Page 82 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“Sure. But I’m not leaving you alone. I’ll call Conor and have him bring her to you.”

She nods, silently agreeing.

I openthe door to the bedroom and Madison brushes by me, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. Hesitantly, I follow her, sitting next to her and opening my arm out for her to lay on my shoulder.

She does, laying her head down as the tears drip one by one, the flow increasing steadily. Sniffling she says, “I don’t think I ever got the chance to tell you, but thank you for always trying to protect me. Even when doing so hurts you too.”

“You’re welcome, love.” My hand rubs up and down her arm in comfort. “Can…can I ask you something?” I ask nervously, afraid of her answer.

“Of course. What is it, Liam?”

“Did you and Diego…did you sleep with him?”

She jolts against my chest, giving me the answer I already knew. “Yes,” she sniffles. “One time…right after the wedding.”

Letting out the breath I was holding, I nod against her head pressed against me. “I figured as much.”

Tilting her head, she looks up at me, her red rimmed eyes searching mine. “Are you mad at me?”

Not stopping myself from feeling everything and anything with Madison, I press a kiss to her forehead. “No. I’m not. You and Diego had something between you that I couldn’t provide. Perhaps it was mixed in with your proximity and him being a safety blanket when you needed him. Regardless, you shared a special bond—no matter how mad you are with him right now. I’m not mad. Knowing you had probably consummated the marriage, the night of your wedding, I still wanted you, baby. Even then. I willalwayswant you.”

Her delicate hand reaches up to cup my face, her thumb tracing a line up and down my cheek. “You don’t look at me differently? How could you still want me after knowing I was with someone else? The same person I’mapparentlystill married to.”

The arm I have wrapped around her slides her in closer and I bring my other hand up to cup her face. My thumb skates across her lips, encouraging them to part under my touch.

I need to kiss her. I miss her so fucking much.

There is loss of warmth as her hand leaves my face and wraps around my hand on hers. She lowers it into her lap. “I love you, Liam. I do.” A hint of smile pokes through her glum features. “But I need you to let me go. I can’t do this anymore. Any of it. Too much has happened in such a short time. My head is spinning. There’s been too much violence, too many lies, a boatload of hurt. Though this new version of me is stronger than I have ever been, it’s a version of myself that I don’t exactly like. I miss the version of me that wasn’t always on edge. The version that was naive and ignorant to this sort of world. I miss simple. I miss being able to grab a coffee and not have to worry that someone will snatch me up.”

There’s a knock on the door before Lexi enters. Conor gives a two finger salute before shutting the door, giving us privacy.

Lexi runs over to Madison, taking in her disheveled appearance, and starts petting her hair. “Mad, what the hell happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I have,” she chuckles at her choice of words. “Diego is here.”

Lexi’s brows come together. “Well then.” She places her hand on her hip and waves the other in the air. “Hi, Diego. If you could be so kind as to leave my friend be for the night, that would be great.”

I can’t help the laugh that burst from my lips. It’s comical watching Lexi talk to the air as if his spirit is with us. “Alexis, Diego is actually alive. Here in the flesh,” I state, filling her in so Madison doesn’t have to say the words out loud.

“Hoooolyyyyyshit.”

Madison nods. “Liam, could you give Lexi and I a moment of privacy?”

I already don’t like where this is going.

“Yeah.” I stand and make my way to the door, lingering at the threshold. “I’ll be right outside when you’re ready.”

I handMadison the helmet to my motorcycle then zip my oversized heated leather jacket up to her chin. Swinging my leg over the seat and sitting, I rev the engine. Madison climbs on and scooches forward, gripping my waist and laying her head on my back.

“Ready?” I ask into the speaker in my helmet.

Her beautiful voice comes through with confidence. “Ready.”

I hit the throttle and we accelerate down the avenue. Once we get beyond the thickness of traffic, I open the throttle, weaving us in and out of the lanes. This is the first time having her on my bike and it’ll be playing on loop in my mind. This moment. Feeling her body pressed against mine. Hearing her softly sing along to the songs on my playlist. Midnight hits and fireworks light up the city skyline.

“Wow,” she sighs.

“Beautiful,” I agree.

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