Page 14 of Liam

Why me?

Liam tightens his grip on me, staring at the wall of people: Holly, Janice, and Beatrice, my three ex-best friends from high school, and their husbands. I have not seen them since I got home from college years ago. Time hasn’t done these three girls any favors. They let themselves go. If they were in the restaurant at all, I guarantee they ate and ran off without paying or used someone else’s credit card.

“Well, if it’s isn’t Paisley!” Janice’s hands rest on her hips. She is wearing a belly shirt with a pair of shorts so short that I think they were meant to be underwear.

“What do you want?” I ask her in a bored voice. I want nothing to do with this. This is beyond ridiculous, and I just had an amazing night.

All three of the girls are staring at Liam. I think in high school they were mad that Liam and I were so close. And now he’s back. That could be why they are doing this.

“Look, this should have been left in high school. Let’s just go our separate ways and be done with it,” I tell her, smiling. Liam lets his hand fall from my back and moves in front of me as if he is ready to push me behind him at a moment’s notice.

The three girls laugh at me mockingly, and I know it’s not going to end well.

Did I mention that I have taken kickboxing for the past couple of years?

From the corner of my eye, I spot the three men moving closer to Liam. Liam stiffens at my side, so I know he has seen the same thing.

On the other hand, I think I need this. I think it is time for me to get revenge. They hurt me throughout high school. I am not the same girl. If they want to fight, we can.

“Quit hiding behind your man.” Beatrice laughs loudly.

Fuck it.

I step out from behind Liam and grab a hair tie off my wrist; then I bend down and take off my heels.

Liam touches my shoulder. “Paisley?”

“Alright who’s first?”

All three girls look at me, then at each other, in shock.

“You guys have been itching to do this for fucking years, let’s get it over with.” My voice is devoid of emotion.

Janice steps forward first and charges toward me. She reaches for my hair first thing. How original. I grab hers, wrenching her head to the side, and bring my fist up, smashing it into her face over and over until it’s covered in blood.

I kick my leg out, tripping her, and she hits the ground with a thud. I look up and see Liam’s face connecting with another guy’s face, knocking him out. He hits the ground next to the other two men.

The other girls scream and run toward me. Liam grabs Beatrice’s hair. “You will not fucking jump her,” he snarls at her; then he lets her go.

I was so distracted by Liam that I forgot about Holly, and she tackles me to the ground. The wind is knocked out of me, and her hand connects with my face in a bitch slap.

“A bitch slap, really?” I flip her over onto her back and punch her hard in the face twice, making a hard crunching sound.

She reaches up, touching her mouth, and spits out a tooth. I stand up, knowing she is done. I walk over to Beatrice, grip the back of her head, and slam it down on the top of Liam’s truck, knocking her out.

“Bitch,” I hiss.

Liam is staring at me with his arms across his chest and a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Bitches had it coming.”

He laughs and opens the passenger door for me, and I climb inside. The three guys are up at this point and are carrying their women out of there.

“Proud of you, Paisley,” Liam says after he shuts his door, and I watch them leave, walking into the dark.

“They tortured me long enough.”

His eyes darken, and his jaw clenches. “They fucking did and they won’t fuck with you again.” His eyes search my face, locking on my mouth.

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