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I could almost laugh out loud at the irony of it.
“Is it about Noah?”
I clench my jaw, turning to look ahead so that I don’t have to face him. “Why would you think that?”
“I’m sorry, Mackenzie. I don’t want to be an asshole... but something has been weird about the whole thing. I just... I can’t picture it. And now he’s leaving you here? How could someone abandon their mate like that?”
Again there is that manic urge to laugh, because it had beenincrediblyeasy for Noah to up and leave me, considering I was never his mate to begin with.
“He isn’t...” My voice sounds too thick. “He isn’t exactly...”
“Mack,” Liam says gently, reaching out a hand to touch my shoulder. “I know I should have said something sooner, but I... I care about you. More than just as a coworker. And I—” He makes a frustrated sound. “I would never make you look like you do now. Fucking miserable.”
I look at him then,reallylook at him, and in another life, Liam would be the perfect partner. He’s kind and considerate and perfectly wonderful—but the awful truth of why I can’t be with him in the way that he wants is made glaringly obvious by the first thought that pops into my head, even if it makes no sense.
He’s not Noah.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, looking down at my feet. “I can’t.”
It’s not exactly a real answer, but I think he discerns my meaning all the same, if the way he draws back his hand is any indication. I hear him breathe deep, just to let it out, and when I peek over at him I catch him nodding.
“Right,” he says softly. “Right. Of course. Sorry, I... I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, I appreciate it, I—” I huff. “That’s a terrible thing to say.I’m sorry. Listen, Liam, you are...amazing, and anyone would be lucky to have you, but I—”
“Love Noah,” he finishes, sounding wistful. “I get it. You can’t fight love.”
I stare back at him dazedly, trying to process this.
Love?
As much as I’ve been wallowing, as much as the loss of Noah has wounded me—I haven’t once considered that it could be so terrible because Ilovehim. That’s impossible... isn’t it? There hasn’t been enough time for love. It’s just...impossible.
“I...”
Liam shakes his head. “It’s fine. You don’t have to explain anything to me. I think I needed to tell you. Just so I can say I did all I could.”
“I don’t want to lose your friendship,” I blurt out, still reeling from what he said and trying to make sense of it in my brain. “You’re still important to me.”
“You won’t,” he says with a small smile. “I’ll put on some sappy movies and have a good cry and be right as rain eventually.”
I smile in spite of everything. “That easy to get over me?”
“No,” Liam says in that same wistful tone. “No, I doubt it will be.”
My mouth gapes slightly. I’m not sure what to say to that. I wish I would have just kept my mouth shut.
“I’ll see you later, Mackenzie,” he says, saving me from having to answer. I think it might be the first time he’s said my full name since the day we met.
I nod solemnly. “See you.”
I watch him walk out into the parking lot, never looking back. I wonder if things will ever return to normal between us, and all Ican do is hope that with time, Liam will meet someone who deserves him. Who can give him all the things he’s looking for.
I don’t move until the sliding doors open again, Parker stepping out of the building sometime later and fussing over his scarf.
“Oh, hey,” he says when he catches sight of me. “Sorry, there was a server issue. I got held up.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine.”
