Page 32

“We love you,” my mom chimed in as she opened her arms to pull me in for a hug. “Whenever you’re ready to talk, we’ll be here.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you later.”

I was out the door and on my way to the hotel moments later. And just as my mom had said, there was a suite ready for me when I arrived.

After taking some time to drop my bags and put the food away, I climbed into the bed. I replayed the evening with Layla in my head, and all it did was serve to increase the urge I had to reach out to her.

With nobody there to talk me out of making what could be considered a foolish move, I pulled out myphone and called her. The call went to voicemail, and I knew it was over. She always answered my calls. Always.

But I left her a message anyway.

“Layla, please call me. I want to talk to you and work this out. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Please. I love you.”

I disconnected the call and tossed my phone aside.

Getting any sleep was impossible as I held on to some shred of hope that maybe she’d call me back.

But that call never came.

I had to face the truth.

Layla was gone, and I was alone.

8

LIAM

When the lightfiltered through the small space between the curtains in the hotel room the next morning, I decided to act.

This was Layla.

This was my life. Our life.

I couldn’t just give up. How I even stayed in this hotel room all night long was a mystery to me.

I could fix this. I had to.

No effort was required to get me out of bed and into the shower. I felt a renewed sense of determination. It couldn’t be over between us, just like that.

I loved her. She loved me. No way would she be unwilling to talk to me if I showed up and asked her to talk.

And whatever it was, I’d figure out a way to work through it with her. We’d be okay.

We had to be.

As quickly as I could, while doing my best not tofocus on the ache in my chest, I got myself showered and ready. Before I knew it, I was at her front door.

Heart pounding, I knocked.

And for the first time ever, I felt unsettled as I waited for the door to open. I cleared my throat several times, suddenly wishing I’d grabbed some water before I’d walked out of the hotel.

I lifted my hand to the back of my neck and squeezed just as I heard the door being unlocked.

I expected to see Layla on the other side, even if she had red-rimmed and puffy eyes. Instead, I was met by the utterly devastated and tired expression of Meredith Snow. She looked as bad as I felt, like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Liam.” I couldn’t miss the shock in her tone or what that look on her face indicated. Things weren’t good.

“Meredith. I… I apologize for showing up unannounced like this, but I was hoping I could come in and talk to Layla.”