UNEDITED VERSION
To break free of the stereotypical box that high school placed her in, Charlie must team up with Liam, the new soccer player on the team her dad coaches.
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Girls fall at Liam's feet - except Charlie. She...
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Aeipathy(noun)
- An enduring and consuming passion.
~*~
It was two hours later when my bare feet treaded against the floor. The pastel blue sundress swayed with each movement and I found myself admiring the elaborate patterns on it. There were some creases on the hem courtesy of my short half-hour nap. After breakfast, Dad had pronounced that he had a gift for each of us and wanted to speak to us separately.
I was the last to be called to the spare room Dad used as an office and library. Due to my falling asleep, Dad and the boys must've agreed to let me rest. My nerves were having a dance party and I felt like I was going to throw up when Christian walked past me, discreetly wiping a tear from his eye. I'd always known that our eighteenth birthday would be special because Dad and Mom had it all planned out before we were even born.
The smell of fresh coffee wafted through the air and I followed it to where the office door was slightly agape. Laughter was coming from inside and I beamed at the sound. I peeped inside and was met with a peculiar sight. Dad sat at his desk, reading glasses on his head and arms folded as he chuckled.
Liam lay slumped on the couch, legs kicked up on the arm, a cup of coffee clutched tightly in hand. It was unusual. I was sure I was imagining things. Raising a fist, I rubbed at my droopy eyes and blinked slowly, yet the display was still the same.
"Liam Finnegan," Dad spoke with a heavy breath before taking a sip of his coffee. He looked utterly spent and for a second I wondered whether he took my advice about working too much. Caleb was perfectly able to manage things.
"Coach James." Liam was never really one to show his emotions that often, but at that moment, his brown eyes were flashing with amusement. He leaned forward and placed his coffee on the table.
Dad sent him a mirthful flash, resting his elbows on his desk and clasping his hands together. "I initially called you over here to discuss the position of striker," he said serenely. My brows raised in curiosity, querying whether Liam or Nolan was chosen. "But now that that's out of the way, I want to talk about Charlie."
A tremor ran through me at the mention of my name as I anticipated earnestly for Liam's rejoinder. "So you heard what Caleb told me when I arrived, huh?"
"I believe his exact words were 'If I'd known you were sleeping in my sister's bed last night, I would've put honey in it like last time.' So you were in my daughter's bed last night?" Dad was relaxed about the whole ordeal, taking another sip of his coffee as he watched the sensations swirl in Liam's eyes. I made a subliminal note to strangle Caleb.
"Yes," Liam returned in a balanced tone. He didn't add anything else and alternatively allowed the sentence to dangle in the air. Customarily, it was the dads who tested the boyfriends but it looked like Liam was testing my dad. He wanted to see whether Dad trusted me or not. Liam sat up to rest his elbows on his legs, daring Dad to assume we'd done anything sexual.
