“She’s cute. I get it.”
“She’s more than cute,” Liam says, and I can hear the dreamy tone in his voice that has him head over heels for Bristol.
“Then grow a pair and call her.”
I’ve never known Liam to be shy. He’s certainly more reserved than Ashton and Luca, but shy, no.
“I don’t have her phone number.”
“That’s just an excuse. You could send her a message, ask her for it.”
“Also, no.” Liam shoots down my suggestion.
“Show up at her dorm room?” If he’s got it that bad for her, maybe she has the hots for him, too, and they could just fuck and get it out of their systems?
He has always been more about friends-with-benefits than relationships.
Liam is quiet as he considers my suggestion. “I’ll need an excuse. A reason that I stopped by, without looking like I’m obsessed with her.”
“But you are … in a good way.” From what I can tell, he isn’t exhibiting stalker signs, except maybe staring at her social media profile for ungodly amounts of time.
“You’re not helping,” Liam grumbles. “A reason that I show up at her dorm room. And it can’t be because I got the wrong room again.”
“Why can’t it?” I shrug and laugh. “Booty call. Or bring pizza,” I suggest.
“What if she’s not home? Or slams the door in my face?” Liam is already coming up with all the reasons it won’t work.
“Both valid possibilities.”
He groans and rolls back onto his side. “You’re not helping.”
“Oh, was I supposed to be? I mean, we could give you a fake girlfriend and see if she gets jealous, but since you said the girl hates you, I doubt that will work.”
Liam snarls at me. “You’re just being mean now.”
“I’m not!” I laugh and grab his phone from his hands.
“Nova! Give that back.” He reaches for the phone, and I keep it far from his grasp.
Liam climbs across the bed, leaning over me, his fingers attempting to pluck the phone from my death grip.
Ashton’s tired and worn expression turns red. “What the hell is going on?”
“You’re home!” My voice comes out more as a squeak than I intend. I release my grip on Liam’s phone and shove him off me. “I was worried about you.”
Ashton’s gaze narrows. “Looks like you were really worried. What the hell are you doing here, Moretti?”
Liam clears his throat and shifts back on the bed, falling onto his ass. “Keeping your girlfriend company while we were waiting for you to get home.”
“Great. I’m home. Now get the fuck out of my room,” Ashton growls at Liam, and I smile apologetically.
“Thanks,” I whisper to Liam as he brushes past Ashton, who is practically blocking the door.
The moment Liam is out of the bedroom, he shuts it briskly behind him, and a rush of wind hits me.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I glance over Ashton. There’s no sign of a struggle. He looks all right, just tired and, pissed. “Hey,” I say and smile. “You’re okay.”
“I’m just fucking peachy.” He stalks to the dresser, stripping out of his clothes.