Page 64 of Sugarlips
Finally, the corners of his mouth turned up into a semblance of a smile that was so Liam, it defined him, and he said, “Like the ocean, you’re beautiful, deep, and unpredictable.” His voice vibrated through me, like a lingering caress. “You can be safe and calm… or dangerous and wild. And people are inexplicably drawn to you.”
Maybe he kept talking. Maybe he didn’t. I couldn’t hear anything over the roaring rush of blood and the pounding drumbeat of my pulse that sounded like a rock concert in my ears.
The fact that he saw me so clearly was both comforting… and terrifying.
Emotion clawed its way up my throat and I quickly excused myself from the room, leaving behind a confused looking Liam.
I barely registered the sound of him calling after me as I rushed down the hall. Running. I was freaking running from Liam like he was a bully on a playground… my friend. Mybestfriend.
I winced at the word as I slipped into the ladies’ room and quickly shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it like I was some sort of effective barricade.
He’s mybest friend. It had started playfully enough when I told Liam we were going to be best friends. But I had no idea just how deeply my heart would become invested in him. I had no idea how true and real and sweet and bitter all at once being his best friend could be.
Because he’s not just a friend, a little voice that sounded annoyingly a lot like Elaina whispered in the back of my mind.You love him.
My throat went dry. My face, hot. My hands, clammy and wet.
I loved Liam Evans.
I loved him in a way that I had never loved anyone else in my life. Because I’d never been friends with someone for this long without dating them first.
And it was because I loved Liam so much that I couldn’t drag him down into my chaos.
I couldn’t let him get caught in my riptide.
25
Liam
Icarried a tray of lasagna into Neil’s going away party in the hospital lounge. Mom had insisted we do something in honor of Neil leaving for Budapest. And what Mom says goes. Especially after a double mastectomy.
According to doctor’s orders, it could only last thirty minutes before Mom needed to be back in her bed resting. And while the rest of us feasted on lasagna and cake, Mom was still on her liquid diet of chicken broth.
Quite. A. Party.
I entered the lounge and saw Chloe standing just inside the door, peering toward the center of the room. A small, plastic cup with punch was delicately pinched between her fingers.
I hadn’t been alone with her since she ran off from my mom’s room and locked herself in the bathroom. She claimed she wasn’t feeling well, but I knew better. I may only have one sister, but I knew when a girl was hiding from a guy.
I’d just never been “that guy.”
“Hey,” I said quietly, carefully drawing closer to her.
“Hi,” she said, not turning to look at me. Her eyes were still fastened to the center to the room and it wasn’t until that moment that I glanced toward whatever she’d been staring at.
I nearly dropped the tin tray of lasagna onto the floor when I saw Neil in the dead center of the room… kissing Elaina.
“What the hell did I miss?” I whispered.
“Finally, right?” Chloe’s touch brushed against my lower back and I quickly set the lasagna down to avoid a massive messy disaster.
“How did this… when did they…” I shook the fog from my brain. “I mean, didyoudo this?”
Chloe chuckled and shook her head. “I wish I could take credit. But they each did the sweetest, most self-less thing for each other.”
“They did?” Why was I only hearing about this now?
“Neil secured the old mill for Elaina’s healthcare clinic.” She paused, glancing around and lowered her voice to a whisper. “And Elaina paid for your mom’s surgery.”
