Playing Games with the Boy Next Door

I had a brief, fleeting romance with my best friend’s younger brother. When we broke up, he asked me, "Were you just playing with me?" "Yes." Years later, he became incredibly cold, refusing my kisses and dodging my hugs. "What are you doing?" I asked, frustrated. He blew out a ring of smoke, a smirk on his lips. "Playing with you." 01 I got cheated on. Fuck. Seeing Connor Hayes making out with a freshman girl, my heart was a chaotic mess of emotions. Just a minute ago, we were texting each other "goodnight." The next minute, I found him in the booth next to mine, kissing some undergrad like his life depended on it. I watched the whole thing. I was practically eating popcorn, enjoying the show. I almost wanted to leave a Yelp review. When Connor finally noticed me, he shoved the girl away in a panic. The flash of sheer terror in his eyes was priceless. It was incredibly awkward. I walked over, picked up a fruit platter from their table, and offered it to him with a sweet smile. "Want a bite?" Connor blew up. "Are you out of your fucking mind? You’re asking me if I want fruit right now?" "Well, you were kissing for so long. Aren't your lips dry?" He took a deep breath, trying desperately to suppress his irritation. The freshman girl started fanning the flames. "See, babe? Look at her! She doesn't even care about you!" Connor snapped at her, "Shut up." The girl shrank back, terrified. I sighed. Trying to play peacemaker, I said, "Actually, she's not wrong." The girl clung to Connor's arm. "Just let me have him, okay?" Her smug, triumphant face really started to piss me off. This girl’s favorite hobby was acting like a helpless baby. Even though she was only a year younger than me, she was constantly begging Connor to buy her Squishmallows and Jellycat plushies. I had even complained about it to my best friend, Chloe: "Why doesn't she just walk around with a pacifier?" I raised my glass to her. "He's all yours." I turned to leave. Connor grabbed my wrist, his voice suddenly pleading. "I don't want to break up. Forgive me, just this once." I laughed. "Sure. Go kneel outside the campus gates for a whole day, and I'll forgive you." His face froze. Finally, he shoved his hands into his pockets, his eyes turning ice-cold. "Hazel! If you weren't so damn frigid, do you think I would have looked for someone else? You won't let me kiss you, you won't let me touch you. Our relationship is falling apart—isn't that your fault?" I stared at him. "If you're walking down the street and a rabid dog bites you, do you blame yourself for being unlikable, or do you blame the dog for being rabid?" I'm not an idiot. Did he really think he could gaslight me? 02 Reeking of alcohol, I showed up at Chloe's apartment. She was out of town on a business trip, and I really didn't want to go back to my dorm, so I decided to crash at her place for the night. As soon as I walked in, I stripped off my jacket, leaving me in just a red-and-blue plaid slip dress. Lying in bed, I couldn't help but overthink. Am I really frigid? Even when Connor held my hand, I just felt irritated and uncomfortable. Suddenly, the sound of running water from the bathroom reached my ears. Someone was here. Was Chloe back early? I walked straight over, needing to wash up anyway. I pushed the door open. Steam billowed out. But the person inside, standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist, staring at me with dark, indifferent eyes... It was Liam Carter. Chloe's younger brother. He had grown taller. More mature. His hair was cropped short. The muscles shifting under his skin were captivating, radiating strength. His lips were slightly pink, moistened by the steam. I want to kiss him. That was the only thought in my head. Seeing that I had absolutely no intention of looking away or acting embarrassed, Liam let out a sharp scoff. His tone was dripping with piercing sarcasm. "Want to hook up, Hazel?" I suddenly remembered something Chloe had once said about me. Hazel, you look so gentle and polite on the outside, but deep down, you're wicked. So, fueled by Liam's provocation, my rebellious side flared up. "Thanks for the invitation." Dead silence filled the bathroom. Then, he let out a low laugh. "You're still as bold as ever, aren't you?" 03 Liam and I once had a very brief romance. I found out he had feelings for me when he was a senior in high school. At the time, I was a freshman in college, attending a local university with Chloe. That day, I had gotten into a massive fight with my stepdad. My mom was running a high fever, and instead of taking her to the clinic, he went to the local lodge to play poker. I had skipped class to come home, only to find her coughing uncontrollably. Pots and bowls were smashed during our argument, which only ended when my mom begged me to stop. My mom was deeply traditional. She believed men ruled the outside world and women ruled the home. So, she catered to my stepdad’s every whim. She held me back, pleading with me not to fight with him. Furious, I ran out of the house. I ran into Liam in the alleyway. He was wearing a hoodie, a black backpack slung over his shoulder. "Hazel?" he called out. "Liam? What are you doing here?" "Skipping SAT prep." It was his senior year, and the pressure was on. Liam was brilliant, but his mom still forced him into tutoring. He reached out, his long fingers gently wiping a smear of blood off my cheek. "You're hurt." Only then did I notice the cut. A shard of porcelain must have grazed me when I smashed the bowl. His pale fingers were stained with a drop of bright red. I instinctively reached up to wipe it away. He shook his head. "It's nothing." Instead, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the nearest clinic. "We need to clean this up, or it'll scar." By the time we walked out, the sun was setting. Liam admitted he had ditched his prep class entirely. "I already know all that stuff. I was just too lazy to argue with my mom about it." I laughed, which tugged at my cut. I hissed in pain. "Genius perks, I guess." "Does it still hurt?" Before I could answer, he leaned in. His thin lips pressed softly against my cheek. We were so close I could feel his breath. His skin was flawless, his dark eyes earnest and intense. "I like you, Hazel." But I could see the tips of his ears burning bright red. I thought he was so brave back then. 04 Past memories shattered into fragments in my dreams. I woke up to the morning sunlight streaming into the room. The space next to me was completely cold. Liam was long gone. I sat up and looked around. On the nightstand, there was a stack of cash and a sticky note. It read: Thanks for the warm hospitality. I raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by how much Liam had changed. The shy boy who used to blush at the slightest tease was now a seasoned player. That stack of cash was glaringly offensive. Clearly, he was used to pulling this kind of stunt. My body was aching, and my phone was dead. Annoyed, I plugged it in and powered it on. Chloe had called me several times. I called her back. "Hey?" Chloe sounded like she was walking, the rumble of her suitcase wheels echoing through the speaker. "Where are you? I've been calling you forever!" I ran a hand through my messy hair, mumbling, "I'm at your place. Just woke up." "It's noon! Why were you up so late?" I chuckled softly. "Good question." "I'm almost home. Brought you some cake. Get up and come greet me." My heart skipped a beat. That fast? I mumbled, "Alright, I'm getting up. How far away are you?" "Ten minutes." I took a deep breath. I had a few drinks yesterday, my hormones had taken over, and I had spent an incredibly reckless night with Liam. How the hell was I going to explain this to my best friend? What a mess. I quickly got up, changed my clothes, and speed-cleaned the living room. 05 Chloe looked exhausted. As soon as she walked in, she started venting. "You have no idea, the clients on this trip were a nightmare. I'm so jealous of you. I should have just gone to grad school like you did." "Want some gossip to cheer you up?" I asked. She perked up instantly. "Hit me. What happened?" "I saw Connor making out with a freshman last night." "No way! The one who's obsessed with Squishmallows? What is wrong with his eyes!" I nodded in disgust. "Exactly. Honestly, I must have been blind to date him in the first place." We trashed Connor for a while. Seeing that I wasn't too heartbroken, Chloe asked, "Where's my brother?" I froze mid-sip of water. "Huh?" "Didn't you see him last night? I gave him the passcode to the apartment." Chloe and I had been joined at the hip since middle school. Sometimes we even brought Liam along on weekends. But she had no idea Liam and I ever had a thing. I remember when Liam and I first got together, he was so frustrated. He said it felt like we were keeping some dirty, underground secret. We dated quietly, and we broke up quietly. It was a secret that only belonged to the two of us. I kept my voice casual. "I saw him, but he went out last night." Chloe went into her room to change into loungewear. I heard her talking through the door; she was probably on the phone with Liam. "My brother said he was out partying with friends. He just got back. Sounds like a long night." "Is it his high school friends?" Liam was incredibly popular in high school—good-looking, great personality. "Yeah. He invited us to go to the club with them tonight. You down?" I pressed my lips together. "Sure." Chloe gave me a wicked grin. "Perfect. Let's go hit on some younger guys." I was drinking water and nearly choked, terrified for a second that she knew about me and Liam. I cleared my throat. "Sounds like a plan." 06 At the club. I finally got a good look at Liam again. He really had grown into a mature, striking man. Broader and more muscular than he was right out of high school. Chloe and the other guys hit the dance floor. Leaving just me and Liam sitting across from each other. His fingers, pale and long, swiped idly across his phone. He looked completely disinterested. He hadn't glanced at me once. It really seemed like he had completely forgotten about me. Winning him back was going to be tough. I took a sip of my drink, trying to come up with a game plan. Just then, his friend Tyler walked over. Tyler was a good-looking guy, but he had a goofy, over-the-top swagger. He sat down next to Liam, pointing his chin toward a girl across the room. "Liam, check out that older girl. You think I have a shot?" Liam's dark eyes rippled with amusement. "No chance." His voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. I followed their gaze. It was a gorgeous woman in a black slip dress with dramatic, sultry makeup. Definitely an intimidating, mature vibe. Tyler looked at me. "What do you think, Hazel?" I pretended to think about it, nodding, but I didn't look at Tyler. I looked straight at Liam. "I think you have a great shot. After all, older women these days... really love younger guys." I emphasized "younger guys." Liam caught the hint. He let out a sharp scoff but didn't say a word. Encouraged, Tyler turned back to Liam. "Bro, have you ever dated someone older?" Liam nodded. "Yeah." "How was it?" Liam's eyes swirled with a lazy, mocking amusement. He took a slow sip of his drink and looked me up and down. His voice was a slow drawl, laced with a hint of absurdity. "How was it? "Mind-blowing." The corners of my lips curled up. As our eyes met, the tension in the air was palpable. Tyler yelled, "Holy shit!" and eagerly jogged off to get the girl's Instagram. Once he was gone, the atmosphere froze again. Liam stood up and headed toward the restrooms. On the way, several girls asked for his number or snap. He accepted every single one. The boy who used to blush at a single kiss had turned into someone I couldn't read at all. I waited for him in the hallway outside the restrooms. I pulled a slim cigarette from my purse. Whenever things got complicated, I needed a smoke to calm my nerves. It didn't take long for him to come out. When he saw me, his pace didn't slow down. He didn't even look like he was going to say hello. I stepped in his way, flashing a bright smile, and held out my phone with my Instagram QR code. Acting as playful as I could, I said, "Hey handsome, can I get your Insta?" He laughed. "Sure." Just like he did with all the other girls. Once the follow was accepted, I pushed my luck, stepping closer. "Going home together tonight?" He took a step back, the corner of his mouth ticking upward. "Get in line. Maybe one day it'll be your turn to take me home." 07 I went back to my campus apartment alone. I had to finish my master's thesis in a few days and had already wasted too much time. In my dreams, the moonlight shattered and filtered through the thin curtains. Liam had confessed his feelings to me on a night just like that. It was right after he graduated high school. His parents asked Chloe and me to take him and his friend Mason on a road trip. Honestly, two teenage boys didn't need us as chaperones. I only found out later that Liam had specifically begged his parents to make sure we came along. I had never seen him act so manipulative before. At the time, I didn't really want to go, but Liam tugged at my sleeve. "Come on, Hazel. We haven't been out of the city in forever. Let's go." I raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you scared of the dark?" His ears turned red, and he nodded. "Yeah." Even though I already had a feeling he liked me, I stubbornly convinced myself he just had a dependency on me because we grew up together. I was practically his older sister. So, I agreed. We drove to Sedona, Arizona. Mason drove most of the way since he had just gotten his license and was eager to use it. It was a popular spot, famous for its red rocks and starry nights. We stayed at a rustic, vintage-style lodge. Mason was exhausted from driving, and Chloe, who hated the sudden drop in temperature at night, curled up in bed and passed out. By evening, only Liam and I were still awake. There were a lot of backpackers and kids who had just graduated high school hanging out in the main lobby. The owner lit a few candles. Everyone sat around sharing stories until late into the night. It was then that Liam, the shy little rabbit, turned into a persistent puppy. He followed me all the way to my room. As I was about to close the door, he stood there, looking at me with innocent eyes. I coughed. "Need something?" He magically produced a mug of warm milk from nowhere. "Do you want some milk before bed, Hazel?" I took it. It was warm. I had no choice but to let him in. I knew he had something to say. So I sat there, sipping the milk slowly. He rested his chin on his hand, just watching me in silence. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "What exactly are you..." "I like you." His voice was clear and moving, his confession flowing as naturally as a stream. I couldn't help but laugh a little. "What do you like about me?" "A lot of things. If you agree to be my girlfriend, I'll tell you about them, slowly, every day." It didn't sound like an empty promise. It sounded incredibly sincere. The night was intoxicating. But late nights are never a good time to make decisions. I smiled and didn't say anything. Disappointment flickered in Liam's eyes; he probably thought I was going to reject him. He stood up. "It's fine. I'll just take my time and earn it." Just as his hand grabbed the doorknob, I caught his arm. "Little brother... do you know how to kiss?"

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