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“Am I?” He tilts his head. “Because from what I hear, people keep seeing you two together around town. And I don’t think you’re just being friendly.”
I shake my head. “I don't know what you're talking about.” Liam snorts. “Right. What about paying off all her debts without telling her?”
I freeze. My grip tightens around the beer bottle, and I finally turn to him. “How do you know about that?”
Liam leans back, smug. “I was the one who helped you investigate her debts in the first place, remember? I know exactly what you did.”
I grind my jaw, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. “I'm just trying to help. I mean, making her happy is the least I can do.”
"So let me get this straight, you are doing everything you've been doing because you pity her,"
I don't answer him because he knows it's not that. Liam watches me for a beat, then lets out a low whistle. “Man. You really are in deep.”
I glare at him. “She’s been through enough, Liam. She didn’t deserve to face all she did.”
Liam just shakes his head, laughing under his breath. “You really think I’m buying this? That you paid off her debts and that you've been around town acting all lovey because you feel pity for her.”
“I was just…you know …”
“What? Being nice?” Liam lifts a brow. “Dude, you don’t do everything you’ve been doing because you’re being nice. You did it because you love her.”
I go silent. The words hit like a gut punch, like something I already know but haven’t let myself admit.
Liam sees it too. “Yeah,” he mutters. “That’s what I thought.”
I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not,” Liam counters. “It’s really simple, dummy. You love her. And you’re scared.”
I swallow hard, staring at the waves. Because he’s right.
I am scared. Scared that no matter how much I love her, it won’t be enough to make her stay. Scared that if I let myself believe this is real, she’ll slip through my fingers all over again.
Liam sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I get it. She left once. And it messed you up.”
I clench my jaw. “You have no idea.” “I do,” he says simply. “Remember Bryan, I was there, and I’ve always been here for you. And I get why you’re hesitating. But let me ask you something, Bryan. Does keeping her at arm’s length make you feel better?”
I don’t answer. Because no. No, it doesn’t. Liam leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You think you’re protecting yourself, but all you’re doing is screwing this up before it even has a chance.”
I let out a slow breath, my chest tight. Liam shakes his head. “You can lie to yourself all you want. But at the end of the day, everything you’ve done? You’re not just helping her, Bryan.”
He pauses, then says it. The truth I don’t want to face. “You’re in love with her. And you have been for a long darn time.”
I press my lips together, my throat dry. Because yeah. I am. And suddenly, I don’t know why I’ve been fighting it.
The sound of Liam’s truck fades into the distance some minutes later, but his words still ring in my ears.You’re in love with her. And you have been for a long darn time.
I scrub a hand down my face, exhaling hard. He’s right. I know it, deep in my bones. There’s no use fighting it anymore.
I need to tell her. I HAVE to tell her.
But as I step back into the house, something feels… off. Buddy isn’t by the door to greet me. Instead, there’s the sound ofmovement hurried, rushed coming from upstairs. My stomach clenches.
I take the stairs two at a time, pulse kicking up. The second I step into the doorway of her room, I freeze. Emma is standing by the bed, packing.
A half-zipped duffel bag sits open, clothes hastily thrown inside. She moves frantically, stuffing a sweater in, then a pair of jeans, her fingers shaking.
“Emma?” My voice comes out rough, uncertain.