Cookie

11

"What happened, Cookie?" Liam asks the second I answer. "You were so excited about this earlier. Why the sudden change of heart?"

His voice isn't angry, just concerned. I can hear his footsteps pacing on a wooden floor-wherever he is, he's restless. I hesitate, trying to figure out what to say, how to justify myself without actually telling him the truth.

"Did Tiffani do something again? I swear, if she-"

"No," I sigh, cutting him off.

Why am I even hesitating? If anything, telling him the truth would make him grateful. It's not like he'd want my dad or his own parents involved in this. What guy would?

"I told my parents about you..."

The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize how they sound, and I scramble to fix it before he gets the wrong idea.

"I mean, about you teaching me self-defense. And, well... I don't know if you know, but my dad and your parents work together."

I expect him to be surprised. I wait.

"Oh, I knew that, Nat."

I blink. "Hmm. Thanks for mentioning it." My tone drips with sarcasm.

Liam chuckles. "Sorry, Cookie. So... what's the problem? They don't want you to learn how to defend yourself? Do they even know what you've been through?"

My body tenses.

"No, and I want to keep it that way," I say quickly. "So please-please-don't ever talk about it with your parents. Promise me, Liam. Swear you won't say anything."

"Relax, Cookie, I won't tell anyone. But you could just say some guy hit on you, wouldn't take no for an answer, so you figured-"

"Liam," I cut him off, suddenly uncomfortable. "They're fine with me taking self-defense classes. They're fine with you training me. That's not the issue."

I step into my bathroom, turn on the water, and let the bathtub fill. The scent of lavender bath salts fills the air as I start undressing.

"Then why are you backing out, Nat? It's like I have to pull every word out of you."

I can practically see him frowning. We've been talking for ten minutes, and I still haven't given him a real answer.

"You're right, sorry," I admit. "It's just... my dad overheard your mom saying you're the 'rebel one,' and he wanted to talk to your dad so he could tell you to behave."

Liam bursts out laughing. My face burns.

"Oh no, Cookie," he says, still laughing. "I have a better idea."

I wait, stepping into the warm water, expecting him to finally share this so-called brilliant plan.

"Take your time, Liam," I tease.

His laughter fades, and his tone shifts. "Don't worry about it-I'll take care of everything."

Before I can ask what he means, his voice changes again, curious.

"What are you doing, Cookie? It sounds like you're in a pool or something. If you have a pool, Nataly, I'm moving in."

I laugh at his enthusiasm. "Just a huge bathtub. Sorry to disappoint."

There's a pause. Then his breathing shifts-heavier, uneven. It reminds me of how he sounded earlier after that fight.

"You're... you're in the bathtub now?" His voice is husky, different.

"Yeah? Why? Are you okay? You sound like you can't breathe."

He lets out a low laugh, but it's... strange. Like he's in pain. I don't like it.