Page 53 of Forever Mine

“Says the man who prays every night to never meet his true mate.” Liam affectionately joked with him, and I couldn't help but wonder if it were true. He definitely had the love 'em and leave 'em vibe going on with a hint of bad boy, or maybe it was just the tattoos that gave him that wicked appeal.

He shrugged with an effortless ease that just gave him a certain unquestionable “it” factor. “Just ?cause I have no desire to find mine, doesn't mean I can't be happy for you to have found yours.”

A young woman approached us. She looked to be in her early thirties, maybe. It was hard to tell for sure. She wouldn't stop staring at me. I gripped Liam's hand tighter.

He looked up and took notice. “Hello, Kara.”

“Hi, Liam. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overhear, but did you really say you're Madelyn Collier?” she asked me.

I nodded slowly. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock.

“I'm Kara. You probably don't remember me, but I was roommates with your sister Lizzy in college.”

“Lizzy?” I said softly, as memories of my oldest sister filled me, and I vaguely recalled the girl from trips to visit Lizzy on move-in day and visits. She was eight years older than I was, and studying for her masters when I left home.

“I just spoke with her the other day. She was preparing for your memorial. Have you spoken to her? Does she know you're alive?”

I shook my head. I hadn't called them yet. I knew I would have to, but I hadn't found the courage to face them.

“She'll want to know. You have no idea what losing you did to her. To all of them. They will hold the biggest celebration ever when you return home.”

“She's not returning home, Kara. Sure, we'll visit her family, when she's ready, but until then, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell them. Let her do it on her terms,” Liam told her.

“Not tell them? Are you serious? Lizzy would kill me if she knew I had information on her sister and didn't tell her.”

“It's okay,” I interrupted, feeling Liam's anger surfacing. I loved how he was always coming to my defense, and I knew he always would. “I guess I knew this was sort of inevitable. It's why I didn't want to come back with you to begin with,” I told him.

“Please,” I said, appealing to Kara, “wait to call her tomorrow. It's something I should do myself. I promise, I'll call home tonight.”

Liam

Chapter 17

I shouldn't have taken her to the Crate. It was stupid. Of course someone was going to recognize her, and I'd just blurted out her name for all to hear and gossip over. What was I thinking? She had handled herself well, though, and Kara seemed to have backed down.

I knew calling home and facing her past was not going to be easy on her. I decided it would be best if we got back to my parent's house and put Oscar to bed, then borrowed Kyle's office to have some privacy to make the call. I knew I wouldn't leave her side through any of it.

Thinking about it, I shot off a text to Kyle.

LIAM: hey, need to borrow your office this evening. Okay?

KYLE: why?

LIAM: Maddie and I need it for a few minutes.

KYLE: Kels told me about you and MC. So NO!

LIAM: Ass. Why not?

KYLE: Already lost one chair to Elise, not happening again.

LIAM: ???

KYLE: What do you need it for?

LIAM: Calling her parents tonight.

KYLE: Oh.

---