Page 59 of Southie
Could I do the same?
He took a step back and immediately, his absence was noticeable. I wanted him back in my arms. I wanted him close to me.
He walked toward the door.
“Liam.”
He stopped but didn’t face me.
“I love you too.”
His shoulders slumped, and he bowed his head. “But?” he asked, his voice full of emotion.
“But I think we need to sit down and talk. I promise I won’t run this time.
“Camilla, you said that last time. You promised to hear me out, and then you ran.”
“I’m sorry about that. I should’ve been more open about the situation, Liam, but it was a little too much for me to handle. I promise this time will be different. I’ll hear everything you have to say. I’ve been away from you too long, and I can’t do it anymore. You need to explain to me exactly what I’m getting into if we do this.” I walked toward him and placed my palm against his back. “This world you’re a part of is dangerous, and I need to know how you plan to keep me safe.”
“Are you sure you can handle what I have to say, Camilla? This goes beyond your father’s situation.”
Whatever he had to tell me would be difficult to hear, but I loved this man beyond all comprehension. How we got here in such a brief time, I didn’t know. However, to have him in my life, I had to accept all of him, even this part.
“I don’t know if I can handle it or not, Liam, and that’s the truth. All I know is, I can’t let you walk out of my life without trying to do whatever this is we’re trying to do.”
He turned around to face me, wiping my tears away with the pad of his thumb. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Tonight, at my place?”
My mouth lifted into a grin. Excitement filled me. His home truly felt like my home, even more than my father’s house.
“That’s fine.”
“Call me when you’re done, and I’ll pick you up.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, I’m done with my training session and I need to put some distance between me and that dude before I whip his ass.”
I laughed. “You know he’s not an issue, right?”
“That doesn’t matter. I still want to beat his face in. He disrespected you. If you hadn’t been between us, I would’ve killed him.”
“He’s not worth the trouble, Liam. Anyway, you can’t pick me up here. We have to keep this from my father.”
“You’re right. Best if we keep it from everyone, including Paddy.”
“How about you pick me up at the bus stop?”
“I don’t like you walking that far by yourself, Camilla. It’s late, and you don’t need to be out in the neighborhood after dark.”
“Well, meet me at the corner, then. I’ll send you a text about ten minutes before I leave.” I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around his neck.
His arms moved around my waist and the tension between us melted away as if it never existed. “Okay,” he replied.
“I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, baby. I’m not letting you get away again, Camilla, and I meant every word I said the first night we were together. That night changed everything.”
“I know.”
