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It was soaking into my socks. My ankles were covered. There was a dark stain on the inseam of my running pants all the way up to my crotch.
I was bleeding. Heavily.
When he doesn't answer, I call out again. It hurts to yell. It's painful to move my jaw.
"What's up, ba—"
As he turns the corner, Liam catches sight of me and his words are cut short. I haven't seen myself yet, but I imagine I look like hell. My hair that was neatly pulled into a ponytail when I left the house less than an hour ago is now hanging limply at the base of my neck.
I can feel the swelling in my face. From my jaw to my left eye, it's puffed out and sensitive to the touch.
Then there's the blood.
He's staring at my legs, so I can only imagine that's what has him standing in shock, attempting to process what he's seeing.
"I need help." Forcing the words through clenched teeth, Liam springs into motion, running from the room.
When he returns, he has his cell phone between his ear and the crook of his shoulder. He's talking to someone, giving them our address. He has one of our new, white bath towels in his right hand and the first aid kit in his left.
"Please hurry. I don't know where all the blood is coming from."
Tossing his phone on the floor at my feet, he pulls the coffee table over and helps me sit down.
"What happened, Addison?" he asks as he pours some hydrogen peroxide on the towel and dabs it at my lips.
It stings, causing me to pull my face away. When he reaches for my arm, I recoil, not wanting to be touched.
"I won't hurt you, I promise. I need you to tell me what happened."
There are sirens in the distance. Help is on the way. Just a few more minutes and I'll be safe. They'll take care of me. They'll fix me up. They'll find the men who did this to me and get my ring back.
"My ring," I whisper, drawing Liam's attention away from my broken and bruised face. "They took my ring."
"I'm sorry, babe. I should have been there to protect you. You shouldn't have been running alone. Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I tried," I cry, my reserve finally breaking as tears stream down my face.
Adam is nothing like Ben.Or Liam.
He's the opposite, actually. He's protective but not overbearing. He wants me to be safe, but he'll allow me to make my own decisions and not attempt to shelter me from making mistakes.
Maybe it's because this is all new.
Maybe it's because I haven't seen that side of him yet.
I'd like to think I'm a great judge of character. When it comes to Adam, I see a lot of things about him that I'm drawn to and not much that scares me or causes concern, although he still hasn't told me about Sawyer. Chloe refuses to be the one to tell me. She wants it to come from him. Insists that it has to.
It worries me that it'll be worse than I can imagine.
More than anything, it makes me wonder if I'm a replacement for someone he can't have. Did Sawyer leave him? Did she break his heart? Where is she now?
These are all questions I want to ask. Questions I've thought about trying to bring up in casual conversation, but the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet.
Then again, it might be better if we're alone when he tells me because if I truly am a replacement like I'm fearing, I'd rather not find out in front of our friends. I won't be able to hide my disappointment.
"Addy," Adam says, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "You okay?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking. I guess I zoned out."
"Care to share what has you gripping that wine bottle so fiercely?"
My eyes drift to my hands. Not because I can't feel the grip I have on the wine bottle but because I can't bring myself to look Adam in the eyes right now. If I do, he'll be able to see through my lies.
