Liam

I watch her walk away, looking beyond pissed. I feel a little bad for invading her privacy like that. It was a dick move. But I am planning to do worse. So it makes no sense to dwell on this.

I honestly didn't think I would put my plan to work this soon, but the opportunity presented itself. Running into her in that classroom and then finding her half-naked in my backyard. It's almost too good to be true. I know I'm never actually going to do anything with that video. I'm not that sinister. But she doesn't need to know that. It's going to serve as a means to an end.

I need to call Ryan and tell him his precious car will be in my possession soon.

My mind immediately goes to that summer night I made this silly bet with him. The summer was a blur of parties and girls after girls. After so much of the same thing, the days kind of start to blend together.

On that particular night, the girls decided to have a jello wrestling match, so whoever won could go out with me. At the time, it seemed like a great way to have fun, so I agreed to it. But unfortunately for me, it turned out to be a huge disaster.

Isiah, Elliot's older brother, and his girlfriend Emily were in the living room when I showed up.

"Liam, how was the date?" Emily asked with a huge smile. But her smile faded when she noticed my obvious look of disgust and the bruise that was prominent on my face.

"What happened?" She asked, rushing to me.

"Let me guess, you tried to take her skirt off, and she kicked your ass," Isiah said, laughing.

"That would have been better." I shook my head, memories of what took place coming back to me.

"That bad? Come on now, spill the beans, you're killing me here." Emily said curiously. But before I could answer, the door was kicked open, and Ryan came running in like a mad man.

"What the fuck? Did you really think you could get away? I am going to kill you!" He yelled before throwing a punch that I successfully blocked.

"What the hell is going on?" Emily stepped between us as Isiah pulled Ryan away.

"What the hell happened?" He asked, looking back and forth at us.

"This fucker slept with my sister." Ryan gritted his teeth, glaring at me.

"What? I told you we didn't pass second base." I defended.

"Still! She's 15. Have you no shame at all?"

"Dude, calm down! I didn't know she was your sister, and she told me she was 17."

"How the hell did you even meet her?" He asked.

"Jello wrestling." Emily started laughing hysterically.

"You couldn't remember Jenny? You and Ryan have been best friends forever." Isiah eyed me with disbelief.

"I don't remember what I had for breakfast. Besides, she looks older for her age. She grew up fine too, if I may say so." I said with a little smirk.

I was deliberately pissing him off, but I was annoyed that he was being so irrational. I understood his anger initially, and took the punch without a fight. But I tried to explain my side. It was not my fault that Jenny decided to partake in the jello wrestling and win. Plus, I hadn't seen the girl in years, how was I supposed to remember what she looked like?

As soon as the words left of my mouth, they earned me a punch that landed square on my lips, making it bleed.

"I'm gonna kill him." He yelled, struggling to get out of Isiah's hold.

I felt bad about what happened. And I was honestly disgusted with myself too. But come on! I honestly had no idea she was that young or that she was his sister.

"I don't know what else to tell you, Ryan. I genuinely didn't know it was Jen. I'm sorry, but it is not my fault that every girl I meet practically throws herself at me. And if there is anyone to blame here, it's you. You should pay a little more attention to where and how your sister spends her time." I spat.

I could hear myself sounding like a total jackass, but I was starting to get pissed off too. He made me sound like some pedophile over a situation I was misled into.

Ryan struggled harder to get to me but suddenly stopped, a wicked smile creeping onto his face.

"Every girl you meet, huh?" He asked.

I must have looked genuinely confused because he explained.

"You really think you can make any girl fall in love with you, Liam. Don't you?" He quirked a single brow.

"Who said anything about love?"

"Oh, so it's always just a simple fuck, then? You think you can't be loved." He said, chuckling.

My eyes darkened. He knew exactly what to say to get under my skin. I could feel every muscle in my body tensing.

Isiah had let go of his hold on Ryan and was looking back and forth at us.

"No answer?" Ryan arched a brow, smirking.

"Don't be ridiculous! I've had girls love me." I told him, feeling beyond irritated.

Claimed to love you because they had no idea who you are. A voice reminded me.

If there is even such a thing as love, how can you love someone without truly knowing them? If you don't know them inside and out, then who the hell are you even in love with? The idea of them, maybe. The person you've created in your head that doesn't actually exist. That's who you're in love with. And that isn't love.

Ryan knew how I felt about the subject. And that was exactly why he was so smug about it.

"So you do think you can make any girl fall in love with you. Okay, then. Let's put that to a test, shall we?" He smirked.

"What are you talking about?"

"I choose a girl, any girl that goes to our school, and you make her fall in love."

"This is insane guys," Emily said, looking back and forth at us.

"No, he thinks he can charm any girl he wants, so let him prove it," Ryan said, his eyes challenging me.

"This is so childish. What are we in grade school?" I snorted, not taking the bait. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Are we on or not?" He barked a laughter, pushing my buttons. "You can admit you're nothing but a good lay or tell me we're on."

"We're on, asshole!" I spat, glaring at him.

A little voice in my head was telling me it was a terrible idea, but I had never backed down from a challenge. And I wasn't about to start now. The alcohol wasn't helping either.

"Perfect!" A look of satisfaction came over his face.

"What is it we're biding on?" I asked.

"I'd love your motorcycle." He grinned.

"Are you insane? I race with it."

"Since you're winning, it shouldn't be a problem." He said arrogantly.

"Great. Then I'd like your Ferrari." I said, knowing that he loved that car to death. Probably more than life itself.

The dumb look on his face was priceless.

"You're on, Disick!" He spat.

That really surprised me. He was out for blood. I knew as a brother he was pissed off about what happened. But I didn't think he would actually take it this far.

"Now the million-dollar question. Who is the lucky girl?" I asked, attempting to sound smug.

He stared at me for a second, lost in his thoughts. Then the biggest grin I've ever seen appeared on his face.

"Jessica Grayson." He said.

"Who?" I asked, hoping I heard him wrong.

"Don't tell me you don't remember her. She was the only girl that you couldn't charm. She gave you a headache that lasted for days, if I remember correctly. You almost lost your mind trying to figure out why she never talked to you again after that day in the closet." He said, bringing back old memories.

"Not her, Ryan. She's Elliot's Ex. You know better." Isiah scolded, but Ryan didn't budge.

"I doubt he'll mind. He tossed her aside for her own best friend after all."

Oh, yeah. Ryan could be a real dick when he wanted. Part of the reason we got along so well, I guess.

"Leave the poor girl alone. She's been through enough." Emily glared at him.

"You're crossing the line, Ryan. If Elliot finds out, this will not end well." Isiah warned.

"Let's keep it between the four of us then," Ryan said staring at me stubbornly.

"Why are you so adamant about her?" I asked.

"Easy." His eyes sparkled wickedly. "She was the only girl that got under your skin. And she happens to be in love with your cousin." He grinned. "You've got no chance with her at all."

The doorbell snaps me back to reality. I see Ryan standing at the door holding a pack of beer on the security camera, so I rush to open the door.

"Just the man I wanted to see," I say, smiling at him.

"My damn cable is not working. I thought I could watch the game here. Why are you smiling like an idiot?" He asks, looking quizzical.

I step aside to let him in, and we walk into the living room.

"So, how's your car?"

"Fine. Why?" He frowns as we settle on the couch.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just feeling great about our little bet." I say, sipping on the beer.

He looks at me from the corner of his eyes before laughing out loud.

"Sure, man. Whatever floats your boat." He chuckles, not buying it.

"Laugh all you want, Samuel. Just don't cry on me later when you lose your precious car." I grin.

"Just remember its not about getting into her pants. We all know you are good at that. She has to say she loves you."

That four-letter word has never made much sense to me. Honestly, I'm not even sure I want to be loved. But I don't like losing, and I am nothing if not determined.

***

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Much love,

Becca