Page 59 of Little Liar

“But it means you need to let me go back to work without arguing with me to stay in bed every morning.”

You already said you were going back even though I said no,I sign.You’re lucky I’m not putting you back in the basement.

“That’s technically kidnapping.”

Not my first time.

Her eyes narrow on my hands—she’s been desperate to hear me talk every second, but sometimes I’m still not comfortable using my voice. “I’m not going anywhere. Whether I live here or not. Why do you keep thinking I’m not going to come home if I go to work or to see our parents?”

I raise a brow as an answer.

She tilts her head, her face softening. “What can I do to prove to you that I won’t?”

“Y-You don’t exactly have the gr-greatest track record with f-fucking me over.” Then I sign,And I don’t trust you.

I’m trying to be as honest as possible. Yeah, she chose me, but it took her over a decade to do so. It’s only natural for me to be unsure and insecure and worry when she’ll leave me again.

Even when Abigail or Anna call, I get nervous—they’ll want to go out for dinner or to meet up before the latter gives birth.

As much as I want to stop being a paranoid asshole and enjoy having her here with me, the idea of her doing something as simple as going to work makes me itchy. I can’t stop her. I won’t. But I want to lock the door and throw away the key, to cuff her to the bed and never let her see her friends again.

If I tell her this, she’ll say I’m toxic and claim it won’t work. And she’s not wrong, so I don’t say the words flying around in my head—I can’t have her running from me again. I have no idea what I’ll do this time if she does.

Probably burn her work building down and kidnap her again. This time, I won’t let her go. I’ll make the world think she died and keep her hidden forever.

She kisses me, her hands on my face, pulling me closer as she sucks on my bottom lip. “Get out of your head,” she whispers. “I love you.”

Olivia has messed with my head since we were teenagers. I love her, but I don’t trust her. So fucking sue me if I want to keep her shackled to my side.

Her lips flatten, and she runs her fingers through my hair. “I’m going to kiss you again, and then I’m going to shower and go to work. I’m not going anywhere else. I promise. You can drive me there and pick me back up if you’re worried.”

I don’t want you to run away from me again.

Her lips thin, and her eyes drop. “I’m sorry.”

Was this what you wanted to talk about? You going to work?

“Can you use your words?” she asks. “Please?”

I don’t want to use my voice.

“Okay,” she whispers. “I just…”

Her eyes travel to the tank in the corner of the room, and she shivers. I know she’s thinking about having my pet on her body again and hating the thought.

I’ve yet to name my pet. Rex and Spikey were no-brainers, but this one… I’m not too sure.

Olivia has fear in her eyes—I’ll squash that emotion from her eventually.

When she looks back down at me, worrying her lip, I know I’m going to hate what she wants to talk about. She’s nervous, which makes me feel sick, even though she’s completely naked and sitting on me.

“I do love you,” she starts, and my heart is beating so much faster than what would be considered healthy. I think it might blow through my chest with anxiety—at least my blood will paint her beautiful face and give me one last wonderful view. “I don’t remember a time I haven’t loved you, but I want to go back to the start.”

I stare at her. I’m not following. She wants to… what?

Go back to the start?

What?