Page 42 of Puck'n Bully
Oh, God. I hurt him.
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut.
And now, Liam has chosen to disappear from my life completely.
Panic surges in my chest, clawing up my throat.
I can’t lose Liam. I can’t let the only person who’s ever made me feel accepted walk away from me.
His warm blue eyes flash in my mind, making my heart ache. From the very first moment I met him, Liam has been someone who sees me for who I am.
Somewhere along the way, between the teasing and the stolen moments, I’d noticed the way Liam looked at me. With him, I always felt safe and at home.
I don’t know when it happened. But my attraction to him turned into something deeper. Something very much like love...
The realization leaves me reeling. I was in love with Liam, the nerdy, superhero-worshipping Physics grad who’d pulled me out of the raging sea.
Losing Liam will shatter me, both body, mind, and soul.
I can’t let this relationship end before it even began. I didn’t even get a chance to show him how I truly felt about him.
I need to see Liam and fix this.
Shoving my bag in the locker, I grab my jacket. Maybe I should’ve taken a shower first but I feel like I have no time to lose. Ineedto find Liam and talk to him before he leaves me for good.
As I walk out of the building, I wonder what I’d say to him. I don’t have a plan, no explanation for my cowardice.
It doesn’t matter, I tell myself.I have to fight for Liam. I’ll fall at his feet and beg him for another chance if I have to.
“I just can’t let you go, Liam,” I speak aloud, heading toward the Physics department.
A perfectly blue sky stretches overhead but fails to lift my mood as I remember Liam has no reason to be on campus this early. It’s Friday and without my tutoring session, he’s free until the afternoon.
Just as a sliver of disappointment coils around my gut, I spot him in the distance.
Relief washes over me at once. I finally have a chance to talk to him.
Crossing the grounds, I move toward him, only to realize he’s not alone. A tall, dark-haired guy in a varsity hoodie stands in front of him, laughing at something Liam is saying.
My feet come to a halt.
Liam continues to talk with a casual grin on his face, unaware that the other guy is leaning too close to him. He’s oblivious even as the stranger takes a quick whiff off the top of his head and closes his eyes, savoring Liam’s natural scent.
Caramel, sprinkled with sea salt, my mind whispers, making me miss Liam even more.
I don’t recognize the guy but something sharp and ugly twists in my gut as he steps closer to Liam.
Liam ismine. No other man has the right to stand this close to him.
My hands curl into fists and before my brain can catch up with the emotions lashing at me, I’m moving across the lawn, closing the distance between us.
Liam doesn’t even get a second to react to me as I grab his wrist and pull him away from the stranger.
Liam gasps, losing his balance and crashes against my chest.
“What the hell?” he groans, struggling to get back to his feet. He glances up and finally looks up at me. “Hayden?” He jerks back immediately.
“I need you to come with me right now,” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him alongside me. The stranger stares at us but I ignore him. I just need to get Liam away from him.
