Page 52 of Tomorrow's Never Promised

Colin and Kieran are parked in front of the building with the Range Rover. Its bulletproof glass will protect us on our short ride to Connecticut.

I help Maddy into the backseat, sliding in next to her. She smiles but tries to hide it by looking out her window.

“Anything you’d like to listen to, lass?” Kieran asks from the passenger seat.

She leans forward over the center console to hand him her phone. Her elbow brushes my knee, and the static is back between us again.

“This playlist here,” she indicates with her finger.

“The Heart Wants What it Wants” by Selena Gomezfills the speakers. The guys laugh, but I focus on the lyrics. She’s telling mesomethingshe can’t say out loud.

Colin and Kieran are covering their ears like a bunch of pussies.

“Madison,please, with all this girly music. Ya got any other playlists?” Colin groans.

The next song starts, and Miley Cyrus’ voice surrounds us, singing her famous“Wrecking Ball.”Madison has been quietly hurting this whole time. No wonder she has those damn headphones in all day.

The guys groan some more—I’m about to slap the shit out of both of them. I shift my head enough to look at her, but she’s looking out the window again with silent tears streaming from her eyes. I slide my hand across the seat and squeeze hers.I hear you, love. I’m right here.

“Please, we beg of you, our Queen, put something more upbeat on.” Kieran clasps his fingers together to beg.

“One more, and then I’ll let you play whatever you want.” She leans over to her phone, scans through the playlist, and clicks on“Red” by Taylor Swift.

I am about tolose it. These lyrics are so deep. Colin and Kieran probably assume this is her way of missing Killian—but I know better. I rub my thumb over her hand in mine.

She doesn’t pull away like I expect she would.Does this mean she still thinks about me the way I do of her?Because if there is still a chance for us, I can’t say I can hold back any longer. Brother or not, Madison and I met first. He’ll have to hear us out if it comes down to that.

The song fades to an end, and she sneakily wipes a tear away, plasters a smile on her face, and unplugs her phone. “All yours, gentlemen.”

The restof the ride was pretty much silent between Liam and I. Kieran, Colin, and Liam bullshitted here and there about work. My head was spinning the whole time with my feelings for Liam. It feels so good to be around him and not deliberately push him away. I’ve done that all month. I can’t take it any longer.

We pull up to the back entrance of the bar. Liam helps me out and the three of them surround me as we make our way to the door. The two men posted there let us in. Liam’s in a great mood, laughing and joking with them. We take the elevator to the ground floor. When the doors slide open, my heart leaps with memories of the first time Killian took me here.

“Ready love?” Liam grabs my hand to lead me to the club.

I nod and follow him in.

“I’ll get you set up in a VIP booth. Colin and Kieran will keep an eye on you while I attend some business,” he says, guiding me to the cocktail tables and couches on the upper level. “It shouldn’t take very—”

“Surprise!” My sister, Leah, Carly, and Lexi all say in unison.

I cup a hand over my mouth and look up at Liam—who has the sweetest grin plastered on his face. One I've never seen on him. I elbow him playfully in the ribs. “You put this together for me?”

He pulls me into him and places a kiss on my head. “I did. You deserve to be celebrated. Tonight is all for you.”

The girls come running up to me and hug me, keeping Liam and I in an awkward group hug.

“Madison! I am so fucking proud of you, girl!” Lexi shouts over the bass.

“Nurse Maddy!” Mik says, rubbing my arm.

I release Liam, and Leah runs over to me, pulling me into a hug. “I am in serious need of an update,” she whispers while eyeing Liam. He shoots a wink at her.

“I will, but first, let’s have a shot,” I laugh, feeling so much lighter than I have these last few weeks.

My days are filled with nothing but music that breaks myfucking heart, classwork, and confusion. I’ve been struggling with it all. My heart is missing Killian so much, but if I am being honest, it’s not the same longing I felt for Liam when he left.

It’s so wrong. I miss Liam more, and he’s right in front of me.

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