Page 48 of Addicted

Dylan gave him a salute and left. He was right, Marci was barking orders, her voice sharper than usual since Liam had vanished. He was about to tell her that he was back when he noticed Ollie, along with two other ex-classmates, heading in his direction. They were making their way to the stairs, too deep in conversation to notice Liam so he ducked back into the room, quickly shutting the lights and sinking into the shadow behind the door.

“Are you sure it was him?” One of them asked as they came closer. Nick. He hadn’t heard that voice in ages and it was full of surprise and concern.

“Yes!” Ollie sounded exasperated as the three of them stopped right in front of the storage room, inches away. “See, I have him on my Insta. It’s Liam.” He must have been showing them the picture he’d taken in the bathroom when Liam was too stunned to say no.

“Wow, it barely looks like him.” Gus, the other one, breathed out. “I was hoping he’d be doing okay after everything, you know?”

“What do you expect?” Ollie shot back. “His parents’ car spun out in the rain and rolled six times. He had to pull the plug on his mom. Wouldyoube okay after that?”

There wasn’t enough air in the room or everything turned sideways, Liam wasn’t sure. His ears started to roar, punctuated by the steady beeping of the machines around his mother’s bedside. It echoed through his head, just like Marci’s voice.

“Liam, I swear to fucking god I am going to find you and toss you off the roof if you don’t meet me in the main room-”

He ripped the headset off, throwing it aside as he wheezed, pressing on his chest. His vision blurred and he could feel wetness streaming down his cheeks. Gravity pulled him down the wall, his legs unable to hold him anymore, and he hit the floor with a dull thud.

“I guess not. But hasn’t it been like, three years?” Nick’s voice began to fade as they continued down the hall, ready to join August and everyone else in a beautiful celebration while Liam struggled to breathe. Alone.

“Hey there.” The voice was soft and gentle, a whisper in Liam’s mind. He didn’t know where it came from but it seemed to be made of light, curling around his being and comforting it. “It’s okay, Liam. Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”

He was dimly aware of something touching his cheek. Wiping it. Was his face wet? Why was it wet? What was going on? Where was he?

“I swear he wasn’t like this when I left. Should we call an ambulance-”

“No, I’ll handle this.”

“But Bossman, I-”

“Dylan, I mean this in the nicest possible way but can you leave? Do whatever you have to but I want no one in this hallway right now. I’m bringing him upstairs.”

Who was bringing who upstairs? Was that…Owen? Oh no!No no no!Liam should be avoiding him but he couldn’t remember exactly why.

“No problem, they’re starting the entrance anyway so it’s empty out here. Take the side stairs, I’ll prop open the door for ya.”

“Thank you. And please keep this between you and me, I don’t want to upset Marci.” Owen’s voice didn’t sound right. Even though it seemed like it was far away it sounded gritty, gruff, strained. Why? Was he worried? What was he worried about?

Liam could feel his body shift and suddenly he was floating like he’d boarded a cloud. But it wasn’t a cloud; there was a hard surface pressed to his side and the smell of oranges and spice all around him. He wanted to sink into it forever but a small part of his mind was screaming, increasing in intensity until it slammed him into reality with a gasp.

“Shh, it’s okay Liam. I’m just taking you to my office. You can lie down there.” The words echoed and Liam glanced around, realizing that he was in a stairwell and Owen was carrying him like he weighed nothing at all. Liam could feel the flex of Owen’s arms under his knees, the press of a generous bicep against his back. His body was tilted, cradled against a chest that he’d dreamed of touching for close to a decade and it was as solid as he’d imagined, but he was too disoriented to enjoy it.

“W-Wha?” he croaked. His throat hurt, his face felt puffy, and his chest was tight enough to crack in half. He coughed, licked his lips, and tried again. “What h-happened?” The last thing he remembered was the storage room but his brain was still foggy and confused.

“I think you had a panic attack. Marci asked a few of us to look for you since you went MIA before the cocktail hour. I found you in the storage room. You seemed like you were in shock.” Owen’s breath was shaky as he pushed open the door at the top with his hip. “You scared me for a minute but then you leaned into my hand and I knew I had to get you somewhere safe.”

Liam stiffened, his pulse racing again as everything started to come back. August’s wedding. Ollie’s Insta post. The fact that he’d left his pills at home. The conversation he’d overheard. The beeping. How everything had overwhelmed him until he’d shut down. Liam’s cheeks burned furiously. Was it possible to die from embarrassment? Because this wasn’t just bad, it was a disaster. Now the whole staff knew he was a useless overemotional idiot and Owen got to see it from the front row.

“I-I’m sorry,” Liam mumbled, unable to look up into Owen’s eyes, too afraid he’d see judgment and pity again. He couldn’t take it from Owen, especially when he was still so shaken. Although he didn’t think he could sink any lower a wave of grief crashed over him, clawing at his mind through the dissolving pill barrier.

“What are you apologizing for? If Sharon was getting married and I had to work the party I would’ve broken down too.” Owen’s grip tightened and Liam finally looked up at him in shock, surprised to find no pity in that steady blue gaze, only genuine empathy and understanding. It was such a relief that Liam’s vision blurred with tears.

He had zero emotional control left and he didn’t want to fall apart in front of Owen; he’d done enough damage already. It would be best if he just went home, or went to see Zach andthenwent home, but he was pretty sure Owen wouldn’t let him go so easily.

17

OWEN

Owen’sofficewasdim,the only light coming from the small window that looked down onto reception. A slow romantic song let him know the first dance had started and he breathed a sigh of relief. Even if Marci had heard about Liam’s panic attack, she would be too busy to barge into Owen’s office for at least another half hour. There were still the first two courses and the toasts to get through before the staff had any free time and by then Owen hoped to have settled Liam down.

Bending a knee, Owen gently placed Liam on the couch, making sure his head was cushioned by the arm, and Liam blinked at him with watery eyes. Even though he was holding back tears it was leagues better than the flat dead stare he’d given Owen in the storage room. It let Owen know that his hunches were right. Liam had been putting on a brave front but underneath it all he was struggling. It only made Owen want to care for him more.

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