Page 134 of Debt of My Soul

“Well, fortunately, my grandparents aren’t too great about keeping their employee records secure.” He laughs nervously, and I’m not sure I understand.

Seeing my face, he adds, “You listed your parents as your emergency contact on your hiring paperwork. I snuck this address off it. Wasn’t sure you’d be here, though, and then my flight was delayed, plus a thirty-minute Uber ride …”

The corner of my mouth lifts. He’s nervous. I’m not sure I’ve heard him string so many words together.

“I realized when I stood out front, I was here too late, and I’d just called for another Uber when you pulled up—what?”

I smile. “Nothing.”

We stand there, both our breaths materializing as puffs of cloudy mist. His eyes soften as he stares at me.

“Fleur, I—” A ding from Liam’s phone goes off and he glances down. “Shoot, my ride is almost here. Can we talk tomorrow? Please?”

“Wait, you’re leaving?” My heart stutters, then picks up pace.

“Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t give much thought to the time.” He reaches out, palm delicately cradling the curve of my cheek. Longing pulses in his eyes and time seems to pause. There’s so much to say, and I don’t want to waste another minute.

“Stay,” I whisper. “Stay with me.”

He studies me, letting out a deep exhale. He grips my face a bit more fiercely. “You sure?”

“Definitely.”

Liam pulls out his phone and cancels his Uber, before following me up the steps to the house.

Quietly, we enter and pad into the kitchen, where I put my soupy ice cream away and toss the eggs. I catch Liam tracking my movements, his eyes disinterested in the foreign house and pinned on me.

“Water?” I ask, squirming under his obsessive stare.

He nods, and I tilt my head, chuckling at seeing his bulky form taking up space in my parents’ kitchen. To experience Liam outside of Ruin and the compound makes it all seem so surreal.

I grab us some water and without disturbing my parents, who are probably in bed watching TV already, we head up to my old room.

When Liam shuts the door, I turn and throw my arms out. “Well, this is it. Not much, but I’d been moved out since right after my senior year in high school.”

Liam glances around the small room with a four-poster queen bed and two matching white dressers across from it. Under the window is a bench seat with my childhood lovely, Mr. Fluffy, resting there.

“My mom kept the bed for guests, and as you can see, I’m still living out of a suitcase. Haven’t even unpacked.”

Gesturing to the small carryon with a few shirts and pants, I wince. I’m not sure why I volunteered that information. But, in a way, I want him to know this isn’t permanent for me. That I didn’t come here to live and thrive away from him. I’m not sure I ever could.

“Good. Easier to pack when I take you home.”

I still, mouth falling open. Home. He wants me home.

“Fleur, listen?—”

I hold up my hand. “Wait, Liam let me explain.”

Goodness, what must he think of me?

Liam quiets, moving to the bed to sit while I do the same.

“I’m sorry I left. After everything that happened, the very real possibility that this”— I motion between us—“could be over, terrified me. I was swept up in my parents begging me to come home and River’s suggestion it’d be a good idea.

“I thought …” I pause, because the truth is I’m not sure I was thinking about us, or about Liam. I was thinking about me, my own pain, my own needs.

“It’s what I do. I run and I’m broken.” I hang my head, disappointed it was Liam who had to be the bigger person in this. Guilt gnaws at me. He’s being more of the adult in this marriage than I am, regardless of how this came about.

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