Page 42 of Tide Over

Liam’s eyesflick between mine, reflecting the same panic I feel as my chest tightens.

Fuck. What have I done…

I just ruined everything.

“Sorry,” I breathe out, my voice barely cutting through the pounding rain.

Shame quickly rises and takes over as I turn away from him. But the anger I feel towards myself for doing that to him is even greater. My heart races as I head towards the house, rain pelting down on me with every hurried step. I know I’m eventually going to have to deal with what I just did, but right now, I can’t.

I can’t believe I just fucked everything up by kissing him.

I reach the door to the house and hear Liam’s footsteps crunching on the gravel behind me. But I quickly kick my wet boots off in the entryway and rush inside, desperate to get upstairs so I can try to calm the fuck down and sort my shit out.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Theo,” Liam’s voice calls out, but I don’t stop. Which I’m sure makes me an asshole, but I’d say I’m already there.

“Theo.” Liam’s voice is closer this time, his footsteps quickly approaching me as I make it to the bottom of the stairs.

Just as I take the first step, his hand lands on my arm to stop me.

“Just… wait,” he pleads, his voice tight with emotion.

I pause on the stairs as he keeps my arm in his grip. But I can’t bring myself to look at him.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly.

My brow furrows, and I turn to face him. Liam’s eyes are wide as he looks up at me with an expression that looks like… guilt?

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he says, a slight shake to his voice. “I’m sorry.”

What the fuck?

“You’resorry?” I ask, my heart thumping wildly.

He nods as he drops his hand from my arm and takes a step backwards. “Yeah. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just… I don’t know…” he trails off as he runs a hand through his wet hair and his eyes dart away from me.

I step down off the stairs to stand before him, my head spinning as I try to piece together what the hell is happening.

“You wanted that?” I ask, trying to add strength to my voice as doubt lingers.

His eyes meet mine, and I search his face as I wait for confirmation that this is real, and this is really happening.

Then he nods slowly. “Yeah.”

We stand silently before each other as the rain beats against the window, and an intense energy hums between us. My heart races as I stare at him, and I’m unable to catch up with my thoughts to form any words.

Liam shifts uncomfortably and looks down. “I really didn’t mean?—”

“I did too.”

His head snaps up and his eyes widen as they search mine. We stand before each other, dripping wet from the rain and staring into each other’s eyes as something shifts between us.

I wanted it… and he did too.

It’s real.

His blue eyes shine in the dim light of the hallway, piercing through the shadows. And the longer I hold his gaze, the more my courage swells. I’m not alone in this feeling, and he’s not running away from me.

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