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It was merelyan hour ago when I landed from leaving Los Angeles, heading straight to the only place where I could seek solace.
“Liam,” I said his name through tears the second the door opened. He didn’t even utter a word, he simply pulled me into his arms, comforting me as I cried harder… still hearing the wedding march echoing so vividly in my mind… and still seeing Grey standing at the altar, ready to take Edith as his wife.
Six months I had been gone, and everything had changed. Greyson was truly gone. My tears were merely a result of pain. It was inside where the havoc remained concealed that the real pain festered.
Had I revealed myself beforehand, would it have made a difference? Edith would undoubtedly be there, ready to tackle me when needed, but the truth of the matter was that I had been a little hesitant because I wasn’t sure Greyson would choose me. You see, I knew him, and I somehow knew how he worked. For him to choose to marry her, there had to be something more going on. Maybe his feelings were troubled when he saw me again. Maybe he felt that similar loss and sadness, but I was sure Edithmeantso much more. In that small amount of a time frame I had been gone, those two had become close, way closer than I had ever imagined.
I supposed it was a good thing I had hidden myself from them in the garden. Dealing with shame and humiliation on top of rejection would seriously have put me in mental rehab. For now, all I wanted was to get through this severe ache, wallow in my own memories of him and I, and hopefully—someday—I would see this as a lesson, and one I shouldn’t repeat again. Because truly, this had shaken me to the core, and I was far too young to look into the future with gloom and doom.
It wasn’t until three hours later Liam decided to say something while I was curled on his bed, staring into the wall, only blinking when necessary.
“Liv, I know food must be the last thing you want to think about, but I made you a light snack.”
My eyes slightly moved to the side, eyeing him warily as fresh tears rolled out of them. “I caaaan’t.” My voice came out scratchy and out of breath, as if I was parched and my throat dried out of any moisture.
I shook my head, slowly moving to sit up. “I’ll take juice, if that’s okay?”
Liam pitifully eyed me, blue eyes looking sad as he reluctantly nodded to my request. “Very well. At least you’re willing to drink something.”
He came back with a half-filled glass of orange juice, sitting right next to me, making sure I drank at least half of it. I was thinking of taking small, tiny sips, but he wasn’t having it.
“Do you want me to run the shower?” he asked softly, reaching out to curl my hair behind my ear. “I heard hot showers could do wonders when you’re down and out.”
I made an effort to smile. Liam was truly being nice, and I was being such a pain for assuming that I was welcome here after what I had done to him. However, he was the only friend that understood and knew me well in Sydney, and I was almost sure he knew that, too. He was such a great guy—he deserved more than this.
“Sorry I didn’t give you notice. I came straight from the airport.”
“It’s okay, Liv. You’re always welcome here, you know that.”
Nodding, I reached out to hang on to his hand that caressed me cheek. “Thank you—for everything,” I shakily whispered as I stared deeply into his eyes, hoping he’d know that I was sorry for hurting him, too.
“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere for as long as you need me.”
I winced at his words, knowing quite well that he meant them. I didn’t deserve any of this, not even his pity.
“Liam,” I said hesitantly, “I don’t want to hurt you more than I have. It’s not right.”
“Tell me what is, Olivia?” he asked, a little baffled. “I’m in love with you—nothing’s changed.Seeing you this way, broken and in tears because of another guy, and yet I couldn’t do anything to make you feel better, feels much worse than you rejecting me.”
“That’s absurd. You don’t mean that.”
“I do…” he whispered with alacrity. “God, I fucking do.” His face contorted with so much emotion—emotions he had hidden from me most of the time, but now it was there for me to see.
For months, I had thought he was making progress, he’d even made efforts to go out and start dating again, but each time he saw me, his eyes would light up, glowing with love and affection.
Girls from our school took effort in seducing him, and the stories I had heard when he went to parties had made me feel nothing because I had been too consumed with Greyson—thinking and breathing him, hoping he’d reach out to me after I’d sent him that text message. Little had I known he was already busy with Edith. Even if she was sick, I was sure that hadn’t stopped them from having sex. Those two were notorious with their sex life. Everyone knew that.
A beep came out of Liam’s pocket, making him reach out to get it, sighing after he saw the caller on the screen.
“Your mom’s been calling. She’s worried that you left without saying goodbye, even leaving your luggage behind.”
My mother was frantic, and I would guess my father was, too.
Plucking the phone out of his hand, I took the call with a heavy heart. “Hey, Mom—”
“Livvy, where the hell have you been? I was looking for you and then you were gone. And when I called your dad and he said you weren’t home, I started to worry. If I hadn’t thought of calling Liam, I’m sure I could’ve died from a heart attack. Don’t ever do that again, young lady, do you understand me?” She sounded so frantic, as if she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you, but after dropping by the church…” I trailed off, not sure if I could finish the sentence as moisture started welling, blurring my sight.
