Coached ➳ l.p [au]

chapter 23: part two

what is your favorite holiday? I like Thanksgiving! :)

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"I said no peeking!" Liam scolds me for the third time while we walk.

I slump my shoulders, stopping in my tracks. How could I even see where the heck I was going with this stupid headband thing around my eyes? Liam said he borrowed it from Harry, which was probably the reason it smelled fruity, and made it even more annoying.

"But Liam, give me a break! I can't see anything for jesus' sake!" I complain, for the nth time. I swear to the heavens that we have been walking for ages.

"Hush, Jo, we're almost there," his hand guides my back.

No, there are most certainly not butterflies in my stomach right now.

Minutes later, he stops which makes me stop too, almost falling in the process.

"Babe, you can take off the blindfold now," Liam laughs.

I almost correct him about how it's technically not even a blindfold, but when I see where he took me, i'm distracted.

"So you took me here to drown me i'm guessing?"

He laughs with his eyes crinkling at the corners and I smile at the sight. I actually like the way he laughs, it's amusing to watch, really.

"No, Jo. Although that sounds like an even better idea," he says and I shoot him a glare before he laughs again. "We're going on a small boat ride."

"Oh joy," I laugh to myself.

He chuckles and takes my hand to lead me onto a wooden dock. I should pull away, but for some reason I don't.

Dang it, Payne. Why do you suddenly make me feel this way? Why in the world do I actually in the slightest bit enjoy holding your hand like this? Oh god, lets not hope that my hand is all gross and sweaty right now.

"I didn't even know lakes existed here," I say out loud, a man- who probably owns the boat- motions for us to sit inside on the edges of the boat where a wooden bench rests.

Wow, Liam really went all out on this date. Now I sort of feel bad for rescheduling because when you actually think about it, he probably has spent like a million dollars on this whole day! Okay, not that much, but i'm sure it's somewhere near it.

"Well lucky for me, they do. Now I can go on a boat ride with the most beautiful girl in the world," Liam smiles sitting less than a few inches from me.

"Who?" I ask, uncertain.

"You. Who else, Jo?" He chuckles softly.

"Funny joke," I falsely laugh. "Tell another one."

He sighs, "Can I ask you a question?"

I raise an eyebrow, almost scared to say yes to this. For all I know, he could ask me something like 'are you a virgin' and I wouldn't have any other choice but to 'accidentally' push him off the edge of this boat. Oops.

"Depends," I finally say.

"Too bad," he smirks. "I'm asking you anyway."

"Fine," I cross my arms.

"Why do you treat yourself the way you do? And before you answer, I want the honest truth," he says, crossing his arms against his chest.

Feeling the boat push away from the dock, I stay quiet at his question to think about it for a second. Why do I treat myself like i'm some pond scum? I mean, I know i'm not exactly the ugliest person out there. I've seen much, much- and trust me when I say this- worse looking people.