Read Online Always by Jennifer Labelle - Free Book Online Page B

only speaking to the woman. There’s no harm done.” She tried to sound cool about it.
    “Nuh-uh, he’s seen her a couple times, and she’s comin’ around him more often.”
    She exhaled long and loud before she replied, hating that she saw green and trying to push her jealousy away. “Well, your dad is a pretty great guy. You said so yourself. I can imagine he makes a lot of friends. Is there a reason you don’t want her around?” Teegan could think of a few, but this wasn’t about her.
    “I guess not.” He looked away. “Let’s just forget it.”
    “You know you can talk to me, right?” She placed a finger on his chin to make him look at her. “About anything, at any time, okay? I’m here.” After he gave her a nod, she turned to look toward Liam again, and this time he looked back at her. “Come on. I think your dad might be ready now.”
    The brunette still stood beside him, and she moved closer as Teegan approached with LJ and Dylan. Now a master at hiding her feelings, Teegan composed herself long enough to say, “I think these boys are ready for that pizza you promised.” She plastered on a fake smile and extended her hand to the brunette. “Hello, I’m Teegan.”
    The woman ignored her attempt at playing nice. “Yeah, I know who you are. We went to high school together.”
    “Did we?”
    “Cindy Foster. I was the prom queen.”
    “Oh my God, Cindy! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. You look great.” Teegan genuinely smiled this time and tried to stifle a laugh at the cliché right in front of her. Always the prom queen. She placed her hand over her mouth and looked away for a second. LJ and Dylan moved closer to her, and when she turned back around, Liam was staring at her with a sparkle in his eyes that said he knew she was laughing on the inside.
    James and Susan approached them just as Cindy said, “Did someone say pizza? That sounds really good. You don’t mind if I come with you, do you?” She put on a fake pout for good measure, and Liam looked uncomfortable.
    “But I already asked Teegan to come with us,” LJ whined.
    “Well, it looks like Cindy will be going in my place.” She winked at him. “Sorry, buddy, maybe next time, okay?” She gave him a hug as a silent gesture for him to stay strong before stepping back. “I’ll be seeing you around, LJ. Dylan, I will see you when you get back.” She couldn’t look at Liam and refused to put him in the position of making a choice. I can’t take the chance that he’d reject me. So she’d made it for everybody by declining. Instead, she linked arms with Susan as they walked away and waited for James to catch up to them when they reached the car.
    “You okay?” Susan placed her hand on Teegan’s arm in a sympathetic gesture, and Teegan nodded.
    “It’s just overwhelming sometimes. Being around Liam brings up so much of the past. We’re just so natural together. I forget my head sometimes and feel like I’m back to ten years ago again. We had some good times.”
    “I know. I can’t wait until the day the two of you finally realize you were made for each other. Geez, instead you’re here when you should be with them. Poor LJ looked so disappointed when you allowed Cindy to go in your place. Why’d you do that?”
    “Because it would have been too crowded and awkward. I didn’t want Liam to have to make the choice. I was afraid he’d pick her, and I know it’s silly, but I’m not the confident girl I used to be. Receiving a rejection from Liam of all people would shatter me. No matter how small it was.”
    “Boy, that Oliver sure did a number on you, didn’t he? I mean, I know it was bad and that he physically hurt you, but I never imagined the emotional strain that went along with it. I wish it had been sooner, but I’m glad you got away when you did.”
    “You don’t know the half of it.” Her voice shook from just thinking about her time with Oliver. Between that and the mixed emotions she felt around