Page 56 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“I know,” he grinds out. “I shouldn’t have.”

Liam steps back, putting space between us until my hands fall to my sides.I want to ask what or who he’s protecting me from, but my heart shatters at the way he looks at me. Like he’sin physical pain from touching me. Or maybe fromnottouching me.

“You can’t just kiss me when it’s convenient for you,” I murmur, my voice so low I’m not sure he hears me.

“It won’t happen again,” he swears, and I want to argue with him. I want it to happen. Again and again.

“Don’t promise something you know you can’t keep,” I say confidently.

Liam shakes his head before brushing his hand through his messy hair. “You did really well tonight. You should be proud.”

I stand taller, crossing my arms and squaring my hips. “Thank you. And I am. Joel and I practiced really hard.”

Just as I knew it would, his jaw clenches at the mention of Joel.

“See? Right there.” I frown, holding out my hand toward him. “You can’t get jealous over a guy I’m friends with when you play games like this—treating me like an annoying little sister one moment and kissing me the next. Make up your damn mind.”

“Just go to bed, please, and let’s forget this happened.” His defeated voice sends shivers down my spine, but I’m so irritated by his hot and cold attitude.

I shake my head at his unwillingness to admit his feelings. “Whatever.”

Pushing off the wall, I walk around him, and before I can take the stairs, Liam grabs my hand. “Stay home tomorrow. Please?”

Blinking back tears, I glance over my shoulder at him, frustrated with myself for getting emotional.

“Fine,” I bite out, only agreeing because I didn’t have anything going on anyway. “But you’re watchingGleewith me then.”

I’ve been obsessed with it for years and love watching old episodes. So if Liam wants to play this game of are-we or aren’t-we, then he can suffer through the shows I know he’ll hate.

“I don’t know what the fuck that is but deal.” The corner of his lips curls up, and a small smirk appears, making me want to roll my eyes.

“Good night, Liam.”

He releases me. “Night, Mads.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LIAM

Maddie walks downstairs,and I see the sadness and frustration written all over her face.

I’ve let her down so many times, and I don’t know how much more disappointment she can take. I hate myself for hurting her, but at this point, there are no other options. I have to keep her close to protect her, but it’s hard when all I want to do is kiss her.

It won’t matter anyway because what I’m about to do will ruin everything between us.

Not that there is anus, but any potential or future foruswill be long gone. After nearly getting myself killed earlier this week, I made a deal with the devil, and there’s no getting out of it now. Keeping Maddie safe is my only priority, and if that means also breaking my heart in the process, then it’s what I have to do.

As promised, I watchGleewith her the next day. Sophie joins our marathon, and soon, they’re singing and dancing around the living room. It makes me laugh, easing the tension for a moment before reality settles back in.

Maddie’s so carefree as she shakes her hips and belts out the lyrics to old classics I actually recognize. It’s the most chillSunday I’ve had in a long-ass time, and I soak up every minute, accepting things will never be the same after I fly back to Vegas this week.

Once I saw the note Maddie got, I one hundred percent knew they were still following us. Though the boss told his men to back off, it was for nothing more than show. They’re going to stay on my ass for God knows how long. Even after I do the unthinkable to get my debt paid off, I’ll always be looking over my shoulder.

Knowing they purposely put it on Maddie’s pile of clothes in the dressing room had me seeing red. The temptation to tell her the truth hit me hard, but I couldn’t. Revealing my secret could get her killed. She hasn’t pieced together what’s really happening, but she suspectssomething. This time, the need to kiss her was uncontrollable and different from the night we met or even on her birthday.

Kissing Maddie is all I think about. The memories haunt me in my dreams when I’m with her and away from her. Twenty-four fucking seven, she’s the forbidden fruit I want to taste over and over again. It took all the willpower in the goddamn universe to stop because I was two seconds away from carrying her into my bedroom and taking that pesky V-card she’s always complaining about.

But that can’t happen. It canneverhappen.