Page 6 of Falling For Liam
Stepping up a little too close to her, my hand cups her cheek and my thumb presses into the hollow her slight smile has caused at the very edge of her mouth. “It’s okay,” I whisper as I stare into her tormented blue eyes. “Whatever it is, you’re safe here…with me. I won’t let—”
The warmth of her fingers pressing against my lips cuts my words off. “I’m okay.”
There isn’t a part of me that believes her, but I nod before dropping my hand and holding on to hers tightly.
“I haven’t got a key,” she admits when we make our way to the front door.
“I have,” I say.
She nods as I push the key into the lock before gesturing for her to go in ahead of me.
“Go sit,” I order as I drop her bags and walk straight into Nicole’s kitchen to find us both a drink.
When I reappear a few minutes later with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, I expect her to look at least a little happy about it. It was what she drank a few weeks ago, after all, but the fear that had started to disappear from her eyes immediately slams back into them.
“No,” she says in a panic. “Anything but that.”
“Okay.” Turning, I walk back into the kitchen and pull the fridge open. Thankfully, I find a cooled bottle of wine, so after changing the glasses, I head back out to see if that’s okay.
She nods and watches my every move as I pour a glass and slide it over to her. She stares at it for a beat before flicking her eyes up to me, where I’m still stood with the bottle in my hand.
I can see the gratitude in her eyes, but it’s surrounded by so many other emotions that even if I thought I could ask, I wouldn’t even know where to start.
“Drink.”
Chapter Three
Olivia
The relief of not even having to think right now is welcome. Reaching forward, I slide the wine glass to the edge of the coffee table in front of me before lifting it to my lips. His attention burns as I take a sip and close my eyes to savour the fruity flavour.
I keep my eyes downcast. Looking at him hurts. It hurts more than anything I’ve experienced in the past few weeks. Seeing the concern on his face, the questions in his eyes as he pleads with me to tell him what’s wrong, is physically painful. I can tell that all he wants to do is take it all away. If only it were that easy. Sure, I could walk away from it all, but could I live with myself if something happened? I feel responsible for everyone around me. I’m the strong one and if I go…if I leave, I just don’t know what would happen.
“Liv?” His voice is deep and full of concern. The glass trembles in my hands as I fight the need to look at him. To let him in. It wouldn’t be fair on him if I did. I won’t lead him on, no matter how much I might want to.
Clearing my throat, I prepare to say the words I was just practicing in my head. “Thank you, but you can leave now.” My voice betrays me and cracks long before I’ve come to the end.
“Fuck that,” he spits, but to my surprise, he walks out of the room. I half expect him to do what I suggested and to hear the front door slam, but in reality, all I hear is his heavy footsteps thundering up the stairs.
Falling back onto the sofa, I allow the events of this evening to run through my mind. How could I have fucked everything up so royally when I’ve only been here a couple of hours? This was not how it was meant to go. I just wanted a night where I could be normal. So I could act like a normal twenty-four-year-old and have fun with my friends, celebrate their good news, but here I am, falling apart in front of the one person I don’t want to see it.
My phone ringing from my bag pulls me from my misery. I fall to my knees in front of my stuff and dig it out. Seeing Nicole’s name, I immediately swipe to answer.
“Liv, are you okay?” she asks in a rush.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Things just got a little intense.”
“Liam said he’s taken you home. Do you need me to come back?”
“What? No! You stay and enjoy yourself. I’m just being stupid. Life’s been…” I trail off, not wanting to go there. “It was all just a bit much.”
“I wish you’d tell me, Liv. I could help. We could all help.”
“Everything’s fine. Honestly.” I think everyone can see that my life is far from being fine, but it’s the only thing I’ve got right now. “I’ll see you when you get home. We’ll catch up, yeah?”
“You’re sure?” Liam’s footsteps descend the stairs, and my heart starts to race at the thought of him trying to break down the walls I’m fighting to keep up.
“Yes,” I whisper, my fight once again eluding me.
