Page 2

Hayden

My eyes gently open, revealing a strange ceiling over my head. The sound of singing birds reaches my ears, making me sit up and look toward the windows draped with light curtains.

As the sheet falls off my chest, I become aware of the tight clothes I’m wearing. Liam’s clothes ...my mind whispers.

Looking down at the bed, I find Liam gently snoozing. He’s still deep in sleep, his beautiful face utterly relaxed.

Reaching out, I gently swipe my thumb over his plump bottom lip.

A sudden urge to kiss him takes over me. My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I snatch my hand away.

Even though I want to stay and get to know Liam, I must face reality.

I need to get back to Knightswood and join my team in a meeting this afternoon. Even though the season ended with the previous day’s match, we’ll still be getting together to plan and strategize for the next season.

I’ll be a senior next semester. Even though I’ve been playing for the Thunder Knights over the last three years, I’m yet to get drafted into a pro-NHL team.

This is my last chance. I’ve got to be at the top of my game this year so that I can play hockey professionally.

Hockey is the greatest priority in my life but it’s also the very thing that ties me to my abusive dad. Once I get officially signed, I can leave New York and move to a far-off place like California. It’ll give me the chance to create the distance I need to be able to live my life fully and not wither away in my dad’s shadow.

I glance at Liam and feel a surge of warmth in my chest. He’s the reason I feel so wide awake and energized.

For the first time in a long time, I slept soundly without waking up even once during the night. Liam’s presence calmed the storm that threatened to destroy me last night.

Even though all my troubles are still waiting for me when I get back to campus, I now have the courage to face it all. Even though Liam is practically a stranger to me, his quiet acceptance of who I am shifted something deep within me.

Even though all the shame, fear, and guilt I’ve been living with all these years hasn’t disappeared, I know somewhere in this quaint beach town, there’s someone ready to be on my side.

Liam has no idea who I am. His world is all about books and superhero movies. It almost makes me smile he doesn’t have a single poster of a sportsman in his bedroom.

Even though it pinches my heart, I’m glad Liam will never step into my dark world. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want to protect him from ruthless people like me who were molded into monsters since their birth.

Climbing off the bed, I head toward the windows. Through the gap in the curtains, I glimpse the wide blue expanse of the sky and the calm sea underneath it.

I reach for the latch and open the window, inviting a cool sea breeze that lifts the stray strands on my forehead. It’s wonderful to breathe in the fresh air and stare out at the sea.

But you can’t stay here , my mind warns.

A sigh escapes me. Turning away, I walk out of the room and head downstairs.

Liam’s laundry room is adjacent to the kitchen. Entering the dark space, I grab my clothes from the dryer and start changing into them.

Even though everything’s dry and clean, the faint smell of the sea cuts through the freshness of the laundry detergent.

Once I’m dressed, I head back into Liam’s room.

The moment I enter the space, all my attention goes to the figure on the bed. I should’ve walked out of the house after getting dressed but I just couldn’t leave without one last look at the young man who’s sunk his soft touch into my icy heart.

Running my fingers through my dark strands, I question what’s wrong with me. Even though there are plenty of beautiful men on the university campus, I never got distracted by them.

It wasn’t even unusual for some of them to throw teasing smiles at me and my teammates. They’d even dare to touch me seductively but it never did anything for me.

Their attention usually sickened me.

I hated being touched by people.

But seeing Liam simply snoozing in his bed, surrounded by his books and superhero posters, has me feeling all kinds of heat.

Moving closer to him, I lean down on the edge of the bed.

The smell of caramel with an edge of sea salt wafts into my nostrils.

Each time he got closer to me last night, it flooded my senses.

I lean closer, the tip of my nose skimming along his exposed neck. His scent fills my nose and lungs, etching itself in my mind.

I stroke a golden curl, then twirl it around my finger. It’s as soft and silky as the noodles he made me last night.

Fuck.

I should not be touching him like this.

I try to hold myself back but my entire body throbs with need.

Unable to control myself any longer, I lean down and gently brush my lips against his, feeling the light touch burn me.

No . I shouldn’t be doing this.

With the last shred of my self-control, I wrench myself away from him.

I can’t risk waking Liam up and asking me a bunch of questions I don’t want to answer. It’s best to leave now and keep this brief encounter as a memory I can always fall back on when things get hard.

Just as I’m about to step away, my gaze falls on a bracelet on Liam’s wrist. Looking closely, I see the band is made up of colorful braided threads. Tiny silver broomsticks and a single orb with wings hang from it.

The band looks old and worn and the charms look tarnished with age. It doesn’t look expensive but something that he’s been wearing for a long time.

With the gentlest move, I start removing the bracelet from his wrist. It takes all my patience as my thick fingers fiddle with the tiny hook.

Finally! I cheer silently as the band falls into my palm. My fingers close over it possessively. I can’t take Liam with me but I can always keep this piece of him close to me.

With one last look at him, I turn away and walk out of the room.