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“What? You are the only person I need beside me.” I reassured her, making her meet my gaze once more. “You left this. You stood up for yourself and went after what you needed and wanted. You got out. Now that I know this about you, I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of you. How could you have endured this your whole life and still become this amazing person?”
I took her lips in mine, hoping that she could feel the truth in every word I had spoken through that kiss.
Jamie’s eyes lingered shut for a while after I pulled back, inhaling sharply as if conjuring courage before she spoke again. “Do you remember that night on my birthday when Michelle was at your apartment?”
“I do. I had never been so disappointed to see a naked woman in my apartment before.” I tried to lighten the mood with a small joke.
“You came to my apartment and took care of me. You stayed even after I sent you away. Held me when all I needed was a shoulder to cry on. That was the first time I felt cared for in my whole life.” She confessed, her eyes not meeting mine as if she was ashamed of her own words, keeping her gaze on the mattress as she continued. “That was the night I fell in love with you.”
Jamie
There was a battle raging inside me.
I should be devastated by that revelation. I should be crying my heart out knowing that Frank wasn’t my father after all. That my life was a lie.
But instead, the only thing I could bring myself to feel was relief. And guilty for feeling relieved. Just like I felt guilty for not caring that Liam was in the mafia and all the things that were inherently attached to that by definition.
Alison’s words came rushing back into my head about preconceptions of right and wrong.
I couldn’t fight this feeling, it was too strong to suppress or ignore.
I was relieved to know that the only person I thought should love me unconditionally and never had wasn’t that person after all.
Relieved to know that Frank’s hateful words were never about me. They were nothing but a reflection of what he felt about himself.
Relieved to know that I was not what he had made me to believe, and glad that by some miracle, I didn’t allow his abuse to define my life.
Frank not being my father lifted a weight I carried since the moment I drew my first breath.
For a moment, I thought I would be afraid of Liam after what I saw him do. After the unhinged look in his eyes, the rage in his body, the anger in his voice, and the violence of his actions.
Liam didn’t care for the life that was draining out under the pressure of his fingers. There was no remorse in his eyes. But to my surprise, Liam made me feel what I never thought possible.
I felt safe, cared for, and most of all, loved.
When I heard Liam saying that I was the only person he needed beside him, I just allowed my emotions to take over and told him exactly how I felt. It seemed like today was my day of truths.
“I’m sorry. It’s stupid, and too soon, and a very strange moment to tell you this, but I’ve never had that before. I’ve never had someone hug me while I cried. Snuggle with me the whole night while I was hurting. You did all that. And today, you did it again. I mean… I think I’m just trying to say thank you.” I blurted, my cheeks flushed in embarrassment while I stared at the white sheet and drew nervous circles on it with my index finger.
Liam grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto his lap until I was straddling him. He held my face in his hands and kissed me. His lips worshiped mine slowly in a passionate kiss that melted my soul and fired up my heart, making me sink deeper into his touch.
The kiss grew wilder before he pulled back, resting his forehead on mine as his lips curled into a blindingly perfect smile.
“You fell in love with me…” He taunted, his smile widening as he said it, lighting up his beautiful green eyes.
“I hum… I…” His words and his deep gaze made me blush and stutter. Liam put his index finger on my lips in a gesture for me to stop talking.
Liam looked into my eyes, still holding that big smile, and swiped a loose strand of hair behind my ear before making my whole world crumble at his feet.
“And I love you, Jamie Harden.”
It was cliché, but my heart skipped a couple of beats as I heard those words, my stomach fluttering while my throat blocked in joy.
How could this be my life? Liam loved me, too.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him, pushing his back onto the bed, an immense feeling of happiness flooding my every pore.
This was the safest place in the world to be, cradled in Liam’s arms. I nestled against his side, his arm around my body while his fingers drew circles on my skin.
