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He nodded, gray eyes fixed on me. “I’m fine.”
I swallowed, dread filling me. This felt like an end. And I didn’t want any endings where Liam was concerned.
“H-how are you always so calm?”
A sad smile stretched his lips. “I’m not.”
I smiled back and waited.
Maybe he’d touch me. Give me a peck on the forehead. A gentle squeeze of my hand.
Anything.
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
He just stared at me intently, as if to make sure I was okay.
I forced a smile and opened the door. “Good night, Liam.”
I didn’t wait for his response. My feet hit the sidewalk and I moved to Linea’s door. Then I paused and turned.
Liam’s truck was still there. He looked at me, brows furrowed.
For some reason, my chin started to tremble and my heart hammered. I ducked my head and knocked. Linea opened the door so fast, it was as though she had been waiting for me.
“Oh, Ava.”
I let her pull me into her arms.
“I messed up.” My voice was muffled against her shoulder.
“Hey, it’s okay.” She ran her hands down my hair and back.
I pulled in a deep breath, willing myself to believe it.
Seconds passed before the familiar rumble of Liam’s truck kicked up. I stood straighter and looked toward the door. The sound carried for a bit, then faded.
I squeezed my eyelids shut and forced the tears back. I was my choice to stay at Linea’s.
“Come on.” Linea looped her arm through mine and pulled me into her home.
I followed, only finding the strength to shuffle one foot in front of the other.
Linea eased me into a chair by the kitchen table. “Hungry?”
“Yeah, we didn’t even get to eat dinner.”
“Yikes,” Linea muttered. She moved around the kitchen, then stopped. “So, it looks like I don’t have any real food. Just ice cream.”
“That’s fine.”
“Cool.”
A tub of ice cream appeared in front of me with a spoon sticking out of it. I dug in and filled my mouth with the cold chocolate caramel treat.
I could have been eating dirt for all I knew. Instead of enjoying the yummy deliciousness, all I could do was replay through my head the terrible evening I’d experienced.
