It All Started With A Deal

Chapter 4

Her grin expanded. "Tonight."

"That's so soon!"

"I know." She paused. "But enough about me, we have to talk about Liam."

My face fell. This can't be good. "Okay," I hesitated.

She took a deep breath. "I approve of him."

My features stilled. "Really?"

She nodded, keeping her eyes on the road as she pulled away from my house. "He answered all the questions well, too well, so I thought he was a bit sketchy at first. And then Tara walked in and he got all jealous. I was sure he was using you at that moment. Then you went to the bathroom and we could hear the shouting. You ran out of there and when I went to go after you, Liam was up faster and beat me to the door. He even shrugged Tara off in the process."

Well played, Liam. The perfect opportunity to taunt Tara and win Athena's approval. Very well played.

"So you don't think I'm a rebound?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't seem like Liam to have a rebound."

Ah yes, because he wanted a fake girlfriend instead, the man has great standards.

We pulled into the school parking lot, where we previously agreed to meet Sam and Liam. Sam, who looked like a little golden retriever when he was around Athena, smiled before throwing his arm around her. "Ready for our date?"

She nodded. "I hope you have something good planned because I did not stalk you for five years just for a mediocre first date."

He chuckled, pulling her in closer. "Don't worry, it'll be fabulous."

Liam wrapped his arms around my waist, trying to mimic Sam's posture. "So, did I pass Athena's test?"

I reciprocated his gesture by stepping closer to him. "Amazingly, yes."

He grinned. "Great, I got the best friend's approval."

"Ah, yes, the most important form of approval."

I took a deep breath in, a familiar scent filling my senses. "It's going to rain later."

Liam gave me an odd look. "The forecast said it would be clear skies all day."

I shook my head. "It's going to rain, I can smell it."

"You can smell it?"

I nodded. I didn't have to convince him right then. He would believe me when the forecast was wrong and it started pouring. I love rain.

—-/—//——//

Believe it or not, I was right.

Liam and Sam had invited me and Athena to sit with them at lunch. Obviously, we agreed. I was the first to hear the gentle patter of the rain. My eyes lit up.

"I'm coming," Athena sighed.

I shifted my gaze over to her, practically bouncing in my seat. Before anyone had a second to realize what was going on I was up and out of my spot, dragging Athena with me. The two of us sprinted out the back exit. The rain immediately drenched us. I giggled, spinning around.

"What are you guys doing?" I heard a voice yell from the doorway. Sam and Liam both stood at the exit, safely hidden from the rain.

Athena danced over to Sam and grabbed his arms. He shook his head furiously but allowed her to drag him out into the rain. He twirled her, bringing her to his chest. Liam remained at the door frame. Boring. "Are you just going to stand there or come join us?" I called after him.