Chapter 27
Chapter 27?
POV: Liam
I must have driven like a madman fleeing straight out of enemy territory.
The rain poured down hard in heavy droplets, without an end in sight.
And the memories continued filtering in—reminding me that I should drive faster.
I needed to beat Maeve’s flight.
I needed to see her before she boarded the plane—before I lost her for good.
Because if she got onto that plane and went back to America, I knew that I’d lose her forever.
The drive felt like a Hollywood rom-com. But less rom-com and more overdone dramatics. Because the entire time all I kept imagining was her boarding the plane, it being too late, and going back home and thinking I’m an asshole for the rest of my life.
I pictured her ignoring every call, maybe even blocking my number altogether, leaving me desperate enough to track down her address just to write to her—or worse, to become completely unhinged, booking a flight to America and turning up at her doorstep with nothing but hope and determination.
I would do that if I needed to.
Because for her I’d do just about anything.
And it’s pathetic that it took Caitlin calling me out on how badly I’d fucked up for me to finally see it.
But thank god, I did.
Because it wasn’t too late—not yet. I still had the chance to tell her how I felt, to lay my heart bare and begin again.
But that all depended on whether she chose to forgive me and give me another chance.
Still, no matter the fear that curdled inside me and no matter the risk of things not working out, I knew I had to give it my best shot.
I had to fight for love—for her.
Lightning tore in a streak across the sky as I pressed on, the storm raging around me. Rain tapped against the windshield, and my wiper blades fought to clear my view as I drove harder, determined to reach her.
Finally, I pulled up in front of Shannon airport. It was exactly 1:05 pm. I pulled into an idling spot illegally parked, and bolted inside, without a coat or an umbrella.
I didn’t care how soaked I’d get.
I just needed to find her.
I scanned the airport frantically, pacing the small airline check-in area as panic clawed at my chest.
Every time I spotted a blonde woman with a suitcase, I rushed toward her, spinning her around with desperate hope, only for it to collapse into disappointment when I realized, again and again, that it wasn’t her.
My jeans were soaked with water which also dripped down from my hair.
And by the time I reached the final check-in counter at the south end of the airport, my breath unsteady and hope barely alive, I saw a blonde standing there with her back to me—and something deep inside me stilled.
Before she even turned, I knew. Somehow, I could feel it, that it was her.
“Maeve!” I called out, running.
She turned slightly, a look of confusion spreading over her face as she clutched two large suitcases in her grasp.
For a moment, I thought she might run towards me, too.
But her expression changed from confused to irritated in a matter of seconds.
She turned around and back towards the gate agent.
But I kept running towards her, my wet shoes sliding on the smooth surface. “Maeve! Wait!”
All eyes were on me–as if it was the most entertaining thing they’ve ever seen.
I slipped beneath the queuing rope and rushed forward, ignoring the startled looks around me. Just as Maeve slid her passport toward the agent to check-in, I reached out and snatched it, clutching it tightly against my rain soaked chest.
“What are you doing, Liam?” she yelled, reaching for the passport, trying to take it back.
She missed and I grabbed her hand instead. “You can’t leave, Maeve.”
Everyone around us was watching intently to see what she would do, even the airline agent.
“I can and I will,” she scoffed, “I need my passport back, Liam. Please.”
She looked tired, as if her time here had drained her.
And I was ashamed because I was the sole reason.
“I’m sorry, Maeve,” I pleaded, as my hair dripped water down my cheeks. “Please, stay.”
“I have no reason left to stay, Liam. You made that quite clear the other day.”
“But you do,” I bit my lip, shaking my head and looking into her eyes. “I’m terrified, Maeve. I’m fucking terrified but I’m not terrified enough to deny the truth…any longer.”
Her eyes widened for a second as she waited for me to continue.
Even the crowd gathering around us waited with bated breath.
Get your courage up, Liam.
So, I did.
“If you leave, I’ll miss you everyday. I’ll lose the one thing—the one person—the only woman who has ever truly loved me for who I am. For my grumpy attitude—for my family pub—for all my quirks—for all my issues—for all my trauma. Everything. You’ve loved me for all of my bad. But for all of my good, too. And because of you—I’m a better man, and I want to keep being a better man, Maeve. So, please don’t go.”
Her voice cracked as a single word came out, “Liam—”
So, I continued spilling my guts to her and the entire airport if I needed to. “Please. If you go, then we’d lose the future. We’d lose the future that we could have—together.”
That seemed to unlock something within her.
Her eyes softened completely as she stared back at me.
“I love you, Maeve. And I’m a fool for not telling you sooner. I’m a fool to be crippled by fear of the unknown. But I’m a fool in love—for you,” I pleaded, almost ready to get onto my knees and beg her.
Cheers and claps echoed around me.
They were cheering and clapping for us.
Maeve took a step forward, still silent and still shocked.
But I leaned in, just enough for our lips to hover over each other and I kissed her.
I kissed her as if we were the only two in a crowded airport—I kissed her even as the cheers and claps echoed around us.
And when our lips released, she whispered ever so slightly, “I love you, Liam, but if you pull that shit ever again…I’ll trash your pub.”
“Oh, I’m certain that you would, you little minx,” I laughed.
Even the gate agent clapped and smiled, “This was better than a Hallmark movie!”
I smirked, feeling as if I had just won the greatest prize in the world.
Her.
She rolled her eyes, “I’ve seen better movies and I’ve read better books.”
“I’m sure you have,” I smiled, wheeling her bags out to my car.
“You’re not completely forgiven,” she reminded me.
“I know.”
“There’s still lots of begging left to do.” Her eyes ignited with that same fire I knew so well.
“I plan to grovel for the next year.”
“Or more,” she laughed.
“Or more.”