Chapter Ten #2
Joel weaves his way over to my side. “Guys, this is my dance partner, Joel. He wanted to meet you.” I introduce him to everyone, and when I get to Liam, he stands with his hands in his pockets like a statue.
His lips thin into a firm, unapproving line, which has me holding back a smile.
It’s then I realize Joel has his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, and Liam doesn’t like it one bit.
Liam gives a curt nod when I introduce them but remains silent.
When no one’s looking, I roll my eyes and scowl at him.
“Stop being a jerk,” I whisper.
It’s been a few days since he returned from Vegas with two black eyes, and though the bruises have faded, I still cringe when I think about what happened to him. I know he’s lying, but getting Liam to tell the truth about this will be nearly impossible.
Joel and I say our goodbyes, then he walks away to find his family. Lennon and Hunter are the first to leave, needing to get the kids from Mrs. Locke. Before Mason and Sophie head out, they ask if I need a ride, but Liam chimes in and offers to wait for me as I change and get my stuff.
“You sure?” I ask. “No plans on a Saturday night?” I taunt.
He shrugs as if he hadn’t thought about it.
“Okay, fine. Then I guess you two are off the hook. Go have your hot date night,” I tell Sophie.
“You mean looking through wedding magazines and bickering over appetizers?”
“Sounds like foreplay to me,” Mason teases, and Sophie nudges him in the gut, causing him to cough.
“That’s what you get.” She laughs.
I give her one final hug before they leave.
“You sure you don’t mind waiting?” I ask Liam as he takes a seat in the mostly empty theater.
“Nah. I’ll be right here.” He sits firmly with his arms folded in his lap.
“Okay, I’ll be quick. Then you can take me to get food.”
He arches a brow, shifting and resting one ankle on his knee. “I don’t remember being asked.”
“Do you want me to ask, Liam? Is that all it takes to get a response out of you?” I bat my lashes and smile sweetly. “Because in that case…”
He rolls his eyes with a groan. “Just get out of that tiny thing you call a dress so we can leave.”
I pucker my lips and salute him. “Sir, yes, sir.”
As he shakes his head, I walk back to the dressing rooms. Joel’s things are gone, which means he left already, along with most of the other dancers.
When I grab my pile of clothes, I notice a note folded on top.
Watch your back, little dancer.
Not everyone is who they seem.
What the fuck?
Looking around, I don’t see anything suspicious, but it’s not like someone’s going to come out from the shadows and say it was them. This is fucking weird.
I like to think I have quite a few friends at school, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve encountered a jealous enemy. But this note almost seems as if I’m being warned about someone.
But who? Joel? He’s my closest friend on campus, but why would this be left knowing he could’ve seen it too?
Anxiety creeps in as I change and grab my shit. When I walk back into the auditorium, Liam’s still seated, and when he sees me, he stands and meets me in the aisle.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Uh, yeah.” I lift my bag, but Liam grabs and slings it over his shoulder.
The folded note I shoved in a side pocket falls out and drops to his feet. I quickly reach to grab it before he can, but as soon as I stand, he yanks it from my grip.
“What’s this you’re so eager to get?” He holds it up, out of my reach, laughing.
“It’s nothing. Can I have it back now?” I hold out my palm, standing firm.
His lips curl into the annoying I enjoy pissing you off smirk that I see so often.
“What is it?”
“It’s a note, Liam. You know, on paper. Now, hand it over.
” I hold out my hand, keeping my gaze on him.
The moment he reads it, he’ll ask a dozen questions, and I don’t have any answers for him.
The last thing I need is for him to worry about me even more.
He already acts like a protective big brother.
“Hmm…I think it’s a love note. From Joel?” He snickers.
I narrow my eyes and glower. “You find the thought of someone writing me a love note funny?”
Liam shrugs, showing off that asshole grin again. “Depends who it’s from.”
“Well, it’s not, so just give it back. Please.” When he doesn’t budge, I continue, “I will junk punch you if you don’t do what I ask. It’s none of your damn business, so stop acting like a jealous boyfriend!”
Liam winces, squeezing his eyes together and stays quiet a beat too long. Finally, he lowers his arm, but just when I reach for it, he pulls back and moves it to his other hand. Unable to stop him, he opens it, and his eyes bulge open.
“What the fuck is this, Maddie? Who gave this to you? Where’d you find it?” Liam’s seething like I’ve never seen before, and the vein in his throat pulsates as his eyes darken.
“I don’t know, no idea. It was in the dressing room.”
“Where in the dressing room?”
“On top of my clothes.”
“Let’s go.” Liam grabs my hand, interlocking our fingers, and leads me outside. He looks around and checks over his shoulder as we make our way to his truck. My heart pounds in my chest as he all but pushes me inside and slams the door shut.
“Liam, what’s going on?” I ask as we buckle, then take off.
“Nothing, but I’m not letting you stick around to find out.”
We drive home in silence. He doesn’t say a word to me, but every time I glance at him, I see the wheels turning in his mind and notice how tense his body is.
I don’t know why he’s so angry. The note is probably from an envious classmate, but by the way he’s acting and has been acting, I’m worried it’s something more that he’s not telling me.
The house is quiet, and I hate the tension hanging in the air.
Liam charges into the kitchen, the fridge opens and closes, followed by the sound of a beer opening.
Instead of questioning him again, knowing I won’t get any answers, I go to my room and unpack my bag.
Afterward, I grab clean clothes and take a shower.
As I wash my hair and clean off my makeup, I replay the expression on Liam’s face as he watched me dance.
He was mesmerized and fascinated by every step, studying me like a rare million-dollar painting. Regardless, he’ll still deny his feelings without hesitation.
Once I’m dressed, I slather on moisturizer. I chuckle at the memory of Sophie teasing me when she first saw all my facial creams. She said I was too young to worry about wrinkles and crow’s feet, but I begged to differ. Being a dancer means I have to look my best. Competition is a real bitch.
The moment I open the door, my breath hitches at the sight of Liam leaning against the wall. He looks at the floor with his arms crossed over his chest, defeat written all over him.
“Liam…what is it?” I walk toward him as he lifts his tortured gaze.
Without a word, he grabs my wrist and pulls me toward him, then spins us around until my back flattens against the wall. Our chests press together, and I gasp, shocked by his sudden movements.
I’m too stunned to speak, but my heart is pounding hard enough for him to feel it between us.
“Maddie…” His head dips down as he whispers my name, tickling my ear with his breath. Propping his hands on either side of my head, Liam cages me in.
I look up, wishing he’d be honest about what’s bothering him. With my eyes, I plead, begging for him to open up to me, and it’s as if he reads my mind because Liam shakes his head. His eyes move until they land on my lips.
Liam’s never been an open book, and while I wish he’d change his mind, I don’t expect him to. There’s always been something more between us, even if he fights it every single time.
“Liam, please talk to me,” I tell him, cupping his cheeks and forcing him to look at me. “Let me help.”
He squeezes his eyes shut, the vein in his throat bulges, and his nostrils flare.
Pain is written all over his face, but the moment his gaze meets mine, he wraps a hand around the back of my neck, and our mouths collide.
Liam slides his tongue between my lips, tilting my head back and heating my entire body.
This kiss is nothing like the one on my birthday.
It’s more.
So much more.
I sink into him, looping my arms around his waist and holding him close. Tipping my chin up to his greedy mouth, I release a moan from my throat as our tongues tangle. Liam kisses with expertise and passion, and it’s a wonder I’ve survived this long without his lips on mine.
“Fuck,” he mutters, pulling back to rest his forehead against mine. As he plants his hand on the wall, our heavy breaths mix.
“Liam.” My voice catches, gravelly and low, desperate for him to continue. Sliding my palms up his chest, I fist his shirt and hold him in place as if he’ll slip from my grasp.
“Goddammit, Maddie. You’re supposed to stay away from me.”
“I can’t…” I swallow hard. “I don’t want to.”
He gently lifts my chin until our eyes lock. “I want to protect you, Mads. I can’t do that when I’m thinking with my dick. So please…”
“You kissed me,” I remind him. His rejection causes my chest to rise and fall as anger boils my blood.
“I know,” he grinds out. “I shouldn’t have.”
Liam steps back, putting space between us until my hands fall to my sides. I want to ask what or who he’s protecting me from, but my heart shatters at the way he looks at me. Like he’s in physical pain from touching me. Or maybe from not touching me.
“You can’t just kiss me when it’s convenient for you,” I murmur, my voice so low I’m not sure he hears me.
“It won’t happen again,” he swears, and I want to argue with him. I want it to happen. Again and again.
“Don’t promise something you know you can’t keep,” I say confidently.
Liam shakes his head before brushing his hand through his messy hair. “You did really well tonight. You should be proud.”
I stand taller, crossing my arms and squaring my hips. “Thank you. And I am. Joel and I practiced really hard.”
Just as I knew it would, his jaw clenches at the mention of Joel.
“See? Right there.” I frown, holding out my hand toward him. “You can’t get jealous over a guy I’m friends with when you play games like this—treating me like an annoying little sister one moment and kissing me the next. Make up your damn mind.”
“Just go to bed, please, and let’s forget this happened.” His defeated voice sends shivers down my spine, but I’m so irritated by his hot and cold attitude.
I shake my head at his unwillingness to admit his feelings. “Whatever.”
Pushing off the wall, I walk around him, and before I can take the stairs, Liam grabs my hand. “Stay home tomorrow. Please?”
Blinking back tears, I glance over my shoulder at him, frustrated with myself for getting emotional.
“Fine,” I bite out, only agreeing because I didn’t have anything going on anyway. “But you’re watching Glee with me then.”
I’ve been obsessed with it for years and love watching old episodes. So if Liam wants to play this game of are-we or aren’t-we, then he can suffer through the shows I know he’ll hate.
“I don’t know what the fuck that is but deal.” The corner of his lips curls up, and a small smirk appears, making me want to roll my eyes.
“Good night, Liam.”
He releases me. “Night, Mads.”