As expected, Macy's mom threw a welcome home party for William. He didn't have any friends to invite over so Macy invited Grayson, Sage was an automatic guest so there was no need to invite her.
It was just a simple party with more drinks than food. By eight, her mother went upstairs with Mr Darwin, leaving Macy and her friends to entertain William.
Macy was suspecting that something was up between them, and it was obvious that her mother was keeping something from her. But it was late so she decided to ask her in the morning.
All through the night, William kept flirting with Sage and Macy couldn't tell if it was the result of the alcohol she took because she kept flirting back.
Around ten PM, Grayson decided to call it a night as well so Macy walked him out. "Thanks for coming today."
"Of course, I'll see you in two days for your mom's birthday?"
"Sure." He kissed her and got in his car and drove home.
Macy didn't want to go back in there, but she also didn't want to leave Sage alone with him. After spending a minute in the cold night, enjoying the pleasant night time breeze blowing against her skin, she decided to go back in.
Surprisingly Sage was the only one left in the living room when she entered. "Where is he?"
"He said he was tired, so he went upstairs."
"Then I guess we should call it a night also." She turned off the music and tidied up the empty bottles and glasses. She knew she could just leave the work for the staffs but if felt unfair.
After cleaning up, the girls went up to Macy's room.
★★★
The first thing that hit Macy as she opened her eyes was the splitting headache she had. She sat up slowly, massaging her temples with her fingers. "Ugh, did we really drink that much?" She turned to her side, expecting a reply from Sage but she wasn't next to her. "No." She climbed out of bed and marched straight to William's room.
It better not be what she was thinking.
Without knocking, she pushed open the door and she froze up when she found her best friend cuddled up in the arms of her nemesis.
"What the hell Sage, I specifically warned you not to do this!" Macy was really pissed off, a lot more than she thought she would be.
"Calm down Mace,"
"Yeah, calm down Mace." William repeated, a smug smile on his face.
"Shut the fuck up William! Sage, why would you–"
"Liam." He corrected, his arms folded across his bare chest.
"What?"
"You called me William, instead of Liam."
Macy stared at the slender guy on the bed, anger boiling her blood. Something as huge as this happened and he was worried about some dumb nickname? "Why the hell would you sleep with my friend? My best friend!"
"She wanted me." He replied casually.
"So what? You just go around sleeping with every girl that wants you?"
"Why not? You're not excluded too you know." He winked at Macy and she felt her frown grow even deeper. He was really something.
"Look, big sis, what happened between us is nothing serious. It was just two grown adults giving in to the natural needs of a healthy human."
"One immature adult and an overgrown teenager." She meant it as an insult but he just smiled at her.
"Why don't you join us over here and I can show you just how much of an adult I am." Sage smiled at his comment but it only annoyed Macy. How dare he ask her to go to bed with him? It was infuriating.
What was more infuriating was the fact that Macy was actually moved by his outrageous request. For a split second, she thought of what it would feel like to be in his arms, and she hated herself for it.
"Macy, Liam is right. What happened between us is nothing serious."
Macy hated the way Sage was sounding so casual about it, and the fact that she was still in bed with him wasn't helping matters. "Would you at least get up?"
"Right." She scurried around, picking her clothes and she quickly put them on.
"Come on Mace, don't be a fun killer." William got up from his bed and Macy wished he hadn't, because he didn't have anything on except for his briefs, and the sight before her was more than enough to turn on any healthy woman.
And she was healthy.
She suddenly found it difficult to breathe as a half naked William walked over to her. He was much more taller than she was so she was staring directly at his muscled chest.
Macy didn't know if it was the effects of having him so close to her or if she was still drunk from drinking the night before but she felt the sudden urge to touch the embodiment of perfection that stood firmly in front of her. Her knees felt weak and she wanted to fall in his arms, and stay there for the rest of eternity.
"My face is up here darling." He used his finger to tilt her head up so he could look directly at her face. He studied her expression for a second before his smile slowly widened. "Ah." He said simply, releasing his hold on her.
He knew what she was thinking, and the fact that seeing him alone was enough to put such thoughts in her mind pleased him.
Macy blinked once. Twice. As if she was trying to break free from a spell. When she had regained full composure, she dragged Sage by the hand and led her back to her room.
★★★
For the next two weeks, William kept reminding Macy why she hated him so much when they were kids. No matter what she did, he was always bothering her, calling her names and teasing her. "Big sis!" When she saw his smiling face, she felt her face crinkle into a frown.
Ever since he returned, Macy's ability to smile had vanished. Instead, she was always frowning. "Why the hell do you keep calling me your sister?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"When we were kids!"
While they were growing up, Macy always told him to address her as his elder sister but he never did. Instead he would call her a witch or commoner.
"Macy, why do you dress like this?"
"What?"
"Oversized outfits. While it is true that you look cute, I think you'd look more sexy if you dressed like this." He showed her a picture she had taken a year ago.
She was putting on a high waist jean with a crop top and her hair was left unwrapped. "If I'm being honest with you, looking at this picture turns me on."
What was going on? And where did he get that picture?
He moved closer to her, causing Macy's heart to skip a beat. He reached out and touched her hair. "I love the color of your hair, have I ever told you that?"
Macy wanted to push him away, to say something but she couldn't. She looked up at him and their eyes met, there was an unfamiliar emotion in his bright blue eyes. He removed the strap she used to tie up her hair. "Let them breathe. You always look better with your mane let loose."
Macy's heart was pounding like crazy, and she didn't know why.
He stepped back and nodded. "There. Now, you don't look like a forty year old woman." His smile widened and he walked away, leaving Macy alone with her jumbled feelings.
★★★
Ever since the incident that happened between Sage and William, the two had gotten closer, and Macy wasn't pleased. She had tried on so many occasions to tear them apart but it was like whatever she did just brought them together.
"Hey Mace,"
Macy stared at her friend who plopped down by her side. She hadn't even been aware that Sage was at their house.
"You're giving me the silent treatment now?"
She remained silent and focused her attention on her phone, even though she wasn't doing anything important. William strolled down the stairs but he didn't act like he saw either of them. He just marched straight to the kitchen.
"Macy come on, what is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with me?! How can you even ask me that?!" In the background, William was watching both girls argue while he sipped on his apple juice.
"Why can't I ask you that? I don't see anything wrong in me being with William, at least you can't date him."
"It's wrong, it's soo wrong."
"Why?"
Why was it so wrong? Why was she getting so upset about them dating? She had asked herself that question so many times and she still didn't have an answer to it.
The idea of the two of them being together just didn't sit right with her. "It's absurd."
"Absurd?"
"Yes! Of all the men in this world that you can have, why must it be him? Huh? Why William?!"
"Why are you so against it? Why can't it be him?!"
"Because he's mine!"
"What?" Sage looked confused at Macy's comment but William just grinned.
"W-what I meant to say was, you can't date him because he's like my brother." She altered her statement but even she couldn't believe that she said that. "I-I need some time alone. I'll be in my room." She ran upstairs, leaving a confused Sage and a satisfied William downstairs.
★★★
What was coming over her?
She had been saying things, feeling things that a normal person shouldn't. She spent the whole day in her room, thinking.
She wasn't against Sage's relationship with William because it made her feel awkward, she was against it because it made her feel jealous.
But that was wrong. Wasn't it?
He was kind of her brother, they might not be related but it was clear that there was something between their parents, so they were still more or less siblings.
There was a knock on her door but she didn't feel like seeing anyone so she just ignored it. The person knocked again and she thought it might be Sage. She didn't think she could face her yet so she remained silemt.
"Just so you know, your friend left."
When she heard William's voice, she quickly climbed out of her bed and ran to open the door. "What do you want?"
In response to her question, he placed a light kiss on her lips. "Does that answer your question?"