Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
“Holden!” I snap, shooting him a dirty look. Why the hell would he say that? The obvious answer is to push Liam’s buttons. I rush toward Liam to help him up, not out of the kindness of my heart, but out of a desperate need to get him out of here before this gets any worse. However, when I attempt to pull him up, he shoves me away, and I stumble back before catching my footing.
“Touch her again, motherfucker,” Holden warns in a tone that I don’t recognize from him, closing in on Liam. It’s low and deadly and menacing, all words I’ve never associated with him before. If I wasn’t so pissed about his blatant lie in an attempt to provoke Liam, I might find this protective side a little endearing. And a lot alarming.
Thankfully, at that moment, Thayer steps in, holding him back. Liam pulls himself up before he spits out a mixture of blood and saliva and drags his sleeve-covered forearm across his nose to wipe away the excess. He glares at me, a mixture of anger, hurt, and maybe even a little regret shining in his bloodshot eyes. But he says nothing. Instead, he walks away without another word.
I lock eyes with Holden, caught in silent conversation, but then a very concerned, very confused Shayne is right in front of me.
“Are you okay?” she asks, eyes wild with questions.
I know I owe her an explanation, but I don’t have it in me tonight. If I stay, I have to face Holden and Shayne. If I leave, I can avoid them both and formally break things off with Liam.
“I need to talk to him,” I say. “I promise I’ll call you tomorrow.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Shayne presses her lips together, conflicted, but ultimately, she nods, letting me off the hook. After all, she’s been keeping secrets of her own. We’re all allowed secrets every now and then.
As I’m walking away, Holden’s voice has me hesitating. “Valen…”
I turn to look at him over my shoulder. His eyes bore into mine, as if they’re willing me not to leave with Liam, but I know it’s not for any reason other than the fact that this has become a pissing contest at this point. Nothing more. Nothing less.
An apology is on the tip of my tongue, but instead, I keep my mouth shut, deciding to deal with Holden later. Without the audience. His eyes go hard the moment he sees that I’ve made my decision. Gone are those deep dimples and playful smile. I frown, not expecting his reaction, but more than that, I didn’t expect to feel my stomach swirling with guilt.
“Liam!” I practically growl, hurrying after him. It’s not enough that he has to show up and cause a scene, but now I have to chase after him? He stops just short of the fountain in the circular driveway and turns to face me. “What the hell was that?” I demand.
“You tell me.”
“You cheated on me,” I point out the obvious. “You don’t get to be mad.”
Liam huffs out a sardonic laugh. “Don’t act like we weren’t over long before that.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “I think that’s the one thing we can agree on.”
His jaw hardens. His bloody nose has slowed, and it’s starting to dry on his skin. Once again, I’m struck by the thought that I should feel something. The guy I’ve been seeing for a year just took a blow to the face, but I feel…nothing. Mildly annoyed at how this whole thing played out, but overall, nothing.
He opens his mouth to say something, but the sound of gravel crunching under feet silences both of us. Holden’s cousin Christian and his friend Baker are walking in our direction, although, walking probably isn’t the right word to describe what they’re doing. Christian is barely able to stand upright, his arm slung around Baker’s neck. Baker has one hand holding Christian’s wrist at his shoulder and the other wrapped around his waist, supporting his weight as they stagger to the front door. Christian seems to be too drunk to pay us any mind, and Baker’s too focused on keeping him vertical.
Just another Friday night for the Ames boys.
“You’d rather be with people like this,” Liam says, gesturing toward them as they stumble past me and through the front door, “than me. Since when are you so fucking close with Holden and Thayer, anyway?”
I turn my head to the side and stare at him, trying to remember what I ever saw in him in the first place. Liam’s conventionally attractive. Nice smile. Blue eyes. Tall. Sandy blond hair. He’s nice enough—barring recent events. A decent boyfriend—also barring recent events. He was there for me when Shayne left. But now, not even the superficial kind of attraction is there. Liam must mistake my silence for something other than it is because his eyes soften, and he takes a step toward me.