“I love you too,” I whisper. “God, Liam, I love you so much it terrifies me.”
“Good.” He brings my hand to his lips. “Let's be terrified together.”
And somehow, sitting in this restaurant with cameras flashing outside and our secret about to become very public knowledge, I've never felt safer in my life.
Because I'm with him.
And he loves me.
And whatever happens tomorrow, we'll face it together.
27
Liam
I stare at my phone screen, scrolling through the headlines for what must be the hundredth time today.
Nova’s new girlfriend: The woman taming the bad boy
Is Nova losing his edge? Girlfriend blamed for personality change
That last one makes my jaw clench so hard my teeth hurt.
We're in the team hotel in Tampa, waiting for tonight's game against the Lightning. First round of the conference finals. Win this and we're three games away from the Stanley Cup Finals.
I should be focused on the fact that we're about to play one of the most important games of my career.
Instead, I'm reading comments from strangers on the internet who think they know me. Who think they know Avery.
She's ruining him. Old Nova would never be this boring.
Bet she's controlling. Probably won't let him have any fun.
RIP party boy Nova. Killed by his uptight girlfriend.
The comments go on and on, hundreds of them, all saying variations of the same thing. Avery is the reason I've changed. Avery is to blame for me being less fun. Avery has destroyed the player they used to love.
It's bullshit. All of it.
But it's also everywhere. And I can see it's taking a toll on her.
She's been quiet lately. Every time I ask if she's okay, she says she's fine, but I can see the tightness around her eyes, the way she flinches when I mention social media.
I did this to her. I insisted we go public and told her it was time to stop hiding, promising her it would be worth it.
And now she's getting crucified online for the crime of dating me.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Avery: Good luck tonight. I know you'll be amazing.
Me: Wish you were here.
Avery: Me too. But I have a lot of work to catch up on. Rain check?
It's the third game in a row she's skipped. Her excuse is always the same. She has too much work, too many things to handle remotely. But I know that she’s avoiding the cameras and the scrutiny that comes from being seen with me.
I should push back, but part of me is relieved she's not here. At least if she's in New York, she's not subjected to insults and stupid comments.
