Page 5 of Falling For Liam
I don’t notice the cool air on my exposed skin as I race from the shack. I don’t think about my actions or that everyone is probably watching. I just know I need to get away.
I come to a stop by some wooden sea breakers and fall onto the sand. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I look out to sea as I try to breathe through the adrenaline racing through my body.
I knew coming here was a bad idea. There was a reason I left without telling him, and I’ve refused to allow myself to have any communication with him all these weeks. I convinced myself that it was all in my head. That we didn’t have the connection I thought we did. But I’ve just been reminded in front of all those people that it is very real.
My hands tremble as the cool evening air races across my neck, making me shiver. The silence stretches on and on, and I almost feel like I’m back on level footing once again, considering what to do next, when I hear footsteps.
Holding my breath, I wait for the inevitable.
“I’m sorry, Liv. I…I didn’t mean…” He trails off, clearly not expecting me to stay silent. “Please, say something.”
The desperate edge to his voice has me turning toward him. He’s staring down at me, his shoulders sagged in defeat, and his hands are shoved deep in his pockets. I immediately feel bad. I don’t want to hurt him. No one else deserves to be dragged into my bullshit life.
“Liam,” I breathe, but my voice cracks, and from the softening of his eyes, I know he hasn’t missed it. “I…I can’t do this,” I whisper. He must decide to ignore it because, before I’ve finished talking, he drags me from the floor and wraps me in his arms.
My body shudders as I try to contain my sobs. Having his large, hard body pressed up against mine feels so good. Just being held feelstoogood.
“No.”
Liam
For two seconds, everything is as it should be. Then, I feel her palms press against my chest and she forces me to take a step back.
She wraps her arms around herself as she stares back at me, her eyes as wide as saucers, fear pouring from them.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping up to her, but all she does is retreat once again. “Liv?” I ask, my concern for her growing by the second.
“It’s nothing,” she whispers, so quietly that I almost miss it with the sound of crashing waves in the background.
“Bull. Shit,” I snap, probably a little too harshly, but I can’t help it when she’s cowering from me like a scared little puppy. “I’m sorry.” My voice is softer this time, and she relaxes slightly. “What do you need?”
I watch as she thinks for a few seconds. I’m not sure whether she’s hesitant to ask me for help or if she just has no idea what she really needs. Either way, I’m not leaving until I know she’s safe.
“I’m staying at Nic’s. Please could you take me there? I can’t…I can’t be here, not after that.”
Guilt engulfs me. I’ve caused this. Me and my stupid performance.
“Of course.” Reaching for her, I thread my fingers through hers and gently tug her towards me. I breathe out a sigh of relief when she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she allows me to pull her into my side. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hold her as tightly as I can. Every inch of her is screaming that she needs comfort and needs to feel safe, and this is the only way I know how. Whatever the cause of that fear in her eyes, she doesn’t need to worry about it while she’s with me. I’ll never let anyone hurt her.
Huddled together, we walk back up towards the shack in silence. The party still seems to be going strong inside.
“I should tell Nic what’s happening.” Liv goes to pull away from me, but I refuse to lose her contact. I tell myself it’s for her, but I’d be fooling myself if I denied it was for my own benefit as well.
“Don’t worry. I’ll sort it. Let’s just get you back.” She’s trembling in my arms. I’ve no idea if it’s from the evening chill or whatever she’s trying to deal with. I need to get her inside, warm and safe, as soon as I can.
She stops as we near the car park. “My car,” she says, pointing to a little silver Ford.
Changing direction, I walk us towards the car and I’m just about to ask for the keys when I remember the shots of tequila I’ve consumed.
“We’re going to have to walk. Let’s get your stuff.”
I manage to hold her bags in one hand so I can still pull her to me with the other. I’m conflicted as we make our way. I desperately want to take her back to our house, but I have a suspicion she won’t be happy with that.
Glancing over at her, she looks miles away, totally defeated by life. A million and one questions are right on the end of my tongue. I swallow them down, knowing that now isn’t the time.
I almost change my mind and, when we get to the turning towards our house, I nearly take it. But another look at her, and I know I need to take her where she wants to be. Plus, chances are BJ will take the party back to ours later, and I think the last thing Liv needs is a house with chaos going on around her.
Stopping at Nicole’s front door, I turn to her. Our eyes meet, and I see relief filling them. When her lips twitch up in the slightest of smiles, a similar kind of relief washes through me. The Liv I can’t get out of my head from all those weeks ago is still in there.
