Page 52 of Unfinished

“Because this is my life, Liam, we get ahead a little bit and then something out of our control happens that sets us back. Your world tells me that it’s our fault, that we somehow mismanage the money we spend to stay alive. Sometimes it’s your world that causes this.” She abruptly stopped her rant and looked at me.

I stepped up to her and when she tried to back away, I kept going until she was back against the wall of her garage. What the hell happened?

“What do you mean my world caused this,” I asked, my voice low.

Chapter 23

Hannah

The tears were burning in my eyes, as Liam looked at me. My heart was being ripped from my chest but seeing her kiss him was the icing on top. I let myself love him, a man who could never be mine. He convinced me to give him my heart and I did, willingly. I didn’t hate him for it, but I couldn’t continue to be with him. Not with the threats against my family and my future.

“What do you mean my world caused this?” Liam’s voice was low and with a hint of danger.

I almost told him what his mother did, but thankfully stopped myself, it wouldn’t change anything anyway. If some girl kissed him and then a picture was taken, how would I deal with that when I was six hours away from him? Even if I relied on my trust in him, I’d still suffer because I’d be thinking about that instead of studying or working. I needed to keep my focus and I wouldn’t be able to do that with him.

I also had to protect Ashley and my father from ruin at the hands of Elaine. My entire future, Ashley’s future, and my father’s ability to find work depended on this. Elaine was able to tear our entire world apart. Choosing Liam and condemning Ashley and my dad plus giving up everything I had worked for my entire life wasn’t something I was willing to do.

“It doesn’t matter, Liam. We are over.” I tried to hold back the sobs that wanted to break free.

“No we aren’t, I won’t be without you,” he whispered, pulling me to him.

My heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces and the knot in my throat was painful. I couldn’t hold back the tears and they spilled from my eyes, running hot down my cheeks. My body wanted me to curl into myself and sob but I forced it not to.

“I can’t do this.” I went to pull away but Liam grabbed my face and crushed his lips to mine. Tears continued to spill. I had to stop this now or I’d back out entirely and risk everything. I broke the kiss, pushing him back.

“I can smell her on you.” My voice cracked but I didn’t wait to see his reaction. I pushed right past him and went inside my house. I closed and locked the door, then slid against the door, down to the floor and let my tears fall freely as my heart shattered in my chest. He may not have kissed her back, but I still couldn’t remove that image from my head.

I couldn’t risk his mother harming my family more than she already had, ruining my schooling and career path. I wanted to scream out my anger for the entire situation. It was stupid of me to fall for him.

“Firefly?” My dad came downstairs and saw me. “What the hell happened?”

“It never would have worked,” I sobbed and my dad grabbed a box of tissues and came over and sat down next to me.

“Why?” He offered me tissues and I took one.

“His mom hates me, she offered me money to break up with him, and said a bunch of other things,” I paused to blow my nose, “How does any relationship survive that kind of hatred?”

I wasn’t telling my dad that my relationship with Liam was the real reason he lost his job. The reason he would uproot his life, sell the house he was half way through paying off, and move to Pittsburgh. Not because he’d be mad, but because, for my happiness, he would think it was worth it.

“Wow, she sounds like a piece of work,” he said, “But is it worth it to break up with him? I’ve never seen you as happy as you are with him.”

He was right, if Elaine hadn’t threatened my dad and Ashley I would have told her to shove it entirely. Until I saw Melissa kiss Liam, I was tempted to risk the threats, but seeing that kiss made me see our future clearly.

“I walked into the party and saw a girl kissing him,” he looked at me with a flash of anger, “He said he wasn’t kissing her back and I believe him. But this won’t be the last time that some girl tries to take advantage of a situation. I’m not stupid enough to believe that those money-hungry bitches will stop because he’s in a relationship.”

“I’m sorry, Firefly,” he said, putting his arm around me and pulling me to lean against him.

The tears continued to create hot paths on my cheeks. The pain of the heartbreak felt like a boulder was sitting on my chest. My dad held me as I sobbed and tried to let all of this heartbreak out.

We might be over but I was his and I’d always be his, even if I couldn’t be with him.

When the tears had finally dried up, I went to lay down on my bed. I kept staring at the window, not seeing anything, not hearing anything, lost in my mind. Our love changed me and I didn’t think that I’d ever move on from it. I didn’t want this to be over. I’d have to keep telling myself that I was protecting my family and if I never moved on, so be it. I was sure he would move on and the thought of it made me want to vomit. I hated the idea of someone else touching him.

I heard someone coming up the stairs and stopping in my doorway.

“Hannah?”

“What do you want, Bas?”

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