care, just not anywhere near the front.”

  “Why don’t we sit by the door that we just came through, that way we can leave right when it’s over, so you won’t have to worry about seeing him? Plus, Brody, if you want to talk to him you can,” Quinn suggests.

  “That sounds like a great idea,” I say as we make our way over to the chairs by the door we came through.

  It doesn’t take long for the place to fill up once the doors open. I’m actually glad Brody was able to get us tickets, so we could have seats before the interview happens.

  “Holy shit, he beefed up,” Quinn says loudly. I can’t help but stare at the sexiness known as Liam Masters. His hair is shorter than the last time I’ve seen him, but there’s still enough that you can tug on it. His blue eyes are as hypnotizing as ever. He’s wearing a pair of light washed jeans that hug his ass perfectly as he walks towards the stage; he also has on a Michigan shirt that is tighter on the arms now. He definitely has increased in muscle and if I thought he was sexy before, it doesn’t compare to how sexy he is now.

  “Wow,” I say admiring the beautiful man laughing on stage. “He looks happy,” I say feeling happy for him, but also feeling like shit because that means he’s happy without me.

  “Are you okay?” Brody asks.

  “I’m fine,” I say as I stare at the stage, hoping this interview is quick. I need out of here, now.

  “Are you sure Hails?” Quinn whispers.

  “Yeah, just hurts to know he’s that happy with me out of his life. That kind of stings,” I whisper back to her.

  “I’m sorry,” she says as she links her arm with mine, “You will find someone great, just you wait.”

  “I hope so, because seeing him is making me realize how much I truly miss him,” I say, trying to hold back the tears.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t have come,” she says.

  “I had to.”

  “No, we could have made up an excuse or something. Do you want to leave?” she asks.

  “No, I’ll be alright,” I say before the interview starts.

  Once it starts, its torture. I’m talking like I.Want.To.Slit.My.Wrists torture. It is one thing to see the man you’re in love with; it’s another to hear his sexy voice and know he’s never going to whisper sweet nothings into your ear again. He’s never going to hold you tight when you fall asleep or wake you up with kisses in the morning.

  One hour and fifteen minutes, that’s how long the damn interview is. It doesn’t help that they take a few questions from students in the audience either. What hurts though is hearing one of the answers to a question where a girl asks him if he’s in a relationship and his reply is “Yes, and I’m very happy.” That hurts.

  “Are you ready to go?” Quinn asks, knowing I’m going to be crying by the time we get home.

  “Yep. Brody, we’re leaving, you talk to him, do what you need to do. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I say as look toward the door we came through.

  “Do you mind if I stay?”

  “No, you should,” I say truthfully.

  “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says as we stand and head towards the door.

  We walk through the door, “Do you remember which way the exit is?” I ask confused as I look at the three hallways in front of us.

  “Shit, no,” Quinn says looking as confused as I am.

  “How long did it take for you to screw my brother?” I hear from behind me. I turn to see a pissed off looking Liam.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Then again, don’t tell me, I don’t care anymore,” he says ignorantly.

/>   “I’m not sleeping with him, not that it’s any of your business,” I snap.

  “I’ve moved on, so should you, just not with my brother, that’s kind of pathetic don’t you think?” he says, looking hateful.

  “Fuck you.”

  “We already did that, no need for a repeat,” he says smugly.

  “Wow, way to see you went back to being an asshole,” Quinn chimes in.

  “It suits me better. You should find better company Quinn.”

  “What the hell is your problem?” I shout.

  “You,” he says piercing me with intense blue eyes.

  “You’ve ignored me for over five months and now all of a sudden you feel you can treat me like shit, well you can’t.”

  “I didn’t ignore you, we were over and I was moving forward with my life. You should do the same.”

  “Maybe I have,” I say ignorantly causing him to look even more pissed off.

  “Then why do you look like you want me to fuck you right now?” he asks bluntly.

  “What?” I shriek.

  “You heard me. You moved on, yet you want me to fuck you, why is that Haley?” he asks coldly.

  “I want to slap you, not fuck you,” I shout.

  “Well that’s not going to happen. But I guess I should thank you,” he says piercing me with those sexy blue eyes.

  “Thank me?” I ask confused.

  “Yeah, you couldn’t figure out what you wanted and now I’ve met a girl who knows exactly what she wants and has no problem trusting me or wanting to spend her life with me. So thank you for being indecisive.”

  “You’re an asshole,” I say before I turn and decide to head down the hall, not caring where the hell it takes me, as long as it gets me away from Liam fucking Masters.

  “Holy shit, he was a jerk,” Quinn says as she rushes to catch up to me.

  “Why, why do I do this to myself?” I ask, feeling thankful that there’s an exit door in sight.

  “I’m sorry Hails.”

  “Me too,” I say as I bust through the door needing the air from outside.

  “Are you going to pass out?” she asks worriedly

  “No, just needed the fresh air,” I say as I take a few deep breaths. “Did I hear him right?”

  “About what?” she asks looking confused.

  “Is he engaged?” I ask, ready for the dam of tears to break.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “He said he found a girl who knows what she wants, who trusts him and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. Does that mean he’s engaged?”

  “I don’t think so. He probably would have said it if he was. He had no problem rubbing the girlfriend in your face.”

  “I hate him,” I say as we make our way home.

  “I know Hails, I know.” I don’t even make it off campus before the dam breaks. The tears won’t stop falling. I knew it was going to be hard to see him, but I didn’t think we would have an altercation where he would literally rip my fucking heart out again. When does the pain go away?

  Chapter Two

  Time passes and it’s time to head home for holiday break. I need a few weeks away. Quinn has decided she is going to go home Christmas Day and that’s it, so she’s going to be staying at our house off campus. Brody and I are going to carpool home, since there’s no point in both of us driving.

  “How’s Kenzie?” I finally ask.

  “She’s fine, I guess.”

  “Has she been bitchy lately?” I haven’t talked to her since the day before I called off the wedding.

  “I guess she’s seeing someone, so there’s that,” he says looking happy.

  “Good. Maybe then she can move forward with her life.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  We make conversation the entire way home, talking about school, home, friends, and everything except Liam. Even though the drive is long, I’m so thankful to be home.

  “Thanks for the ride,” I say as I grab my bags out of the trunk.

  “Sure thing. I’ll see you later,” he says as he heads toward his front door.

  I head inside mine to find my mom and dad sitting on the couch, “Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, because they both have disappointed looks. I take a seat on the chair waiting for an answer.

  “Hey sweetheart,” Mom says as she comes over to hug me.

  “Mom, what’s going on?” I ask with a stern look.

  “Well, it appears that Liam is going to be coming home for a few days.”

  “Oh, okay so,” I say trying to act like I don’t care.

  “He’s bringing his girlfriend,” she says with a worried look.

  “Good for him.”

  “Denise wants us to come over for dinner like we’ve always done, but she wasn’t sure how you would feel about going.”

  “Its fine, I can handle it.”

  “Are you sure?” Dad asks.

  “Yes, it’s just dinner. Plus, Brody and Isaac will be there.”

  “Kenzie too,” Mom says happily, “or are you still not speaking to her?”

  “I haven’t spoken to her yet Mom.”

  “Hopefully, you two can make up since you’re both home and it’s the holidays,” she says sounding hopeful.

  “We’ll see. When is dinner over at the Masters?”

  “Not until the Monday after Christmas, so you have about a week,” she says.

  “That’s fine. I’m going to take my stuff to my room I’ll be back down then,” I say as I stand up and grab my bags. I head to my room and flop onto my bed before deciding to send Quinn a text.

  Me- “I’m having dinner next Monday at the Masters house.”

  Quinn- “What’s wrong with that?”

  Me- “Liam’s going to be there along with his new girlfriend.”

  Quinn- “Are you sure you should go?”

  Me- “I don’t really have a choice. I can’t hide from him.”

  Quinn- “True, plus if he pisses you off, just leave. It’s not like people won’t understand.”

  Me- “Can I say I’m jealous and I haven’t even seen her yet?”

  Quinn- “You can, but don’t worry, we hate her!”

  Me- “Thanks! I’ll text you later,” I text before heading back downstairs.

  The rest of the evening is spent hanging out with Mom and Dad. Kenzie isn’t coming home until tomorrow and I’m relieved. I have no idea what I’m going to say to her when I see her.

  Tomorrow comes and before long Kenzie is walking through the door looking way too happy. She heads straight up to her room, then comes rushing back down the stairs.

  “Where’s Mom and Dad?”

  “They ran to pick up dinner.”

  “Good, because we need to talk,” she says as she sits opposite me on the couch. I turn the television off and turn to look at her.

  “What’s up?”

  “Look, I get I was a raging bitch, because I was. I’m sorry.” I can only nod my head; I’ve heard this before. “Listen Hails, I was pissed off years ago because you didn’t even know how many guys liked you, you never paid attention to them, whereas I did. I couldn’t get how they didn’t like me; I mean we are identical for fuck’s sake. So when I thought you were starting to like Brody, I intervened. I asked him out; I was actually surprised he said yes, but he did.”

  “You and Brody were good together Kenz,” I admit.

  “You’re right we were, but I don’t really even know what happened. When you started talking about Liam at college, it was like a switch for Brody and me. Brody wanted you and I wanted Liam and we set out to get you two. It wasn’t fair to either one of you and I’m truly sorry for that.”

  “It is what it is.”

  “But it’s not. I should have never talked to Meg or brought her here. You and Liam should have gotten married. Hell, you two would be married right now, if it weren’t for me.”

  “But we aren’t. There’s a reason we aren’t Kenz and that reason isn’t you. I did a lot of thinking
when I asked Liam for a break. I made my decision and he made his. Now, we are both moving on.”

  “You can’t seriously believe that line of shit,” she says looking frustrated.

  “Kenzie, he’s moved on. He’s bringing his girlfriend home this weekend. We’re having dinner with them on Monday.”

  “WHAT?” she shouts, “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am. Mom and Dad already talked to me about it. Its fine, who knows, maybe it will help me move on.”

  “Don’t you love him anymore?”

  “Of course I do, I always have and I always will, but it just isn’t enough,” I state solemnly.

  “Have you talked to him at all?”

  “Once.”

  “How did that go?”

  “I didn’t realize how hard it would be to see him and hear his voice. It didn’t go well at all. He has a lot of resentment towards me and I guess I get why, because it’s my fault we didn’t get married, but it’s more than that.”

  “Do you really think that Monday is going to go well?” she asks with a curious look.

  “Probably not, but I need to try to move on. He has.”

  “Well I’ll be there, so will Brody, so we can make sure no blood is shed,” she says with a smile.

  “Thanks,” I say laughing, “But there will be no blood.”

  “So how are you and Brody?”

  “Good. We are friends and that’s all we will ever be. Do you want to get back together with him?” I ask being nosey.

  “No. I think we are better off apart. I’m happy and I hope he’s happy too.”

  “He is, at least he seems like it.”

  “I’ve talked to him a few times. At first, I thought I wanted us to get back together, but I think it’s better for us if we aren’t.”

  “It’s crazy, not long ago I thought we were going to marry the Masters men and now neither of us is with them.”

  “Yeah, but everything happens for a reason. Do you miss Liam?”

  “All the time,” I admit.

  “Do you think he’s going to care that you’re there for dinner?”

  “Probably not, he was pretty rude to me the last time he saw me.”

  “If he was mean, then he’s not over you,” she states like she knows something I don’t.

  “No, I’m pretty sure he is. He seems really happy.”