Page 15 of Harboring Secrets
“It’s not funny.” Clay tried to smooth his expression, but failed. The remnants of a smile remained on the corners of his mouth. “But it’s so fucking romantic.”
“It’s stalking,” Kieran growled.
“It’s sweet.” Clay pressed on. “He tracked you down and bought you every tulip in town. Just for a chance to talk to you. Are you going to talk to him?”
“No,” Kieran said.
“I don’t know.” I glared at Kieran. “I appreciate your support, but you’re not allowed to murder people. And I’ll talk to who I want. When I want.” I stood and headed to my room. “If I want.”
Putting some distance, even a few measly feet between myself and Liam helped me think more clearly. Getting away from Kieran’s open disapproval also released some of the pressure that squeezed my lungs. For the first time since I woke up, I sucked in a deep breath.
I wasn’t going to let Liam’s presence put a damper on my day. I sat in Kieran’s living room and scrolled local real estate listings. The front curtains remained closed, blocking my view of Liam, but I knew he was still there. Even without looking. It was like I could feel him.
Kieran grumbled and belly-ached about Liam being there until I told him that if he really wanted, he could ask Liam to leave. There must have been something in my voice that slipped out, some little nugget of vulnerability that he picked up on because Kieran didn’t go near the front door and he stopped mentioning murder and body disposal techniques. The support was nice, if a bit morbid.
I didn’t want Liam dead. Or hurt. Or even sad. I hated that he was out there hurting. But he’d hurt me first and I still didn’t know why. The answers were right there on the outside of the house. On my brother’s doorstep.
I’d stayed in my room most of the day, but somewhere around dinner time when I was convinced Liam would be gone, I ventured out of my room.
Clay glanced at me, then at the front door.
“He still here?” Hope fluttered because it was stupid and foolish and didn’t know any better. Hope was a child who still believed in Santa and thought you’d get whatever you wanted if you asked nice enough.
Clay nodded. “He’s been out there all day. I don’t think he’s even left to use the bathroom.”
Fuck. I was an asshole.
“Brodie.” Clay’s voice got my attention. Not because he used my name, but because of how unsure he sounded suddenly. “I know we don’t know each other very well, but you seem to really want to go out there. And… I’ve been in his spot before.”
“You don’t even know what he did.” I crossed my arms over my chest, more to protect myself than because I was mad.
“Did he go into business with his best friend, then steal all their money and gamble it away because he has shit coping mechanisms and relied too heavy on short-term dopamine rushes to get through complicated emotions?”
I blinked at Clay and he let out a tight laugh.
“I’ve done lots of therapy,” he supplied.
The sound of a car door slamming had me rushing to the window. The black sedan was still parked on the side of the street, but a car pulled into the driveway and a driver got out carrying an insulated pizza bag.
“Did you order pizza?” I asked Clay.
“No. Kieran said he was going to order something later. He’s just on the phone with Shane about one of Shane’s new harebrained ideas.”
I watched the driver give Liam a pizza and a drink. Liam gave him a tip and then the pizza guy was gone and Liam was sitting on the front step.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I opened the front door and went outside. I was still in boxers and a ratty shirt, but I didn’t care. I plopped myself down on the other end of the step and reached into the pizza box.
“You have until I’m done with this slice to tell me what you came here to tell me.” I bit the tip off the hot triangle and arched my eyebrow at him.
Liam put his slice of pizza down and brushed his fingers off on his pants. “I was an idiot.”
“You’re off to a good start,” I told him after I swallowed my first bite. The pizza had lit my appetite up like a firework. “You’re going to have to talk fast because I’m starving.”
As if to prove my point, my stomach growled.
Liam smiled fondly and pushed the pizza closer. “Have as much as you want.”
“Time’s wasting.” I took another bite and waited for my answers. Once I had them, I was going to go inside and do my best to forget about Liam Lawson.
