Love to Hate You

Chapter 27

EZRA'S POV
Every day I wake up and it gets a little easier to breathe. The nightmares don't keep me up anymore. Therapy still really helps but I don't feel scared anymore. I still worry about Jasper and sometimes I wonder if his smile is real or just a mask covering up his pain but most days, I just don't stress about things that I can't control. I have to trust him and hope that he'll keep his promises. Overall, I just spend my days loving him because that's all I can do. I keep myself busy with work and friends. Like right now I'm with Mariana. Her curly brown hair is flowing in the wind and her hands with the red fingernails are wildly gesturing while she speaks.
"Gringo, I told that fool he'd catch these hands and I wouldn't think twice about it. I'm a crazy latina. You know I am. I would snatch his soul out of his body. Ugh! He makes me so angry!" She said, while walking through the park with me.
"Why are you so violent?? Relax. I bet he won't even bother you again." I replied, my hands in my leather jacket's pockets.
"How do you stay so calm?? It's creepy." She retorts. I chuckle.
"My mom raised me to be pretty calm. It takes a lot to bother me."
She looks at me and smiles, then looks straight ahead.
"How's your boy toy??" She asks, while wiggling her eyebrows.
"He's not my boy toy. He's my boyfriend. I fought for that title." I said through a grin.
"Fine. How's your boyfriend??" She said. My phone vibrates. I pull it out and see a message from Liam.
L: hey are you busy??
I think about replying. Should I even reply?? I typed out my response and hit send.
Me: Hey. I'm with a friend. Why??
L: I wanted to hang out.
Me: Coffee??
L: Coffee sounds great.
"Hello?! Earth to Ezra!!" Mariana's voice pulls my attention. I look up at her and put my phone away.
"Jasper's great. I'm going to marry him one day." I said with absolute confidence. She squeals.
"I can't believe I haven't met him yet!!" She punches my arm.
"You'd scare him away. I can't trust you not to threaten him." I joked, mostly.
"I can be nice! I will just politely suggest that he doesn't break your heart or else." She grins.
"C'mon. Let's go get coffee. Liam is coming."
"Who's Liam??" She asks. I ignore her question and just keep walking to the coffee shop. Who is Liam to me?? I keep saying we're friends but are we friends?? Things have been weird between us. A few minutes later and we're at the entrance. I open the door and look around but don't see Liam anywhere. I sit at a table and Mariana sits across from me. A minute later, Liam arrives. I wave him over and he waves back.
He sits next to me.
"Hey." He greets me.
"Mariana this is Liam. Liam this is Mariana." I introduce them. Mariana smiles and shakes his hand.
"Nice to meet you. Cool hair." She said.
"Oh, thank you." Liam said.
"Don't start acting shy now. Embrace the compliment. You do have awesome hair." I chimed in. Liam blushes. The sudden urge to pinch his cheeks is strong but I refrain.
"Alright. I'm getting coffee. I'll be right back." He said, an attempt to get away and hide his blushing cheeks. He gets up, blue hair loose around his shoulders, and goes to the counter to buy coffee. Once he's out of ear shot, Mariana looks at me.
"I don't like him." She said, unapologetically. I frown.
"You just met him. He barely said two words to you."
"How does Jasper feel about Liam??" She asks and I sigh.
"Jasper doesn't like him either but he's just jealous. Liam and I are just friends." I take a quick glance to where Liam is, just to make sure he's not coming back yet.
"Ezra, this is going to end bad." She said. I couldn't argue that she's wrong, that I love Jasper and would never hurt him like that because Liam came back. He sits next to me again, hands us each a coffee.
"Do you like Ezra??" Mariana blurts out. I just look at her like she's crazy. Liam smiles.
"Of course, I like Ezra. He's a cool dude." He replies.
"No, I don't mean as a friend. To me it's very obvious that you like him more than just a friend. I don't like it." She said then took a sip of her coffee. Liam is uncomfortable. I can tell but he doesn't stop smiling.
"I'm sorry you feel that way. I think I'll leave now." He turns to face me. "Uh, Ezra, I'll see you later. Enjoy your coffee."
"Liam, you don't have to go. She's just being an annoying overprotective friend." I said. He still got up from his seat and waved goodbye as he walked out.
"Shit." I mumbled to myself. I look up to Mariana's face.
"You better not break Jasper's heart. I will kick your ass, if you do. Anyway, I'm going to leave now." She said as she rises from her seat.
"Your total lack of faith in me really hurts. I love Jasper. Liam knows that." I said with a shake of my head. I'm really tired of everyone making this into a big deal. Liam is great but he's not Jasper. I will never trade Jasper for anyone else. That's just not happening. We've been through too much.
"If you say so." She says over her shoulder as she leaves. I sigh and finally take a sip of my coffee. I know myself. I'm not the kind of man who cheats. I've never cheated on anyone and I won't start now. I pull my phone out and text Liam.
Me: sorry.
He didn't reply back. I get up and leave the coffee shop. So, I head home. Only to find Liam parked in front. He's leaning against his car, arms crossed. I approach him.
"Liam??"
He looks up but he doesn't say anything.
"Look, I'm sorry about Mariana. She just—"
"It's true." He interrupts me.
"What's true??" I asked, while leaning on his car next to him. He stands in front of me.
"I like you more than just a friend, Ezra." He replied. I frown. He just ruined everything. 
"Take it back!" I shout.
"I can't."
"Take it back!!" I shove him. 
"I can't!! I can't take it back!!" He grips my shoulders and pushes me back against his car.
"I can't lose you. Take it back or we can't be friends."
"I won't take it back. I like you, Ezra."
"I'm in love with Jasper!! He's my whole world. I won't choose you over him, Liam. Take it back. So, we can be friends." I'm breathing heavily. Yet, he seems so calm.
"Forget Jasper for just a second and tell me you don't feel anything for me." He said, his hands still holding onto my shoulders. He steps forward, closing the distance. We're face to face.
"I can't forget Jasper. He's too important."
"Just admit what you feel for me." He said. His hazel eyes looking straight into mine. I can't handle it, I look away. He grips my chin and forces me to look at him.
"We can't be friends anymore."
"That's fine. I don't want to be your friend. I want more than that. Admit that you like me too. Just once." He persists. I take a deep breath.
"I like you to but that means nothing because I love Jasper. I find you attractive and I think you're awesome but Jasper is breathtaking. So, anything I feel towards you means nothing in comparison. Maybe if I met you first things would be different but even if I met Jasper second, I'd still end up with him." I admitted. He smiled, his grip on my chin still there.
"I don't care that I'm in second place and Jasper is in first. The fact is I'm in the running. You steal glances at me and think my eyes are pretty. You like me back."
"Liam—" I didn't get to finish my sentence because he kissed me and stupidly, I responded. I kissed him back. His tongue slipped into my mouth and danced around with mine. My hands find their way into Liam's blue hair and he moans against my mouth. He grinds his hips into mine and I can feel his dick is hard. My tongue is down his throat. What am I doing?? This is wrong. I shouldn't be kissing him. I didn't get the chance to push Liam away.
"Get the fuck away from him!!!"
Oh no...