Page 215 of Between Secrets and Obsession

My dad does as she says, then squints to read the engraving.

“My hero,” he reads aloud. My father’s hardly an emotional person, but he chokes up. “Wow, Liam.”

I stand and round the coffee table, then wrap my arms around him. “I mean it, old man. You stepped up and took care of me. I think about that every day. You’re my hero, always.”

My dad shifts and returns the hug, holding back tears in the process. “I love you, son.”

“Love you too.”

Aunt Ruthie serves everyone pie and turns on the fireplace.

“So, Maddie…” my stepmom begins. “You were Liam’s roommate before you two started dating, right?”

Maddie nods and takes a large bite of her dessert, I suspect to avoid having to talk about our relationship since they think it’s recent.

“How did things change from roommates to dating?” she asks. I know she’s not being judgy, but it’s uncomfortable.

“Well…” Maddie swallows her food, then smirks at me. “He finally came to his senses and saw what was right in front of him the whole time.”

Alright, that’smostlytrue.

My dad chuckles, looking at his wife with pride. “Sounds like an Evans man.”

I smile and shrug. “I thought she was too good for me.”

“Oh, she is…” Aunt Ruthie teases. “Being in love is a good look on you, Liam.”

Reaching over, I grab Maddie’s hand and press a kiss on her knuckles. “It sure is.”

We end up watchingA Christmas Story,and as Maddie snuggles into me, I look around and soak in my surroundings. This has been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time, one spent with family and the love of my life, eating, drinking, and celebrating.

If I don’t come back, it’s not only going to affect Maddie but also everyone who loves me.

And that feeling is enough to gut me.

The next day, I’m back to training and reality.

“Come on, Liam, keep your shoulders tight,” Tyler scolds. I swing at him and miss, then he swoops his foot underneath my legs, and I fall flat on my back.

Motherfucker.

“Get up,” he demands, not giving me the chance to rest. “Your opponent gets you down, he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep you there. You fall, you bounce right the fuck up. You got me?” Tyler sounds pissed, and I’ve been off my game allday, but yesterday really brought everything into perspective for me. Realizing how much this one fight might change my life is wearing me down.

“You should’ve just let me fake my death months ago when I asked you to,” I chastise him.

“Or I could grab my gun and get the job done for real?” he mocks with a frustrating glare. “But then you know that means leaving me with Maddie, and we’ll probably grieve together and get close. Then I’ll turn on my Southern charm, and well…I’ll let you use your imagination for the rest.”

“You fucking bastard,” I hiss, jumping to my feet and storming toward him. He blocks every punch I attempt, smirking like an asshole.

“Whatcha gonna do about it when you’re dead?” He moves his head to the side, and I miss his face. “You gonna give up and let me have your girl?”

“Over my fucking dead body, you motherfucker.” I get a punch to his gut and another to his jaw.

“That's all you got? If so, I’ll have Maddie in my bed by Valentine’s Day.”

I fueled with rage, wrap my arms around his waist, and push my head into his stomach, pushing him into the ropes and punching him in the ribs.

Tyler has his arms around my head, tightening his grip as I attempt to lift his body over my shoulders.