Page 70 of Ward Willing
Zoe
The tension with Liam has only grown over the three weeks since he drove me home from the club. It doesn’t help that the LSATs are coming up, so without Scotty as a distraction, I spend all of my free time studying. I’d gone over most of the studying this summer, before classes began, but this month I decide to do a couple of mock tests every week to refresh my memory, and despite scoring highly, I still worry that I’m going to walk away with a low score.
On top of everything going on, the idea for my fantasy book continues to knock around my brain, most notably when I’m in Liam’s class. He’s been extremely distant, and though I see him in class, he leaves before the class ends. He’s also not home at dinnertime, something that’s particularly unusual. Before, even with the added tension, we seemed to settle into a routine again after a few days. But now it’s like I’m living with a ghost. He’s gone before I leave in the morning, and he doesn’t come home until midnight most nights, just as I’m getting into bed.
I don’t want to think of whereelsehe could be going, or what he could bedoing, for that matter.
No matter what time he leaves or comes home, though, one of Liam’s brothers, Stella, or Layla offers to pick me up and drop me off from Crestwood University every day.
Instead of fretting over what his distance could signify, I throw myself into prepping for one of the biggest tests of my life—aside from the bar exam I’ll have to take to become an actual lawyer. When my brain allows it, I also chip away at my fantasy world; I’ve added more words in the last three weeks than I have in months. I hardly have time to breathe, but the writing fills me in a way I can’t describe. Somehow, the outpouring of creativityhelpsme with the mock tests and studying. It doesn’t make sense, but I don’t ask questions.
Lily, Ethan, and the villainous demon are with me before I fall asleep and when I wake up. In a weird way, it’s nice having them bouncing around my head when Ishouldbe studying boring shit all day long.
The day of the test, I’m up at five in the morning going over my flashcards. Sushi is laying at my feet, his heavy, constant purr a comfort to my frazzled nerves. Just as I’m about to stand up to brew another cup of coffee, Liam saunters into the kitchen.
Shirtless.
He stops when he sees me, looking almost embarrassed to see me. It hits me then that perhaps he has… company. My eyes flick behind him, but no one appears.
Instead, he walks over to the coffee machine and presses the button for a double espresso. Then he opens the cabinet and pops his pill before swallowing it dry.
I could ask him about it now…
“Morning,” he says, his voice groggy. “You’re up early.”
“Um, yeah. I have my test at eight,” I reply, shifting in my seat.
He turns around to face me while the machine makes his coffee. “Shit, of course. That’s today.”
“Yep.” He nods, crossing his arms, and I try not to stare at his bare skin. “Late night?” I ask casually.
He rubs his eyes. “Yeah. Chase and Juliet are back this weekend for the party, so I went out with him and Orion last night.”
Miles and Stella are throwing a small Halloween party at Ravage Castle tonight with all of the brothers, and though I’d agreed to go with Liam weeks ago, I’d forgotten it was tonight.
“Oh, right.”
“Yeah.” He nods again before turning back to the machine.
I hate how awkward it is between us now.
I haven’t let myself ruminate about the night of the bar, at least not too much, because all I can think about is how rough his hand felt on my bare skin. How hesmelledso fucking alluring. How he stood there and argued his way into my heart by telling me that he’d always look out for me.
You’re mine to protect.
I can’t leave you alone.
I squeeze my eyes shut as an idea forms. “Can you drive me tonight?” I ask.
He stops wiping up the machine as my words wash over him.
I don’t think I’ve ever asked him for a ride before. To me, it’s admitting defeat, like I can’t take care of myself, and in factdoneed him. I mean, I don’t. I am a capable woman. But it feels like a peace offering. Something I’ve never done before.
He usually has to force my hand, but today, I’m holding mine out to him.
From here, with his back to me, I let my eyes linger on his bare skin—on the thick lines carved into his back, and how his waist tapers into the low-slung grey sweatpants he’s wearing. I’ve never seen him naked, obviously, but I can imagine the way his wide back narrows and how his muscular thighs connect to his ass. I canalmostsee the outline through his sweatpants, too, and I feel like a pervert when he turns around and catches me staring.
My cheeks heat.
