“Sensitive to being controlled?” Liam shrugged. “I’ll bring the car around. Wait here.”
“Wait? I’d love to, but I’m sensitive to being controlled. I think I’ll fuck off somewhere else instead.”
Liam didn’t argue. “Walk with me instead then.”
Stubbornness made Austin want to set his feet and root himself in place, but that hadalsobeen one of Liam’s requests. His unwillingness to do anything asked of him hadn’t manifested immediately upon stumbling into freedom, nor when he took control of Cessair’s assets. Rather, it had grown in pieces. When Liam left, something big and destabilisinghad surged inside him. In the water, the mermen rejected him outright. On land, Connor’s family gave him a similar icy reception.
Sam’s public rejection of his friendship had been the final straw. Austin had genuinely tried to connect, to make up for what he’d done wrong. When he saw that Sam was still hung up on his breakup with Connor, he’d explained that he was the cause—a purposefully seeded interest, the allure of his blood and voice. He warned Sam about the stalker he’d accidentally set on him, even admitted to ruining Gary with his power. He let himself be vulnerable.
Austin vowed never to offer such a thing again, not to anybody.
He’d sent the freshly arrived Liam packing again.
Since then, nothing had lightened his black mood. He could just about stomach his own irritability, but the effect he had on other people made his eyes burn.
Liam indicated across the road. “I’m just over there. I’ll bring us somewhere for a decent cup of coffee.”
It galled Austin to give in. “Fine.”
Liam didn’t rub the acquiescence in his face.
Austin followed Liam to a small Micra parked across the road and climbed into the passenger seat. Slung across the back seat was a rucksack that sagged as if only half full. The rest of the car was pristine, smelling new.
“Are you staying in that cottage still?” Liam asked as he climbed in, contorting his tall frame to fit such a tiny vehicle.
“You’re well aware of where I’m staying.”
Liam started the engine and got them moving.
“You disappeared for a few months there.”
Austin eyed Liam’s profile. “How do you know that?”
Liam kept his eyes on the road. “Tammy couldn’t get a hold of you. I usually call up every so often to check in. Make sure you’re getting on okay.”
Austin wouldn’t consider what he’d been doing as “getting on” or “okay”.
“And what does she usually say when you ask that?”
“That nothing’s changed.”
Austin huffed. That wasn’t accurate either. Things had changed, just not in the way Liam might have been expecting to hear. Austin wasn’t too pleased that even after sending him away, Liam had stayed up to date with how badly things had been going for him. That he knew how isolated Austin had remained.
Liam tapped the screen in the dash, and “Hallelujah” started playing. Over the name of the song and artist, in little block letters, was written “Austin”. Curious, Austin tapped back to the folder and scrolled through the collected songs. That burning feeling returned to his eyes.
“Who put this together?”
“Is there anyone aside from me who could have?”
The remark stung, but he seriously considered the question. “When I was with Connor, I used to pretend that his favourite songs were my favourite ones too. I found out beforehand what he listened to and learned them off by heart, set up my music apps so it looked like they were all I’d ever listened to.” Austin tapped a song on the list he didn’t recognise and leaned back to listen. Piano keys tinkled delicately, then segued into a bright tangle of instruments. “How do you know?”
“You told me.”
“But did you ask?”
“I believe I invited the conversation by playing a song you didn’t like.” The corner of Liam’s mouth twitched up. “Plus, I’vebeen listening to your music selection for years. I have a good sense of it.”
Austin didn’t enjoy the reminder of their old familiarity and closeness.
