Page 83 of Recklessly You
“Don’t worry about me. I have Daliah to help me out. I’m positive getting out will help. That’s a great idea. Spend time with your family and send me lots of pictures.” Mila pulls me over to lean my head on her.
Tomorrow I’ll sneak into Liam’s house to get my clothes and board the next flight to London.
I feel like the ground has opened up beneath me, and I’m falling into a bottomless abyss with my heart in tatters. My throat closes up, my palms sweat, and I can’t get enough air. Everywhere I look, there are reminders of him in the room—his smell, laughter, and warmth, all gone. All that’s left is a creeping sense of dread that threatens to take over.
Is he thinking about me? Maybe he’ll change his mind and come knocking on my door. Maybe.
“Thank you,” I tell Mila. “What would I do without you?”
Mila smiles faintly. “I say the same thing about you, my friend. I wish I could have a drink with you.” She pauses as she helps me up from the sofa. “Things will get better day by day, my bestie. I know how you feel. Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
* * *
As soon asI wake up, I dress and send Mila home to her husband and Dante. She whines, clearly worried about me, but I kick her out anyway. I’m just as eager to leave. I feel like I’m drowning in this apartment. I booked a flight to Westminster, London, and called my brother, letting him know I’d be visiting Mom, who left for London last week. My flight leaves at three this afternoon. Now I wait patiently around the corner from Liam’s house, and as soon as I see his car leave the driveway, I pull in and jump out of my car. My heart thumps so loudly that I can hear it as I turn the key in the knob. All I need are my clothes and makeup. I have to hurry before he returns.
As I open the door, the familiar scent of cedarwood and spice fills my nostrils, stirring a dull ache in my chest. Then I notice the bottle of tequila and a single glass placed on the coffee table. Duke runs to greet me like he always does.
“Hey, big guy, I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss taking you for walks, playing fetch with you, having you sit between us while we watch TV, and most of all, I’m going to miss those belly rubs you love.”
He howls as if he understands me and gives me sad eyes.
“Be upset with your owner, not me, bud.” I go to Liam’s room. Everything is the same as we left it the night of the gala. There are blankets on the couch. He must have passed out drunk. I grab all my clothes, shoes, and makeup, leaving my candles behind. I leave his house key on the coffee table and remove the charm bracelet he gifted me, placing it next to the key. I want nothing from the man who thinks I’m just a good fuck. He can shove it up his ass. Tears begin to fall once I shut the door for the last time. I miss him so damn much. The way his body felt next to mine when I’d wake up in his arms. The way we’d curl up together on the couch to watch Netflix, but we never made it all the way through a show because his hands were always exploring my body. We inevitably ended up in the bedroom, with him going down on me. I start the car and head back home to finish packing.
Two hours later, I’m ready to go. I gave Mila instructions for her and Dominic to feed my adopted cats and water my plants. My phone dings with a text from the rideshare saying my driver is here to take me to the airport. My stomach churns with nerves. My heart clenches as I realize that once I’m gone, everything familiar will be wiped away in my absence. The thought of leaving behind the precious memories sends shivers down my spine. Every moment, every word, and every kiss will slowly fade away. It scares me, but I know it’s what I need to do to move on and let go.
CHAPTER 29
LIAM
“Thank you all for your dedication and time tracking Pablo and his men. We won’t stop until we find him,” Chief Moreno says unwaveringly.
We nod and stand, our metal chairs screeching against the tile floor of the meeting room.
“Rodriguez, a moment.” Chief Moreno hands me a letter.
I open it up and, to my surprise, find a letter offering me the position I applied for as a detective in Los Angeles. I’m literally speechless, mouth gaping open and all. I applied months ago and never expected to get it.
Chief Moreno pats me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Liam. They made a good choice. You’re a fine young man with a strong work ethic. Manny is dancing with the angels in celebration of his son’s achievements.”
I swallow the knot in my throat. “Thank you, sir.”
He nods and walks off. I’m honored I got the job. It came at the perfect time. I need to get away from here.
Walking out of the station, I sigh. Frustration has been gnawing at me; we’ve searched Pablo’s home and hideout, but the fucker ran again. His son is still in custody, clearly giving us shit for information.
Starting the ignition, my car purrs with the new exhaust I have installed. To say I’ve been keeping myself busy for the last three weeks is an understatement. The woman occupies my mind, car, house, and even the damn gym. Her sweet smell lingers in my car, and at home. I wish I could bottle it up. She left me with memories, I’ll always treasure. The day I walked in the front door and saw the key and her charm bracelet on the coffee table, it hit hard, a blow right in the pit of my stomach. I lost her…because I let her go.
When I enter my front door, I’m not greeted by my boxer anymore. He snarls at me, giving me the cold shoulder even though I’m his owner, the one who feeds him. He wants the woman who filled his heart with belly rubs and cuddles. The house smells of Sophie’s candles and her coconut lotion. Despite taking her clothes with her, she left her candles behind in both the bedroom and the living room, leaving me feeling as though she’s still present.
I burst into the kitchen, my legs heavy with exhaustion. My fingers fumble desperately for the refrigerator door handle before I yank it open and grab the closest beer. I don’t bother finding a bottle opener. I pull off the cap with one sharp tug and chug the cold liquid straight from the bottle. Relief floods through me, easing my tension ever so slightly while I pray that it will dull the piercing pain in my chest.
The honks of horns in the driveway have Duke’s ears perking up. He snarls when Dominic, Santiago, and Mark come barging in. I scratch behind his ears.
“Sorry, it’s not her. She’s not coming back,” I whisper in his ear. He jumps up and goes to the spare bedroom. I turn to the three men who are staring at me as if I’m some feral animal.
For the past three weeks, the guys have been calling me and my mother. I haven’t had it in me to want anyone’s company.
“We’ve been calling you,” Dominic says as he surveys the house: the empty beer bottles, empty glasses, and an empty bottle of tequila. “Let’s go outside and drink some beers like the good old days.”
