Page 38 of Addicted

Liam froze. Marci was right. Owenhadmade the change for him. He was being kind in saying that they spoke about it when Liam had been snappish and avoidant but the result was that Owen moved that task to the top of his list solely because Liam needed it. But this wasn’t about the health insurance, it was about how Owen took one step forward for every step Liam took back, and other people were beginning to see it.

He didn’t know what to do anymore. He was close to five pills a day now and whenever he tried to dial back and stretch the time between doses, a dark foreboding grief nipped at his heels, sinking his mood like an anchor. How awful would he feel when he went clean?

As if on cue, a shiver rippled through him, the muscles in his arms and thighs itchy, twitching in their need. Liam gritted his teeth and locked his knees, hoping that he didn’t have a repeat of the storage room incident. He tried not to show anything but his face gave him away.

“Wait, listen.” Owen must’ve thought that Liam’s pinched expression was about the health insurance. “Everyone needs this, not just you. Dylan was telling me he has to get his wisdom teeth removed and Emma mentioned that she needed new glasses. I don’t want them paying out of pocket for that.”

“Okay.” Liam forced a smile, knowing that no matter what excuses Owen came up with, his primary reasoning had been to get Liam help. There was a simple cause and effect at play. “I’m going downstairs to get some coffee.” Liam wanted to leave before the word therapist came up again. At Owen’s nod he headed for the door but as he put his hand on the knob he stopped and turned, not wanting to seem distant and ungrateful.

“Owen?”

“Hmmm?” He’d gone back to his computer, one hand on the mouse, the other around his mug.

“Thanks.” The word was heavy because Liam was thanking Owen for a few things. For trying to assure him. For not mentioning therapy. For noticing that Liam was lacking something and changing things for him to have it. For caring.

He didn’t want to push this all away.

As soon as Owen’s office door clicked shut, Marci rose from the shadows by the stairwell.

“So, thiswasbecause of you!“ She jabbed a finger at Liam as he yelped and skittered half a foot away. She’d scared him half to death and her antics were going to have him needing his next pill earlier than planned.

“Were youeavesdropping?You are the rudest person ever,“ Liam deflected, putting a hand on his chest and feeling his heart hammering.

“I wastryingto eavesdrop but you guys talk too softly.”

“And you’re also a walking Human Resources violation.” Liam started walking down the hall so Owen wouldn’t hear their entire conversation and Marci thankfully followed.

“You’re welcome.” She smiled wickedly. “Oh, I forgot to ask, can you come down and help out tonight? The party ends early so you won’t have to be here forever.”

“Who called out?” Liam stopped and faced her, leaning against the wall.

“No one…” Marci hesitated, looking away, which was so unlike her that Liam knewsomethingwas up.

“It’s more like…” She settled on the wall beside him. “I have a date, okay?”

Marci had been in a relationship years ago when Liam had started at The Pointe, but her guy had constantly complained about how much she worked. When things finally came to a head between them, Marci discovered that he’d expected her to give up her job once they were married and be an obedient housewife and mother. She told him not to let the door hit him in the ass on the way out. Liam wished he could be half as brave as her. She hadn’t mentioned anyone since then and if Marci the workaholic was skipping out on an event for adate,then this guy had to be special.

“What happened to Isaiah, your bartender?” Liam teased, not expecting her to light up with sparkling eyes and a sweet smile.

“Well, he asked me out last month aaaand it’s been good.”

Liam could tell that she was happy. After three years of grief that emotion was foreign to him. He didn’t know if he was even capable of being happy again -trulyhappy, not pill-happy - but he could still support joy in those around him.

“Really?” He nudged Marci’s shoulder. “How did you keep this to yourself for so long?”

“I know, right? When do I not overshare?” She shrugged in a bashful way, playing with the end of her ponytail, showing Liam a side of her that he’d never seen before. “But I didn’t want to jinx it. I like him.Oh!“ She clapped her hands together in excitement. “Isaiah said we could use the back room at Bar None for Owen’s birthday next month!”

“Owen’s birthday?” Liam swallowed, hoping that he didn’t sound too trepidatious.

“Yes! Owen’s been here for what, twenty minutes?” Marci grinned wryly. “But he’s already made so many improvements. He changed our health insurance. There’s going to be a filing system! He handles John the Jerk like a pro. The schedule for next year is close to full and the year after that is half booked. Have you seen the website?”

Liam shook his head. Last week a photographer had stopped by to take photos of the place, documenting a few events, snapping candids of the staff, and even flying a drone outside to get aerial views of The Pointe, but he mostly kept to himself so Liam had managed to avoid him.

“Well, you should look at it,” Marci told him with a wink. “That’s why Owen needs a party. I want him to know how much we all appreciate him.”

She was right. Owen was working hard and had accomplished a ton at The Pointe, staying strong while his personal life was in shambles. He deserved a party, especially ifLiamwas the person he talked to the most. Owen could use the support and Liam was going to have to get over his anxiety and go.

But the anxiety wasn’t because he had to attend the party. It was from knowing that he had to give Owen a gift. And he’d need to sort through his boxes full of memories to find it.

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