“Spill what?”
“Liam?” she asked in a ‘well duh’ kind of tone.
“There’s nothing to spill. He has been practically living at my house helping me through this. That’s it.”
“Seriously? Felicity… you can’t tell me that boy doesn’t mean something to you.”
Felicity sucked the sweet liquid through the straw, the burn of the tequila making its way down her throat.
“I don’t know.”
“Felicity…” Lila grunted.
“Fine… he does mean something. He’s always meant something. But I’m a broken mess. He deserves better.”
“You’re as blind as they come. First Jasper, now Liam.”
“Don’t you dare compare them.” Felicity sloshed her drink flicking the straw.
“I don’t mean they’re anything alike. I mean you don’t see what’s right in front of your nose. Jasper was bad… you ignored it. Liam, though… that man looks at you like you’re the only woman in the room. Did you know he cried in the hospital?”
“He didn’t.”
“Yes… he did. He told me he’d been so stupid and angry for so long. And that if he didn’t get the chance to tell you how sorry he was, he’d regret it. Now tell me that’s not love.”
Felicity couldn’t tell her that. She was trying to pretend it wasn’t possible, but she’d been paying attention like Hank had told her to do. And she saw the same thing everyone had been telling her. Liam looked at her like he loved her. She just couldn’t accept that he did – even though he’d said it to her face.
“I need another one.” Felicity drank down another margarita, the effects of the alcohol hitting her quicker than she expected. Lila was buzzed as well and offered to call her a cab, but instead, she called Liam. She knew he’d come pick her up, no questions asked. And when he picked up on the first ring, he did exactly what she thought he would do. He told her to sit tight and he would be there in a few minutes.
Chapter 22
Felicity watched as Liam opened her front door and walked inside. She followed him, tossing her bag on the entry table.
“Felicity, I know you were just having a good time, but you need to be more careful.”
“Liam – I am a grown woman, who wanted to have a drink with a friend. Calm down. I didn’t drive. I called you. Jesus.” She flopped onto the couch.
He watched her, sitting in the space beside her, “I know. Sorry, I just worry about you.”
Felicity appraised the man in front of her. Everything everyone had been telling her was screaming at her in this moment.
“Why do you still love me?”
“WHAT?” He barked out, “What kind of question is that?”
“A serious one. I’m not the woman you knew back in high school. In fact, I’m broken and tarnished. Someone ruined me. You deserve someone who will protect your heart, not rip it to pieces like I did.”
“You’re not ruined. And there has been no other woman since you that I’ve even come close to loving. It’s always been you. The moment I thought I was going to lose you; I knew the anger I held was stupid. Here you were, back in town. It was like God was telling me it was our chance again. Felicity, I’ll be here when you’re ready to let me in again, that won’t change.”
She couldn’t breathe. Here was the only boy… now man, that she’d ever really loved – and he was telling her that he still loved her. She reached out, pressing her hand to his face, “Thank you, Liam.”
Liam could only stare at Felicity. He wanted to reach out and pull her to him, but he knew it was too soon. It had only been two months since she’d been brutalized and tortured. She was doing well, on the surface, but he knew the demons she held inside. He was here at night when she woke screaming.
“You’re welcome. Now… let’s get you to bed. It’s late and you’re technically still recovering.”
Liam helped her from the couch and followed her upstairs. She was slightly wobbly on her feet, so he stayed close behind her as they ascended the steps. Felicity paused briefly, staring at the door to her room, a room she had yet to go into. Shaking the memory from her head, she continued to the master bedroom.
Liam sat on the edge of the bed, watching Felicity as she tried to decide what to do. “What’s wrong? You look lost.”
“I think I want to shower.” She smiled, grabbing some clothes from the dresser, and disappeared into the bathroom.
Liam stripped down to his boxers and slipped beneath the sleeping bag on the floor. He’d taken to sleeping on the floor after the first week staying here. Since Felicity refused to stay at his house with him and his dad, he’d refused to leave. And he was glad he’d fought her on it, she’d woken up almost every night since with nightmares. Usually, she never fully woke up. Some nights he’d have to sit beside her, holding her hand until she fell back asleep. Liam was exhausted, but until the nightmares stopped, he’d fight through his tiredness and help her.
He’d just closed his eyes when the bathroom door opened, and Felicity emerged. She was wearing a pair of tiny shorts and a tight tank top. Liam had to adjust himself, reminding his cock she wasn’t ready. Felicity yawned, stretching her arms over head, teasing him with a sliver of her flesh, before crawling into bed.
“You know, you can go sleep in the other room. I don’t need you to stay in here.”
“Yeah – well unless your nightmares have magically disappeared, this is the best way for me to get some kind of sleep.”
Felicity let out a growl, “Fine.”
She flicked the light off, casting the room into darkness and closed her eyes.
Chapter 23
Liam woke to her screams. Like clockwork, Felicity would writhe and cry out into the dark room. He laid there, waiting to see if she would go back to sleep.
“No…No…Please – don’t. JASPER!” She screamed out, bolting upright in the bed. Liam jumped from the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Felicity,” he whispered her name, trying to assess if she was awake or still stuck inside her terror. Her sobs broke his heart. He wanted nothing more than to reach inside her head and banish the things that tormented her. “Felicity, please wake up.” He gently clasped her shoulder. She flopped back to the bed, her sobs louder than when she was crying out.
“I hate this.” She cried into her pillow, “I’m so broken.”
Liam wiped her hair from her face, “You’re not broken. You went through something awful, and in time, it will get better.” He pulled the covers back up, tucking them in around her. “Try and get some sleep.” As he slid back to the floor, she called out.
“Liam. Will you just lay next to me for a little while? Maybe until I fall back asleep?”
He squeezed his eyes shut. She wanted him to hold her, and even if this wasn’t how he wanted it to be, he stood and slipped in beside her. “Alright, close your eyes. I’ll stay here until you fall back asleep.”
Liam stared at the ceiling, listening as Felicity’s breathing evened out. He was relieved to hear her relax some. Closing his eyes, he decided to give her a few more minutes before he slipped out of the bed and got back on the floor.