“I’m part of the team, too. I need to...talk to someone.”
“You all have too many on your team. I can’t keep track.” Liam lifted a rusty eyebrow and leaned out of the door. “Can’t it wait until morning?”
Nathan pressed his lips hard together and shook his head. He couldn’t answer that question. Could it wait? Sure. He was supposed to say yes.
He should have called. He should have just sent a text message.
But it couldn’t wait. He had driven all the way out here because he needed to fix things. He couldn’t go back unless he could fix it.
He didn’t know how to talk to her. How could he express himself to her?
How could he tell the others?
“I messed up,” Nathan said finally, lowering his gaze.
Liam sighed and opened the door enough for Nathan enter. “Come in.”
Nathan took a small step inside the home, his sneakers squeaking against the slick floor. He glanced around the foyer, at the difference between the inside and the outside. The inside was cleaner, the upkeep obvious compared to the outside. Nice furniture. Clean surfaces. Homey.
It didn’t make sense to him, but they must have their reasons.
Nathan pressed his palms together, rubbing hard against each, as if he could rub off the soreness in his hand and get rid of the memory of what had happened.
Liam closed the door behind him and then stood back, looking Nathan over. He wore jeans and a navy sweater with a white shirt underneath, and dark socks, no shoes. His face was covered in rust-colored hair. He frowned and then crossed his arms over his chest. “Well? What do you want?”
Nathan glanced around, feeling the room echoed with every little noise they made. There was a great stairwell, and nearby on the right, an open door to what looked to be a library.
He refocused on Liam and then looked down to the floor. “There’s been a fight. Two, actually.”
Liam bobbed his head. “The team split?”
“They...might...” He bowed his head further and closed his eyes tight, trying to keep back some of the emotion. “It’s my fault.”
Liam sighed and then his footsteps echoed, coming closer.
A hand rested on Nathan’s shoulder. “Look at me,” he said quietly.
Nathan picked up his head. He was taller than Liam, and wider. It was strange to Nathan as he felt very young and small with him, something he rarely felt.
Helpless. Useless.
Liam’s lips twisted, frowning and then he spoke. “I’d say it isn’t my problem, but you’re here. You seem sorry about the situation. That’s more than most might do. Most give up without a fight.”
Nathan swallowed thickly. “I’m just afraid they’ll decide to boot me off the team. I’ll lose them. I’ll lose her.”
“If they are your team, they won’t kick you off. It’s always a mutual decision.”
He wished he believed it. But at the moment, he was pretty sure.
Liam motioned to the library room. “Come sit down. I’ll get Lily. You can tell us the whole thing and we’ll see if we can’t work it out.”
Nathan breathed out heavily through his nose and relaxed, but only a little.
He wasn’t so sure it was going to be fixable.