First, Abigail invited me in—more forced me into her apartment. She sat me down and grilled me for about fifteen minutes about my intentions with her sister and asked if I knew just how much of an ass I’d been. I took full accountability and told her that I loved Sabrina and that I would do anything for her, even if that meant leaving because Sabrina didn’t want me.
That seemed to appease Abigail, because she started helping me plan my big romantic gesture.
I’d suggested that I just go to the library and talk to Sabrina, but apparently, that had been the wrong answer.
As soon as Abigail got Isabelle involved, I was quickly pushed out of the planning.
Now, I was currently executing Operation Get Sabrina Back and feeling like an idiot.
After the first two lines of the newest Drifter song, I glared over at Isabelle, who had insisted on staying with me once she helped me slip into the library. Her smile was so wide I could see all of her teeth. Her gaze was dancing with excitement as she watched me.
I lowered the phone. “This is silly. Can’t I just go talk to her?”
Isabelle looked offended. “It’s romantic. Keep going,” she said.
I eyed her, wanting to argue but then deciding against it.
I hated this plan and wanted it to end, but I also wanted Abigail to be my sister-in-law, and I had a feeling that Isabelle would be reporting back to her about my performance. If I was going to make a good impression, I needed to put my doubts aside and do what they had planned.
I switched to, “Your Love is a Lighthouse,” and just as I finished the first chorus, Isabelle’s office door was yanked open. I knew who was going to be standing there, staring in at Isabelle and me, but nothing could have prepared me for the confused and betrayed look on Sabrina’s face.
The romantic reunion I’d fantasized about from the moment Sawyer got the call that his contact at the FBI had Frankie in custody was completely washed away with the hurt in Sabrina’s gaze.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. Her voice was barely a whisper. Her eyebrows were knitted together as she folded her arms across her chest.
“I…” My voice stopped working as the words I wanted to speak refused to come out. I slowly lowered the phone before setting it back on its base. Using the intercom was no longer needed. Not when the woman I was reaching out to was standing right in front of me.
“He came back for you,” Isabelle announced, like Sabrina had just won a brand-new car. She even flourished her words with a wave of her hands.
I glared over at her. I wanted to tell her that this wasn’t helping, but she didn’t even look my way. Instead, she reached over to her desk and grabbed her purse.
“I’ll leave you two to get reacquainted,” she said as she hurried out of the office. Just as she passed by Sabrina, she paused. “This was Abigail’s idea,” she said before she disappeared into the library.
Now alone with Sabrina, I stood there, not knowing what to do. I knew she had questions for me, but I wasn’t sure where to start or if she even wanted me to speak. I wanted to tell her everything that had happened, but I also didn’t want her to think that I was just full of excuses.
I decided to let my heart speak, just like I did when I created music.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice low with emotion. Flirty Liam was gone, and genuine Liam had taken his place. I didn’t want Sabrina to doubt my sincerity. I needed her to know that walking away from her had been the hardest thing I’d ever done.
She blinked as her cheeks flushed pink. Her bottom lip began to quiver, and I felt like such an asshole, standing there watching her break down. I wanted to cross the space between us and pull her into my arms and take away all her pain, but I wasn’t sure she wanted that.
“I never wanted to hurt you. I’d convinced myself that the best thing for you was to push you away.” I walked around the desk. I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt for her any longer. I would keep getting closer to her as long as she allowed me to.
I could see tears form in her eyes, but she wasn’t telling me to go away, so I continued.
“I needed to know you were safe. If anything happened to you, I would never be able to forgive myself.” I took another step toward her. God, I wanted her in my arms. I was never, ever going to let her go again.
“Frankie? Did he say something to you about me?”
I studied her. Had she been following the story? Did she know?
“Abigail called me out to watch the press conference.”
I quirked an eyebrow. I wanted to tease her about it. I was an idiot in a lot of situations, but, right now, I knew enough to keep that side of myself in check. If I did this right, I was going to have a lifetime of flirting with Sabrina just so I could see her blush. But now was not the time.
So I just nodded as I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “He threatened you and little man.” I paused, realizing that Sabrina didn’t know anything about Katie or the financial situation she put me in. “Frankie is a loan shark. He was extorting me for money that Katie promised him I would pay.” I swallowed. I didn’t want to throw Katie under the bus, but I couldn’t live this lie any longer. “My life had become a shit show. Katie was stealing from me—my assets were frozen because of her. Before you, it didn’t matter to me.” I paused and held her gaze so she would know that what I was about to say was true. “Nothing mattered before you.”
She frowned as she stared at me. I could see fear in her gaze. She was worried that she was never going to be able to trust me again. I wanted to dedicate my life to proving to her that she could.
