Page 52 of Divine

“It’s not just you.”

“You have to open yourself up to someone, Liam,” I urged.

“If you haven’t noticed, that’s how you get hurt,” he told me with a dry chuckle.

“Yeah, and when you’re closed off, no one can fully love or care for you because you refuse to show them the real you.”

“You are an open book. Sometimes I love that about you, but I also know that making yourself too vulnerable is a way to defy your brothers. So what if they run a nigga off? If a nigga can be made to leave you alone, then he’s not the one. You’re so busy trying to sneak around and bypass them that you end up in fucked up situations. Sometimes letting them vet a nigga would get rid of the riff raff. If I was serious about a woman, there’s not a soul that could make me come up off her, not even a Reign,” he declared.

“Whatever. I think part of the reason I asked was because I was hoping there was someone that you felt you could be yourself with, someone that you can confide in, even if it wasn’t me.”

“You know everything there is to know about me.”

“You say that, but I heard you mention your mom for the first time today. You know everything about me, but sometimes, I feel like I barely know you. I know being around me is your job, but I consider you a friend. I confide things in you that I would never mention to the guys. I’m an open book when it comes to you, but you still don’t feel like you can be open with me.”

“I don’t have much of a story, Divine,” he said, getting up and discarding the trash from our lunch.

“Fine.” I sighed, knowing that I would never get through that thick skull and exterior to the man inside. Even with as closed off as he was, Liam was one of the best friends a girl could ask for.

“It’s Friday night. Are you and the girls planning on going out for drinks?” he asked.

“Probably just me, Tremaine, and one of her work friends.”

Liam laughed. “So, that means the debauchery will ensue.”

“How do you figure that?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“Because when you’re with her, you always turn it up a notch.”

“It’s not even that. I just know I can let my hair down with her.”

“Duly noted.”

“You headed out?” I quizzed, watching as he stood.

It was crazy how we spent practically every night together, but I hated to see him go. When he was first assigned to me, I gave him a hard time. It took a little time for me to realize that he was more interested in my safety than my comings and goings. I didn’t have to worry about him ratting me out like I was a teenager. He just kept me safe. Soon, I started to trust him enough to call him a friend.

“Yeah. I want to swing by the gym before I take it in. I’ll see you tonight.”

* * *

“I might as well ride with you since you’re going to the club with us anyway.”

“Who said I was going?” Liam asked, lifting his brows for emphasis.

“Well, stay here. I just figured you would at least escort me there.”

He chuckled. “Do I look like an escort?”

“I’m sure there are a lot of women who would pay good money to wear you on their arms as a trophy,” I teased.

“Call them up. I could use a side hustle.”

I was kidding, but Liam was fine, and I meant overtly so. I don’t even think he realized just how sexy he was. Not that the women didn’t stop him and tell him every single chance they got. It sometimes got on my nerves how they doted on him when we were out as if they didn’t automatically assume he was my man because we were together. That was what a normal person would do.

He didn’t wear a uniform or shirt with the word security scrawled across the front. He was just a fine ass dude in jeans and a T-shirt or jersey lingering around me. He was sickeningly sexy. The only thing that kept me off of him was my knowledge of the debriefing that he must have gotten upon hire.

Syre had surely given him a thorough talking to about the consequences of touching me. He was thorough at his job. I was sure that he would protect me with his life. Outside of that, we talked and laughed for hours about any and everything. Liam would be a good catch for some lucky woman. Unfortunately, that woman wouldn’t be me.

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