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I jumped. I was so engrossed in my own thoughts I hadn’t realized Liam had joined me.
“You okay?”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah, just thinking.”
“Jack, no doubt.” He smirked sitting opposite me.
“Maybe.”
He started to laugh. “You are so predictable… Reece told me you’d gone off with him earlier.” He cocked an eyebrow in question.
Ignoring his unspoken question, I asked one of my own, “When you invited me out here for the summer, why didn’t you tell me you were bringing me out here in the hope I’d interfere with Jack’s wedding?”
He met my eyes in surprise.
“You already know I like you. At first I thought perhaps we might get closer and then I could stop thinking about Mia. You’re different, and as soo
n as I saw you I knew Jack wouldn’t stand a chance.” He started running his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, but my heart belongs to her.”
I offered him a small smile. “It doesn’t matter, I’m in love with your brother so I’m not offended that you don’t have other feelings for me, in fact I’m relieved.”
“So you’re in love with my brother, huh?” He grinned. “Does he know?”
Sitting back in the porch swing I started to push back and forth slowly with my foot. “No, he doesn’t know and don’t you go telling him. It’s for me to say when I’m ready.”
“I won’t say anything…I think Mia’s dad is holding something over her head as well. I don’t know what. I thought she was coming round to me, but since I started asking her questions, she’s been avoiding me like the plague.”
That upset him. I could see it on his face. Despite the rough time we had been having, I truly liked him. Liam was my friend and I cared about how he felt. “I’m so sorry. Maybe she’s avoiding you so she doesn’t act on her feelings for you, because it’s obvious to me that she has them.”
“Thanks for that.” He rubbed his hand through his hair and looked out into the darkness. “I’m going to hit the sack.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Watching him walk inside, I turned towards the porch steps when I heard the bottom one creak.
My breath whooshed out. Phoenix was standing there, not looking happy.
“You can’t love me…and Liam needs to stop with Mia.”
“What…”
I jumped up to go to him, but he put his hand out to stop me. Instead I took hold of his hand and brought it to my lips, kissing his knuckle and felt a shudder run through him.
Not thinking I stepped into his space and brought my hands up to his face in a light caress. His hands landed on my waist as he rested his forehead against mine and met my eyes. “I can’t say what I have to with you in my arms.”
“Then don’t say it,” I whispered.
He moved his hands up to my face as I smoothed mine over his chest.
“I’m moving in with Donovan.”
I froze. “Why?”
He kissed my forehead and looked deep into my eyes. “Because if I stay here, you’ll be in my bed every night and to hell with the consequences. As much as I want you there, I can’t do that to you…or me for that matter, because if the wedding ends up going ahead it will kill me having to leave you behind. It’s going to hurt like hell as it is.”
At his words I burst into tears. Phoenix cursed pulling me into his arms while I cried all over him.
“Thalia, God baby. Please stop.”
