Liam turned to me. "Grant?"

I glared at the man who was following us. "Mr. Goldsworthy, huh?"

The man scooted away from Liam, holding his hair.

"Grant's last name is Goldsworthy." I explained to Liam. Then I directed my attention to the gray-haired man. "Why are you holding your hair?"

Before I knew what was happening, Liam tugged at the man's hair. I watched as the wig fell off his head to reveal yet another set of gray hair. The wrinkles slid down, exposing his real face. My mouth dropped. How didn't I suspect this after he said Rawr?

"Fred?!" I said, irritated.

Fred jumped out of his seat. "Save the alpacas!" He yelled, running full speed away.

"Your hair's already gray!" I screamed after him.

"I'm so sorry. I can't believe Grant would do this." I apologized to Liam.

He shrugged me off. "It's not your fault."

"I'll talk to him. I swear it won't happen again."

Liam nodded. "Why did he have us followed?"

I took a deep breath. "He's very protective, he does this every time I even come close to talking to any guy. For some reason he thinks all guys want to hurt me and I'm too weak to handle getting hurt."

"Sounds to me like he's having just as much trouble moving on as you are."

I was a little offended. I knew I told Liam I was having trouble moving on from Grant, but to hear him say it made me feel weak. I was never the type to obsess over a guy, but Grant was different. He drove me crazy, confused me, excited me. I couldn't just avoid him; he was my best friend.

"I know Grant and I would never work out. I'm having a great time, a really great time with you. I don't want it to be ruined by some creep coward watching us." I needed Liam to see how much I wanted to be on this date with him.

He smiled. "I'm having a great time too."

We spent another hour and a half at the arcade, eating and playing games. It was so much fun. For the first time in a long time, I was hopeful. I was excited about the future. I looked forward to hanging out with Liam again. My life was finally starting to return to a sort of normalcy. 

"No way, I totally won!" Liam laughed, shaking his head.

I smirked. "Winners never cheat, cheaters never win."

He moved his body to face me. "I didn't cheat!"

"Hey, be careful there wild man. You better keep your eyes on the road." I laughed.

He positioned himself to face the road again. "I can't help it, you're really pretty. It's hard not to look."

I blushed. "You're such a suck up, but thanks."

Without a word, Liam hopped out of the car when we pulled into my house. Grant wanted me to get dropped off at his house but after the stunt he pulled I was not about to ask Liam to take me to his house. Liam opened the door for me.

I smiled. "Thank you. I'm glad to see chivalry isn't dead."

"Of course." He followed me to the door. "I had a lot of fun today."

"Me too. We should do this again sometime."

As we approached the door, I was a little sad. It was like the feeling you get when you come back from vacation. Kind of confused, exhausted, and dreadful. I wasn't ready to return to reality. I didn't know if I could take it. I'd never been on a date; I had no clue how they usually ended. So, I stood in front of the doorway, unsure.

Liam squinted at me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just I've never done anything like this before." I chuckled. "I guess I'm a little nervous."

Liam took a step closer. "Nervous?"

I matched Liam's steps, moving towards him. "I've always seen dating as complicated."

"It doesn't have to be." He pushed some hair out of my face. At first, I didn't realize what was happening, then I remembered every romantic movie I'd ever watched.

I didn't move, afraid to scare him away. He tilted my chin upwards. He hesitated a moment, in opposition to Grant. When Grant had kissed me, I wasn't expecting it. Grant had been decisive and passionate.

Finally, Liam's lips met mine. The kiss was so soft and gentle it shocked me. The kiss was sweet and warm. I kissed him back.

Liam broke the kiss. "I hope I didn't rush things. I know this is new territory for you."

I saw on his face that Liam thought he was my first kiss. I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.

I smiled. "We should also do that again sometime."

He laughed. " I couldn't agree more." He paused, trying to read me. "Goodnight Zephyrine."

"Goodnight." I said, remaining still. I was unable to move. As I watched Liam walk away, I wanted to kiss him again. I needed to kiss him again to be sure of how I felt. The only thing I could do not to make a fool of myself was go back inside, so I did.

I decided it was way too early to go to bed. I
threw on my jacket and walked to Grant's.

I knocked on the door with force, not stopping until Grant was standing in front of me. I accidently pounded on his chest. It hadn't occurred to me until just then that Trisha could've been there.

Grant looked down at me. "Rinnie! Come in."

I let the anger show on my face as I walked in. "We need to talk."

"Do we?" He laughed.

"Yes." I said shortly.

He walked over to the couch as I stood in the doorway. "Wanna sit?"

"No."

He looked at me, trying to read my demeanor. Grant and I rarely fought. We joked around all the time, but we never actually fought.

He turned his back to the couch and made his way back over to me. "Okay, let's talk."

I pointed at him. "You had Fred follow Liam and I on our date? Grant why would you do that?"

Grant looked annoyed. "Well, that's the last time I blackmail Fred to do anything."

I sent him dagger eyes. "You have no right! Why on earth would you think it'd be a good idea to spy on me?"

He took a moment. I knew it was to let me cool down. He stepped closer to me. "It was your first date Rinnie."

I tapped my foot impatiently. "Yeah, which is precisely why I'm so annoyed."

He sighed. "If you're looking for an apology, it's not going to happen."

"You know what, you're right. Why would I expect you to be sorry for having Fred stalk me on my FIRST DATE?!" I was fuming.

Grant leaned against the wall. "I'm not sorry I checked in on your date. Neither of us know Liam. If I'm going to let somebody besides me be with you, they're going to have to be pretty amazing." I watched his eyes as he realized what he said. That was the first moment I'd even considered that Grant may want to be with me.

I knew this couldn't turn into one of those moments, so I focused on my anger. I wasn't sure if the anger was from what Grant did, or because of what I couldn't have.

"Oh, and Trisha is amazing?" Sarcasm was dripping from my voice.

Grant's eyes exposed his confusion. "I didn't say anything about Trisha."

I nodded. "I know, because you seem to think it only matters who I'm with. Who cares if I have to watch you date someone who's clearly not worthy of you, right? As long as I date someone who's up to your standards."

"You said you like Trisha." Grant said quietly.

I laughed icely. "I don't even think you like Trisha."

Grant's eyebrows raised. "Oh yeah? How'd you reach that conclusion?"

I realized I was taking things too far. "I didn't mean to say that. I just don't like what she did to you. "

"What she did to me?"

I took a deep breath. "She cheated on you."

He stared at the door. "Rinnie."

"Yeah."

His eyes found their way back to me. "I want to meet him."

"Meet who?"

"Liam."