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Who else is in there?
A bunch of guys? Are they drunk? Will they?—
“It’s perfectly safe.”
My eyes dart to his face. He’s smiling again.
“I’m a gentleman, I swear. I’ll set you up in the living room with a coffee or hot chocolate, and I’ll leave you alone if you want me to… or I can sit and keep you company. Whatever you need.”
He seems so sweet and sincere. I seriously want to trust him.
But I thought Theo was sweet too.
Shit, I’m such an idiot.
Tears spring into my eyes before I can stop them. Covering my mouth, I try to hide them, but then a sob betrays me. It makes my body jerk, a weird sound coming out of me that I fail to smother.
Before I know what’s happening, two strong arms wrap around me, and I stiffen.
What’s he doing?
Is he going to drag me inside?
Is he?—
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” he whispers. “I promise.”
Why do I believe him so easily?
Am I just being a fool again or…
For some reason, my body goes. With a little nudge from him, I’m walking inside. Warmth immediately envelops me as the door swings shut behind us. It’s so nice to be out of the cold and snow that I just stand here, allowing this to happen.
His hand is on my elbow now—a light, undemanding pressure that would be easy enough to shrug off.
“It’s gonna be okay.” His voice is so gentle, his expression so tender.
I want to stare at him.
Believe him.
But he doesn’t know.
How can it ever be okay?
After what went down? What I did?
I clench my jaw, fighting this onslaught of tears that wants to take me out.
“I’m Liam, by the way.” He touches his chest, and I somehow manage to rasp a reply.
“I’m Rachel.”
His lips rise into yet another smile. They seem to come so easily for him.
“You’re Mick’s friend from California. She talks about you all the time.”
It’s hard to see through the building tears. I try to smile, but I’m not really sure what my mouth is doing. “Hopefully good stuff.”
