Heart of Redemption (Hearts #2)

26. Margo

Chapter 26

Margo

B efore we left to go to the bar, before everything went terribly wrong, I told my friends about my engagement. I finally told them about Ben.

The first thing they asked about the situation was if I was happy, and of course the normality of them telling me that if he ends up hurting me, they will hurt him.

I also told them that Ben could’ve been there. But of course, I never actually asked him to join or come to the bar.

We weren’t that close yet.

Besides, something about last night, went terribly wrong, as Adrianna had now been off the rails wanting to party.

She even wanted to lose her virginity which by the way, I am heavily against.

But I could only do so much to stop her, and she was not in the mood to discuss her choices of her fight with Grayson that pushed her over edge.

So tonight, the girls and I planned for a great night out, in one of the clubs my father owned, as much as I was on her side of vengeance and the act to getting back at Grayson.

I was still very much rooting for her and Grayson to make it work. Thus, me tipping him off earlier when I saw him skating around by himself.

I told him we were going to out, that obviously doesn’t mean that things were going to work out to the best they can. I only had a cup of Vodka and a dream.

But before I could even think about partying, I was dreading the walk towards the trainer’s office.

It was my first day on the job, well community service hours that is. I was irritated of the fact that I might be seeing Liam’s face most of the time.

But a bit glad that my eyes got to roam around to other hockey players. But I would never want to use this job as a way to take advantage of the masterpieces that I found myself looking at.

Ronni was bandaging a kid’s hand being completely helpful, aside from me who just sat there and watched her do her magic.

“You know you can’t just watch there all the time, right?” She laughed as I straightened my back.

“You just look like you would do it a lot better than I would.” I threw her an innocence smile.

“Next one is on you princess, and don’t worry I’ll be right here the entire night.” She patted the kid’s back who jumped off the table.

“Thanks Ronni!” He beamed as I smiled at him.

A group of smaller kids came prancing their way over to the door and suddenly my heart rate shot up.

“You’ll be okay, the kids are the easiest to deal with.” Ronni consulted as I nodded.

“Hey Ronni, can you please wrap my arm, it hurts after that amazing slapshot I did.” The little kid talked about his sport with so much happiness and fulfilment.

“We can sure wrap that up Link, but you mind if I watch and let Margo over here wrap it up for you?” Ronni whispered as I prepared the tools and bandages.

“Is she new?” One of his friends whispered to Ronni as she laughed.

“Charlie, Link, Brahm, Joshua, and Mark, this is Trainer Margo, she will be helping me with fixing up your injuries from now on.” Ronni presented me like I was a cuisine dish.

Would I have to know all of their names soon?

That was not part of the job description.

“Sup, Margo.” A curly redhead winked as I rolled my eyes.

“You must be Charlie.” I acknowledged whilst I ripped a section of tape for the bandage.

Link steadied up for me as I wrapped the bandage slowly but tightly on his arm. He started to whistle which I didn’t mind; I had a feeling it helped him calm his nerves that a complete stranger was wrapping him up.

“Is that snug enough for you?” I questioned as he nodded his head.

“It’s really comfortable, Margo. Thank you!” He smiled.

A part of my heart warmed, I enjoyed helping and making sure he was okay.

“Who’s next?” I looked back at Charlie who yawned.

“What can I do for you Charlie?” I sat down beside him as he shook his head, “I just need an ice pack ma’am.”

“Coming right up.” I swung the freezer door open, pulled out an icepack and threw it at him.

“See you’re a natural.” Ronni winked as I laughed.

“This is nothing, I’m not so sure that I’ll be any help when something seriously bad has happened.”

Ronni shook her head, “The hardest part about this job is making sure the kids and players can trust you first.”

Before I could even acknowledge what, she said, the kids rushed in and wrapped their arms around me, “Thanks Margo!”

Even the quiet one, Mark waved at me, “See you tomorrow!”

And just like that, they left.

As I got up to fill up my water bottle with cold water, my vision blurred for a moment, as I heard familiar voices from the main room.

Neil, Chris and Liam had all perched up by the counter where Ronni sat. They looked like they were making good conversation.

“There she is.” Liam muttered with a smile as I tried to sneak off to the back door.

“Hey.” I smiled back as he coughed out not really knowing what to say.

Liam followed me back to the back room as I grabbed a few things from inventory.

“Heard you guys were going out tonight.” He walked along with me as I nodded.

“I don’t really see how that’s any of your business.” I fired back as he laughed it off.

“It’s not. I’m just saying, how is your fiancé going to feel about you going out and partying, probably wearing just a mini skirt that middle schoolers use as duct tape for an art project.” He pointed at my shorts as I pulled away.

“Last thing I remember, you liked it when I wore my skirts, short and tight. I think it even made you weak in the knees Brookshire.” I bent down for a moment to pick up a bag of ice.

“Yeah, I liked it, but it doesn’t mean I like it when other men see what’s––” He cut himself off.

“––Yours?” I smiled.

“I think you forget that I’m not yours anymore, and I never will be again.” I continued as he looked like someone just blew out his birthday candles.

“I can still do the things on the damn list, if that means you’re mine again.” He pleaded as I shook my head.

“That list expired a while ago Liam.”

“We also know that Ben isn’t what you want, he also can’t give you what you need.” He asserted as I closed my eyes remembering the godly orgasm I received from Liam, the night before.

“What do I need?” I turned around to face him.

Liam’s eyes zoned in on me and my fingers were itching to touch him, just have him here, but myself control has stepped into overdrive.

“We both know Ben hasn’t touched you yet, my question is why not… and second question is, what if he can’t please you like I can?” Liam’s hand found itself on my waist.

A feeling of tension and butterflies circled itself around my stomach, like I needed him to consume me. I hated that no matter what, I would feel this certain way towards Liam.

I took several deep breaths, before I pushed him away from me.

“Ben and I actually have tremendous chemistry. Better than whatever we have. And lastly, please have some decency and stop going for women who clearly aren’t available to you.” I grumbled before running out of the room and slamming the door.

Chris and Neil sat outside with Ronni, who was wrapping up Chris’s hand, which looked severely injured.

I just needed to let off steam, the worst part is. Liam was what I needed to let off the anger and stress I had stored in my body.

Ben looked like he’s never touched another woman in his life, and we were barely acquainted for me to even want to have sex with him. I just needed to do something to make my stress go away.

Of course, partying with Adrianna and the girls was definitely one way of doing it.

I t was approaching midnight and the girls, and I had not stopped dancing. Adrianna had been flirting it up like a storm with plenty of random guys at the bar, not that it helped.

Verina and Juliette had been up on tables and the bar counter just dancing. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Verina had invited me to take shots with her and it was one of the few things that got me to forget how awful I had been feeling.

Grayson had already stopped by and fished answers out of me before running into Adrianna’s little room with that random guy. He practically pulled her out of the club and punched the living daylights out of that guy.

I really don’t remember his name so he will be continued to be classified as “that guy.”

No matter how many times Grayson says that he didn’t care about Anna, he still found himself to save her, every single time.

But since Adrianna got escorted out by Prince himself, I was still stuck here with Verina and Juliette.

I still had the drinks and the music to keep me occupied for a while.

I was numbing everything down, but sadly my eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Liam and Neil were here, by the VIP table that I had for myself and the girls.

“What are you doing here Liam?” I screamed so he could hear me.

The music was loud, so he screamed back, “What do you think I’m doing here?”

It was an obvious reason why he was here, “Yeah well you aren’t going to stop me from having an amazing night.” I muttered back as he took a seat by the bar which had a perfect view of the whole club.

“I have all night Raine, I’m not taking my eyes off of you.” He placed his black card down.

“You don’t let random guys buy your drink, I will buy anything you want,” His eyes claimed mine, and travelled their way down to my body.

This sent shivers down my spine as I smiled at him, I knew he could fight, I also knew that he was not a type of guy that liked to be messed with when it came to a public setting.

He was always goofy when it came to himself and his friend group but that wasn’t the case when it came to being out in public with just me.

He was like a bodyguard. My own personal protector.

“So what? You’re just gonna watch me the entire time?” I laughed at Liam who stayed put on the bar stool.

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bopped, which made me want to run my tongue across it.

He stayed silent, which only made me enjoy what I was about to do, a lot more.

“Verina, could you tell the DJ to play something more… scandalous?” I whispered as she grinned.

Verina and Juliette had dared me to dance in front of everyone earlier tonight and I hadn’t found the nerve of doing it until now.

Where Liam could only look and not touch, I was going to enjoy this.

The DJ started playing a very seductive song, and I quickly hopped on the stage with the multiple dancers. My eyes stayed to Liam’s. His eyes started to falter the moment he understood what I was doing.

But not once did he break eye-contact, instead his eyes remained on mine as I got rid of my layers, when I began to undress even more, he began to walk closer, but he never uttered a word.

Only watched closely as I twirled around the stripper pole, that was accessible to me. While my eyes stayed on his and just only his, I didn’t care about of the plenty of men that gawked at me.

I even heard Verina and Juliette whistle, and cat call me from a far. But the only thing that mattered to me was Liam’s locked gaze on my body and my eyes.

It was like it physically pain him to see me show off and not have me to himself.

Which was what I wanted and needed from him.

To know that he’s lost me.

His body stood tall and angry. “I’m taking you home now Raine.” He grumbled as I laughed.

“Yeah right.”

Liam’s eyes promised me that he wasn’t joking and actually meant what he said.

He wanted me home quickly and effective immediately.

“Tell Verina and Juliette that you’re leaving now.” He ordered as he pulled me towards him, all the male gazes on me as I followed him out the door.

“They look like they want to stay,” I looked at Verina and Juliette who were still dancing and having fun.

“That’s great because Neil is watching them, you are going home.” He opens the car door, and I couldn’t help but just follow his instructions. It was confusing to me on why I was following his orders when I was fully sober.

“You are such a party pooper.” I mutter as he rolled his eyes and turned on the car.

We had been sprawling the whole week, so many insults had been thrown, so many jabs at each other had been said. I missed the days where it was just us in love but that was long gone.

As he drove me home, I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was okay to just have a decent conversation with him, no screaming and fighting.

“How was your first day?” He muttered as my face turned to complete shock.

Were we thinking the same thing?

“It was so fun; I actually might enjoy it… the kids are adorable, and they are very sweet.” I let out without a second thought. I was shocked that I was speaking in full sentences to him.

“I’m glad it gives you joy.” He smiled as I threw him a condescending look.

“Why are you being nice?” I asked with a confused look as his eyebrows furrowed.

“I can’t be nice?” He threw back as I stayed silent.

“I know the only thing that makes this easier for you is for you to hate me Margo and that’s fine, but I don’t want you to hate me.” He turned a corner and stopped into a parking lot.

“Why are you pushing me away, when I know you want us to work out.” He asked as I stayed silent.

“What are you afraid of? You need Ben’s money? Fuck Raine, I can give you double.” He looked at me with hurt and resentment in his eyes.

“It’s not that easy Liam.” I muttered as he knocked his head back.

“I miss you so much Margo, it hurts.” Liam clutched his heart like he was in physical pain and God, I missed him too.

“Please just tell me, if you are truly done then I understand because I can’t keep looking like a fool. If there is still a chance, I will be sure to make it known I’m a fucking fool and I will keep trying. But if it’s all just fun and games and we truly are over then… I’m done.” He laid it all out for me right then and there.

His heart was out in the open and I just stared at him.

Until.

“I’m planning on telling the group that I’m engaged tomorrow, because truly there is no going back. The wedding date is going to be soon and there’s really nothing to stop it.” I let out as I could hear his heart break piece by piece.

“So that’s it then.” He asked.

“It’s over?”

He said it this time like he was waiting for confirmation.

“I need you to tell me it’s over Raine, because then maybe I’ll stop trying to find something in this.” He pleaded.

And I could only stare, “I can’t tell you that I want it to be over because that would be a lie, Liam.” A tear shed.

“But I have to tell you it is, so we can both move on. Which is what I think the right decision should be.”

“Great.” He pulled out of the empty parking lot and drove straight to my house.

I tried to hold in the tears that were waiting to be released.

“I still love you, Liam.” I whispered as he stayed silent.

Only for a second, before I opened the door, his hand reached for the nape of my neck and enveloped his lips on top of mine.

I could taste the salt from my tears, I could taste him and the tension there was to the kiss.

It was like we were gripping for each other; we were each other’s lifeline.

I bit his lip; my arms didn’t want to let go but it did anyways.

“Goodnight, Raine.” He whispered before kissing the top of my forehead.

“Goodnight, Charming.” I muttered before exiting his vehicle, he watched me walk into my house before driving off.

I kind of wished that we stayed together for the night, but it defeated the whole goodbye portion of the conversation.

Of course that was never going to last long term.