Lie to Him, Moan for Me!

The Drive

The second I stepped back into the party, the heat hit me again — too much noise, too many bodies, too much everything. But I pushed forward anyway, head high, spine straight, like I hadn't just come apart on a balcony with the one person I swore I hated.

Liam found me first. Of course he did.

"You okay?" he asked, searching my face.

I nodded — a little too fast, a little too forced. "Yeah. Just needed some air."

He smiled, easy and trusting, and slid his arm around my waist. I let him.

I even leaned into it, like maybe if I held on tight enough, I could drown out the part of me still buzzing with Nathan's voice. His words. His stupid, unreadable face.

Liam smelled like something familiar — warmth and pine, comfort and normalcy.

Nathan smelled like trouble.

We made it halfway across the room before I felt it.

That stare.

Burning into the side of my head.

I didn't look.

I didn't have to.

He was back. Somewhere close. I could feel it, like a pressure on my chest I couldn't shake.

Liam leaned in and said something — I didn't catch it. I nodded anyway, smiled like I meant it. My drink was still in my hand, untouched now, ice melted into something watery and bitter.

I took a sip and nearly gagged.

Nathan was standing by the stairs now, drink in hand again, his expression unreadable. Flat, almost bored — except his jaw was clenched just a little too tight, and his eyes didn't leave me.

Not once.

I ignored him. On purpose.

Liam said something funny and I laughed a little too loudly, touched his arm, let myself lean against him more than I needed to.

Nathan blinked.

Just once.

But I saw it.

Good.

He turned away sharply, muttering something to the guy next to him — Kyle, maybe. His laugh came too fast, too fake.

I wasn't proud of the way it made me feel.

And maybe Liam felt it too, the shift. Because a minute later, his lips brushed my ear and he said, "Wanna get out of here?"

I hesitated. Just enough to notice it.

Just enough to know Nathan would notice it too.

Then I smiled. "Sure."

Liam grabbed my hand. Led me through the party, past the drinks and the half-dancing couples and the circle of people starting another game. He was warm beside me, and I let him be. Let him fill the space Nathan had cracked open.

We were almost to the front door when a voice cut across the music.

"Yo, Liam!"

He paused. Turned.

Nathan.

Of course.

He was making his way over, eyes sharp and fixed, like this was casual — like he hadn't been watching us the entire time. A drink dangled from his hand, untouched. His expression? Flat. Careful. Too careful.

"You heading out?" he asked, like it mattered to him.

Liam nodded. "Yeah. Just—"

"You both have been drinking," Nathan said, tone even but clipped. "I'll drive you."