Worse is the way his eyes are trained on me, and I feel guilty for being mean to him last night.
“Do you? Because you made some snide remark about calling me before nine and then threatened to break up with me if I showed up—when I was concerned for you.”
The air expels from my lungs, and I loosen my grip on his hand to untangle, feeling the ever-present need to back away, but he holds my hand tighter and finally pulls me into his lap. He doesn’t let me go, and my breathing quickens.
I need space.
Air.
It’s like I’m drowning and he’s holding me under water.
“Breathe,” Liam whispers against my cheek and his mouth is kissing my skin. It’s soft. Sweet. It’s not meant to arouse me, only calm me.
I don’t shout at him that I am trying to breathe. Mentally, I am, but the energy it takes to physically do that is too much. I stare at the bedsheets, my head bent down and Liam’s arms around my waist tightens, laying me down with him on the mattress.
My legs untangle and stretch out, the blood flow reaching all of my organs, making my heart rate slowly calm as I bury my face in his chest.
I hate him seeing me like this: weak.
“I’m sorry.” The apology is genuine and forthright, but it’s also mumbled into his chest. I’m not sure whether it’s intelligible or that he hears it.
Liam exhales and his hands rub soothing circles over my back. His lips kiss my forehead, and I swear I melt further into his embrace. I pull back only slightly, wanting him to know that I am truly sorry for last night. “I never meant to hurt you.” It takes all of my strength to glance up and meet his icy blue gaze.
The corners of his eyes soften with my apology as he pulls me tighter in his embrace. “I don’t ever want you to hear you threaten to break up with me. I don’t take well to threats, Bristol.” His voice holds a fiery heat, a darkness that I’m not used to with Liam. He’s usually got such warm energy that his words send a shiver down my spine. “If you want to end things, then you break up with me.”
My lips part, but no words come, because I don’t want to break up with Liam. That’s the farthest thought from my mind.
“Bristol?”
My voice cracks as I speak. “I understand.”
His gaze flickers with uncertainty, his brow pinches and he pulls me to lie above him. “You understand?”
Apparently, that wasn’t the right thing to say. I’m not sure if I’ve annoyed him or upset him. A soft breath flutters out as I quickly gather my thoughts. “I won’t threaten you again. I’m sorry.”
There’s a rap at the bedroom door. “Come in!” Liam shouts to whoever is knocking. “It’s open.”
We’re both still fully clothed and I roll off of Liam, moving to sit beside him as the bedroom door creaks open.
Sophia steps inside, her eyes glossy. She’s not crying, but she doesn’t seem her usually sassy self, either. She shows us her phone, handing it to Liam. “Dad wants to talk to you.” She’s holding back her tears, and I glance at Liam as he sits and takes the phone, his jaw tightens and his shoulders stiffen.
Sixteen
Liam
If it’s not one thing, it’s another around here. I didn’t think the phone call between Bristol and her father would be that tense, but she certainly seemed nervous to tell him she wanted to transfer schools.
Me, I was ecstatic, because it means I’ll get to see more of her.
When Bristol ended the call, she seemed lighter, carefree, happier.
I wish I was entirely the reason. Is it selfish of me? Absolutely, but I want to always be able to make her happy.
Sophia, however, the sorrowful gaze my sister drops on me makes my stomach bottom out.
I really don’t want to take the call, but she hands me her cell phone, and I grumble before forcing a rough, “Hello?”
Sophia climbs onto my bed with us, scooting up against the wall, leaning back, pulling her knees to her chest. She rolls her lips together, nervous.
