Page 12 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)

Talking smack to these bullies is so easy. All I do is put them in their place, challenge them. And they back down a little, maybe because they’re bored. Maybe they feel like there’s no point fighting with me. Maybe it’s a waste of time.

A large grin captures Phoenix’s face when she takes in my words. She’s never…smiled at me that way. Only a tiny bit at the museum. Her entire face lights up and my heart skips a beat. She’s beautiful, especially when she smiles.

I rub my temples. What the heck am I doing? This is the girl who drives me insane, who can’t stand the sight of me. I can’t be…I shouldn’t be…

The guys start attacking her again and I can’t hold back from taking her side. She ignores them as she plays, but I can see the anger and frustration in her eyes. It all vanishes when she notices me sticking up for her.

Fine. She hates me in real life, but if I can make her happy online, then I’ll do it.

“Okay, FireBirds, I think I’ve had enough for tonight,” she tells her viewers.

The chat goes crazy with protests, everyone wanting to see more and more and more. I feel the same. There’s something captivating about her, not only when she plays. Her entire presence. Maybe that’s why she has so many fans and gains more as the days go on.

“Sorry, guys, but it’s late and I have homework.”

The chat keeps her for five minutes before she tells them she’ll see them at her next stream.

I read the comments that praise her, and add in my own compliments. I’m not sure she’ll see them, but it’s nice being part of this community.

As I’m soaking up the words, a message pops up.

PhoenixFireBird : Hey, LiamC. Thanks again for the help. I really wish these guys would leave me alone, but that’s what I get for putting myself out there. You get hate as well as love.

LiamC: No problem. As always, I’m more than happy to break their bones. Virtually, hahah.

PhoenixFireBird: Lol, yeah. So how are you?

LiamC: I’m great. You?

PhoenixFireBird: Ready for that game I promised.

She sends a smiling emoji.

She’s so different from the girl who wanted to tear my head off only a few hours ago. I’m still confused what I did to upset her, but if talking to her online is the only way I can get her to laugh, then I’ll do it.

LiamC: Sure. What genre?

PhoenixFireBird: You pick.

LiamC: I’m really fine with anything. Though that new multiplayer zombie game looks insane. I actually haven’t played it yet.

PhoenixFireBird: Okay, log on and I’ll invite you to a game.

I do as she asks and we spend twenty minutes in our first match. She’s pretty much slaying everything in her path. It’s actually cool to play alongside her, learn some tips. She’s a pro at this.

I used to game a lot when I was younger, but haven’t touched a game in years until now.

With school and football and the band, I hardly have time.

But playing with Phoenix makes me miss it.

I miss many things about my old life. Like when Mom and Dad were still married and we were a normal, happy family.

But those days are gone and are never coming back. At least I have my playing to remind me of the good old times.

LiamC: You’re killing it out there , I tell her once we finish our first match.

PhoenixFireBird: Because I’m the most amazing gamer out there.

LiamC: You are.

There’s no response from her for about a minute.

PhoenixFireBird: I was just kidding.

LiamC: I wasn’t.

Another few minutes pass before she answers again.

PhoenixFireBird: Oh, well thanks. You’re pretty good yourself.

LiamC: Thanks for the compliment, but I know that’s not true.

My phone dings with a text, and when I peer at the screen, I see it’s Charlotte wanting to know how I’m doing.

I’ve been waiting for this text all day, but now that it’s here, I’m wondering why I was so desperate for it in the first place.

I send her a quick answer before turning back to Phoenix. She’s in the middle of talking about a new game that was recently released and how she can’t wait to get her hands on it and share it with her fans.

My fingers hover over the keys to type, when my phone rings. This time, it’s a video chat from my ex.

I answer, watching her face fill the screen. “Hi.”

She smiles brightly, that smile that’s been engraved in my mind since I first laid eyes on her two years ago. “Hi, back,” I say, returning the smile.

She narrows her gray eyes as she studies me. “Did I catch you at a bad time? You sent such a short, abrupt text and I’m wondering what’s up.”

My eyes flick to the screen, where Phoenix has sent a few more messages about that new game.

“Ethan?” Charlotte asks.

I focus back on her. “Yeah, I’m here. How was your day?”

She frowns. “You already asked me that. And I told you it was fine. Seriously, what’s up with you?”

Nothing, I’m just pretending to be someone else online to a girl who hates me, but aside from that, everything is cool and perfect.

“Everything’s fine.”

She narrows her eyes again. “Why does it seem like you don’t want to talk to me?”

“I do. Can I call you back, though?”

“Okay…”

I hang up and turn back to the screen, quickly responding to Phoenix’s messages. Then I tell her I need to do some homework, wish her a good night, and log off. After that, I get comfortable on my bed and call Charlotte.

My eyes keep springing to the computer for some reason as Charlotte tells me something that happened at school with her friends.

My former friends. It’s weird that I don’t miss them as much as I used to.

Sure I’d still like to hang out with them, but I like my new football buddies.

Like I said, they’re like my brothers. I never felt that way with my previous teammates.

If I had a choice of returning to L.A. or staying here, I’d stay here.

I wonder if Eric feels the same. Considering his massive crush on Katie, it’s safe to say he does.

“Ethan, are you even listening to me?” Charlotte whines.

Whines? In our two years together, I never once thought of her as a whiner. But that’s probably because I’m tired from practice and that intense game. The only thing I want is to grow closer to Charlotte and get back together with her.

Then why do my eyes keep darting to that computer?