Chapter Forty
It was balmy walking up Everly Heath High Street.
My heels sounded on the pavement as I passed the social club, which was suspiciously quiet.
The day had been blistering sunshine, and the smell of barbecue and freshly cut lawns hung in the air, reminding me of my last visit in June – for Dad’s funeral.
A year on, and I could still feel some of that lingering grief like fingerprints smudged on glass.
It wouldn’t leave. I didn’t want it to. That familiar tug was painfully reassuring, like a rope against the skin.
It meant I had loved someone. I loved Dad despite all his mistakes and distance.
Some days, when clouds circled, I felt he didn’t deserve my love.
But other days, like today, I could sit in that reality.
I loved my dad, and returning to the place he loved filled me with bittersweet comfort, whether I wanted it to or not.
It was a momentary comfort as my thoughts shifted to Liam, spiking my cortisol. I tried to focus on the sound of my heels clopping. My steps slowed as I approached the side street Liam and I had walked down a few months ago.
Low, orange light poured from the window as I stood and looked in.
My heart burst when I saw the turnout. Everyone I’d ever seen in Everly Heath was packed into the tiny restaurant.
Lydia and Sandra sipped flutes of champagne.
Pat and Ravi gossiped by the bar, their heads leaning in together conspiratorially.
Dot sitting on one of the booths, her legs dangling above the floor.
Even miserable Peter had the grace to look impressed with a nod and a downturn of his lips.
Yasmin laughed as Abigail wrinkled her nose at the smoked salmon blinis passed around by Ren, who ruffled Abi’s hair; she wrinkled her nose again.
My heart jumped when Liam strode out of the kitchen and into the bar.
He had the air of someone who was comfortable, familiar in their surroundings, and I figured he’d probably lived in this restaurant for two months.
I watched him carefully lay more champagne flutes on the copper bar.
As he turned, I saw he was wearing a hunter-green apron with my logo – no, his logo – in the centre.
His hair had grown longer, long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail. His beard had grown, too.
As he turned, I saw a wild look in his eyes and a determined edge to his jaw, even under his beard. Fulfilment, I realised. Purpose.
Liam’s face broke into a grin as he spotted Frank, pulling him into a hug – a warm welcome for the man who had inspired him. Liam looked up from Frank, glancing at the door with… anticipation. He was looking for someone, waiting.
His eyes met mine and widened.
My heart gave a painful lurch. I wasn’t sure why, but suddenly I turned on my heel, walking back down the alley. This was too public, too much.
‘Kat!’ Liam’s voice was nearing. ‘Kat.’ My damn heels weren’t letting me move any faster.
A hand landed on my arm, and I had no choice but to stop. I turned around, and Liam was smiling – a wide smile, a hundred-kilowatt bulb.
I blinked, wondering what I’d done to deserve that smile and what I would do to keep it, keep him, in my life.
‘You’re here,’ he said, smiling. ‘Why did you run off?’
‘I –’ I squeezed my eyes shut. ‘I’m not sure. I panicked. Half the town is in there.’
I rubbed my temple. I was fucking this up. Liam touched my hand, gently pulling it away from my face.
‘Hey, it’s okay.’ Liam ran a hand up my arm. ‘I’m just happy you’re here. I hadn’t planned on so many people. But you invite Pat, you’re inviting everyone.’
We just looked at each other then. I took in the small smile on his face, the smile creases around his chestnut-brown eyes. His face softened.
‘I missed you,’ he murmured, and then I was in his arms. I launched myself at him so hard that he took a step back at the force and gave a husky laugh.
‘I missed you, too,’ I whispered into his neck.
‘How have you been?’ he said. ‘I want to know everything.’
We shifted, and my feet hit the ground, but we didn’t separate. We just stood in each other’s arms.
‘Miserable. London was hot. And usually it’s hot in June but this time it was worse.
Like suffocating. And moving in with Mum and Graham was tedious.
I only did it so I could prove a point. I kept talking about you and Everly Heath, partly to piss off my mum, which was a stupid teenager move, but I couldn’t help it.
’ I inhaled for the next words. ‘Willa is miserable too, but she won’t let me help her.
I tried my best to sort what I could, but I get the feeling something bigger is happening that she won’t share with me.
And I missed you every day. I wanted to strangle you for saying I couldn’t call or text.
I was going to FaceTime you for sex one night, to see if you’d cave –’
Liam gave a shuttered laugh. ‘I probably would have.’
‘Damn it. I knew I should have given it a go.’ I sighed.
‘But annoyingly, I’m glad I went back. I helped Willa land some clients and recruit someone else.
And Mum seems to have come around to the idea of me moving here.
She was actually quite nice when I left.
She and Graham helped me pack up my stuff. ’
I was suddenly aware I was waffling. I closed my mouth, and the silence held for a moment. I pulled back to see Liam’s lip turned up, but he was staring at me with that resting bitch face.
‘Say something!’ I said, my hands flapped uselessly.
‘Just checking you were done,’ Liam said, hiding his smile. ‘Sometimes you get a second wind.’
‘Ugh, what do you want me to say? I should never have gone back. Because I will –’
My words died as Liam stepped forward and pressed his lips against mine. His chest pressed against my own. The world roared with white noise, but my head was quiet. Peaceful. Until Liam’s teeth grazed my lower lip, teasing me, and blood roared in my ears.
He pulled back, and I swallowed my disappointed noise.
Liam cradled my neck. ‘I’ve been miserable. More of an arsehole than usual. Sandra banned me from the club.’
‘She banned you?’ I gasped.
‘She held a public vote. Everyone voted yes.’
I gave a strangled laugh.
‘Don’t laugh.’ But his eyes twinkled. ‘I was a mess because I missed you. God, it’s been so quiet.’
My eyes narrowed. ‘Excuse me –’
‘Too quiet,’ Liam murmured, his hands gripping my hair.
Our lips met. Relief and the smell of Liam’s cologne flooded my senses. Liam’s hands fell to my neck, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. He kissed my cheeks and forehead like I was something precious.
Liam’s eyes were soft, flickering between my lips and my eyes.
‘I’ve got something to show you,’ Liam said as he grasped my hand and led me away from the restaurant, which was teeming with people.
‘What about the party?’ I said, frowning. ‘Liam, we can’t leave.’
‘It can wait.’
‘Liam. You’ve worked so hard on this. We can’t just walk off –’
Liam turned, clasping my head in his hands, planting a quick kiss on my lips. He grinned down at me, a glint in his eyes. ‘I’ve been waiting two months for my life to restart again. Trust me, the party can wait. This can’t.’