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“Always good stuff. You’re one of her favorite people. Top five… in fact, you’re potentially number one, although you might be tied with Ethan now. You’ll have to ask her.” His wink is adorable. I manage to catch it after a quick blink that causes tears to spill down my cheeks.
I want to laugh and smile at him. He’s kind of adorable.
But my jaw is trembling again, and I’m sucking in a ragged breath that has hints of sob riding beneath it.
His expression crumples, this pained look crossing his face before he opens his arms wide. “C’mere.”
I hesitate, stepping away from him. “Why?”
“Because you look like you could use a shoulder to cry on.” His voice has dropped to a husky murmur. “My shoulders are big, and I’m not gonna be some slimy creep and make a move on you. I know we’ve only just met and you might not be able to trust that, but?—”
“Liam,” I whisper, the name finally conjuring up past conversations with Mick.
“Yeah, sometimes they call me Padre. Mick might have told you about me? Ethan and I grew up together. He’s my best bro.” He says “bro” with this little grin that’s obviously trying to win a smile out of me.
I nod, remembering a few odd stories. Mick raves about Liam. And she does sometimes call him Padre, because he’s like the protective bear of the group, always looking out for his teammates.
You can probably trust this guy.
The thought makes my belly tremble, like after twenty-four hours of a living nightmare, I can take a second to breathe. To not be scared anymore.
My chest heaves, my belly jerking as I suck in a breath, and then the tears start in earnest. There is no stopping this flood. I don’t even bother covering my mouth, just let out this aching moan and lurch into his arms.
They wrap around me instantly, strong yet gentle, and my body buckles.
I can’t carry this weight anymore. My legs won’t hold me.
And before I know what’s happening, he’s scooped me into his arms and is carrying me to the couch. Lowering himself onto it, he settles me on his knee. My long, gangly legs curl into the cushions as I swivel my body and rest my head against his shoulder.
He’s right.
His shoulder is big. And solid.
It catches my tears, holding me steady while I finally let myself weep without trying to fight it.
His hand lightly cradles my head, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my scalp as I mourn what I thought would be a love to last forever.
Theo was my guy.
And now he’s not.
And I ache in so many ways.
CHAPTER 2
LIAM
Rachel’s tears are soaking into my skin. I absorb each one, hoping to make her feel better. I have no idea what went down or why she’s here. She looks kind of scared and cut up, which is killing me.
Nothing rips me apart more than a broken woman.
When her face flashed with fear before, I felt the old memories stirring. They’re not that old, and it doesn’t take much for them to come to life in an instant. Mama weeping at the kitchen table, dabbing her swollen lip and trying to tell me that the lump beneath her eye was no big deal.
“Bruises heal, mijo.”
Anger burns, my stomach automatically clenching.
Rachel sniffs, and I will myself to relax. I don’t want her picking up on my black vibes. I’m trying to make her feel better.
