Page 15 of Falling For Liam
I nod as I roll my eyes. He had a thing. I guess that’s her way of saying he had to go and shoot up.
We say quick goodbyes before I help to get a once again drunk David into my car before slamming my foot on the accelerator and speeding towards our flat.
I leave him in the passenger seat. He should be big enough to look after himself, although if he pukes in my car, I’m going to be seriously pissed off.
Running up the stairs, I make quick work of unlocking the front door and marching straight towards the bedroom. I slam the door behind me and flick the lock that I fitted a few weeks ago in case I needed it.
I collapse onto the bed and allow everything to flow out of me. The fear, the disgust, the total disbelief that I allow myself to continue with this charade even though I know deep down that it’s never going to end well.
I’ve no idea how long I lay there and cry, but eventually, I hear movement out in the flat before someone tries the door handle.
My heart jumps into my throat. When he said he’d see me soon, he really meant it. I would have put money on him waiting a few days just so I’ll be on edge.
“Liv, it’s me,” I hear David say softly. “I’m sorry,” he admits. There’s a thud—I guess his forehead against the door.
I don’t respond. I don’t really have anything I want to say to him.
“Liv, please. I need to see you.”
Letting out a long breath, I drag my weary body from the bed and unlock the door. When I pull it open, the sight of him makes my heart ache. He looks utterly defeated.
Stepping forward, he forces the door wider before pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I do the same, but he doesn’t feel the way I remember. He was always on the leaner side, but now, he’s just skinny. He definitely doesn’t smell like he used to, that’s for sure.
“I’m sorry,” he breathes, his face tucked into my neck, and his breath tickles over my skin. I feel nothing. An image of dark eyes and dark hair once again pops into my mind. I try to banish it but he’s there, taunting me. If it were him holding me like this, I know I’d have a different reaction. I feel awful. I shouldn’t be thinking about him.
He eventually pulls back but he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he grabs my hand in his and pulls me gently towards the bed. I sit myself beside him but continue to look ahead as I wait for whatever it is he wants to say.
“You’re going to leave me, aren’t you?”
My eyes snap to his with surprise. It’s the first time he’s acknowledged that there’s an issue here.
“I…uh…”
“Please, Liv. I promise to sort myself out. I know I’ve been a mess, but I need you. I’m not sure I can do this without you.”
My chin drops at his admission. I wasn’t aware that my presence here was really having any effect on him. I hoped I was helping but I had my doubts. But hearing him say those words isn’t making me feel any better. They’re actually doing the exact opposite. If he knows how bad things are, then he also knows he’s been doing absolutely nothing to make any of it better. I guess I hoped that he was so far down the rabbit hole he didn’t see any of this, but he does, and he allows it to continue.
“Please. Please don’t leave me. I won’t make it without you.” He pulls me against him once again, and his heat is anything but comforting. I allow him to take what he needs, but it’s not easy—all I want to do is throw him off me and run. Run as far away from all this bullshit as I can.
Chapter Five
Olivia
“Olivia, please could you come into my office?” My boss shouts over when I put the phone down. Dread fills my stomach, but I fight it as I push my chair out behind me and begin walking towards him. “Take a seat,” he says after gesturing for me to do so.
My pulse hammers as I wait for the words I know are about to come.
“I’m sorry, Olivia. Your performance hasn’t improved since our last meeting. We’re going to have to let you go.”
“But—”
“I really am very sorry. I think we both know this place isn’t really for you,” he says, his eyes flicking out towards the others in the call centre.
He couldn’t be saying truer words, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need this shitty job. It’s the only thing keeping the roof over our heads right now. David bailed on his job months ago and hasn’t contributed towards anything since.
After politely thanking him for the opportunity, I collect the few things I have at my desk and do the walk of shame out of the office. A few people look up and give me sympathetic smiles, but I haven’t really gone out of my way here to make friends, so most of them totally ignore me.
I’m composed until I close the car door behind me. Slamming my palms down on my steering wheel, I scream into the emptiness as my frustration with life begins to get the better of me.
