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He glances at me, a faint smile playing on his lips. His fingers squeeze mine, grounding me.
"It's okay," he assures me.
His voice is gentle as he explains that he considered returning but couldn't. He needed to rest, to find a way to help others without the looming fear of whether they'd survive another day. He has seen too much and confesses that he feels like he left a part of himself behind.
His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I grip his hand tighter. My chest heaves with emotion, my heart feels heavy, and I'm awash with empathy for this brave, broken man.
I promised myself I'd keep a distance from men, yet I can't help but yearn to pull him close, to tell him everything will be okay, and offer him my support if he accepts it.
Some promises are meant to be broken, right?
"I'm sorry," I say again, my voice barely above a whisper. "I won't ask you anything else."
I've overstepped. I've pushed too far. And as I sit there, our hands still entwined, I find myself hoping Liam won't let go.
"It's fine, Kate," Liam says, his voice catching as he confesses. "Maybe I should have talked about all this sooner. I’ve been saving everything inside me for a while, you know? I should be the one thanking you."
He smiles briefly before asking if I've lived my whole life in Willow Creek.
His question hangs in the air, heavy and charged. I hesitate, caught between revealing the truth about my past and keeping my secrets buried.
It's too soon to delve into my history with someone I just met, even if that someone is a man like Liam, even if he just told me his story.
Instead, I tell him, "I spent a year living abroad, but I came back," forcing a smile on my lips.
The hope that he won't probe further evaporates as he asks, "Why did you return?"
I suck in a deep breath, pulling my hand from his. This is becoming too much, too soon. We've just met, and as kind as he may be, I know better than to trust people so quickly. I've been burned before and won't let it happen again.
"Is it a secret?" he inquires softly, his eyes on the road. "It's okay if you don't want to share."
I nod, pressing my cheek against the window, the silence between us comforting.
"Are you feeling better?" he asks, concern etching his features.
His question pulls me from my thoughts, and I realize the pain in my belly has subsided. The distraction of our conversation, the softness in his gaze, his large hand wrapped around mine - all had dulled the pain. He's a painkiller in the form of a man. I've spent more time focusing on him than myself.
"I'm feeling better," I tell him, smiling. "Thank you,"
He returns my smile, his eyes twinkling under the starry night sky.
"We're almost at Willow Creek. Just a few more minutes."
I glance out the window, a sigh escaping my lips. I'm torn between relief and regret. Relief that I'll soon be away from the man who almost made me break my two-year vow of emotional detachment, and regret that I won't see him again - won't see his handsome face, won't ever touch his rough hand again.
I wonder if I am squandering a chance that may not come again, but I quickly dismiss the thought. He's a stranger, and it's better this way. Isn't it?
I try to console myself that it's for the best. Liam will step out of the car, disappear into the night, and remain nothing but a fleeting memory. He's been a pleasant surprise, reminding me that I can still feel, that my heart can still flutter at the sight of a man. But nothing more than that.
Suddenly, Liam speaks, "It's started raining."
His words pull me out of my reverie. I focus on the world outside, the raindrops trailing down the window glass like tiny rivers.
"I'm glad we're already getting to Willow Creek," I tell him.
He nods in response but doesn't say anything else.
His silence weighs heavy in the air, leaving me yearning for the sound of his voice. It's as if he's pulling back, retreating into his own shell, and I can't help but wonder if it's worth trying to reach out to him again.
