Chapter 8 #2
Once we made it inside, I realized Nora was over at my brother’s, which was good. The girls were still shaken up. So, I put on a cartoon for them and made some hot cocoa. Once they settled and sipped their drink, and chewed on a few cookies, they seemed to settle down.
It was another fifteen minutes before Liam knocked on the door, and my nerves still felt raw.
Not wanting to upset the girls any further, I decided not to get into everything with him right away, but he did need to know what happened.
I opened the door with a smile and stepped aside.
I had on warm socks and skinny jeans that had cost me upward of one hundred dollars.
For some reason the realization made my gut sink.
What in the world was I doing watching three little kids?
I had no idea what the hell I was doing… this wasn’t me.
“Hey, how did it go today?” Liam smiled, walking in toward the girls.
All the fear and terror from the past hour had finally caught up with me and forced my hand out, grabbing onto the back of his shirt. I tugged, not really knowing what I was doing.
He stopped briskly and turned his head. Those gray eyes landed on mine and narrowed in question. I gave him a quick head gesture toward the kitchen. He followed me with his dark brows drawn in close and his eyes full of concern.
Keeping my voice low, I crossed my arms tight.
“We can talk more about this later, but just so you know, there was a woman at the park today. Named Julie…”
Liam’s head snapped up. He was on high alert, his body coiled tight and his fists clenched at his sides.
“What happened?” His voice was low and slightly scary.
Shaking my head, I battled the emotions still surging back up. “They’re fine.”
It was the first thing I could think to tell him because I knew that was where his mind went.
“She started by suggesting they go see their mom a few blocks away, and she hugged Maddy. When I pulled Maddy away from her and started walking away, she got belligerent and started yelling ugly things at us.”
He stepped closer, his hand going to my elbow, I wasn’t even sure if he knew he was doing it, but his eyes had a warning in them. He didn’t like this news. He wasn’t happy at all.
“What ugly things?” he asked, deadly quiet.
I blinked back tears, hating how the adrenaline I had felt was like an oil spill inside my chest.
“Just stuff. I said I was their nanny, because I wasn’t sure what else to tell her. She said you must have money, and I told her it was a trade for classes. But then…” I trailed off.
I bit down on my bottom lip to hold off the strange emotions clogging my chest.
It was equal parts humiliation and fear swirling around like a tornado.
“What else. What did she say?” His voice softened, his torso brushing my elbows that I had like two bars of steel across my chest.
“She said we must be fucking––her words.”
He blew out a breath, muttering a curse.
“She said that in front of the girls, Liam. All right there. She called me a bitch, which I don’t care about, but the poor girls… Mila was crying by the time we got to the car.”
“Fuck!” Liam spat, finally turning from me and running a hand through his hair.
I wanted him to explain it to me, tell me what was going on, and why a woman claiming to be family would say such terrible things in front of such small girls. Right as I wished it though, Mila ran in with her arms out.
“Daddy! Are we going home?”
He dipped down to pick her up.
“Yeah, baby, we are.”
With one last glance in my direction, he headed to his girls and kissed each of them on top of the head. I watched on in awe, wondering what it must feel like to be loved like that. To feel secure and protected, to have someone worry so much over your safety and do anything for you.
Before I knew it, the girls were pulling on their new boots and coats. Liam’s jaw tensed as it seemed to dawn on him that I had bought it all for them. He didn’t look at me, though, not once.
Even as they left, and the girls all said their goodbyes he didn’t say anything to me.
I didn’t take it personally. Part of me understood this was just how he processed fear, especially fear over his girls.
He needed to think, to work out what had happened, then he’d text me or call me and ask follow-up questions if he needed to.
Besides, I didn’t do anything for him to be angry at me for.
We needed to talk about safety and whatever else was going on with his ex, because I didn’t ever want a repeat of what happened today.
Once he left, I headed next door. I needed to shed this strange feeling in my heart, like the organ had been shoved into a tin can and someone found a can opener.
I wasn’t used to feeling like this, terrified over the welfare of these girls, so much so that I would literally do anything to keep them from harm.
What the hell sort of bullshit emotions were going on with me today?
This wasn’t me. I was in control of my life.
Just as I was about to knock on Colson’s door, I could hear Nora laughing.
It was high- pitched, like Cole was tickling or chasing her or something else equally romantic and ridiculous––either way, I didn’t want to interrupt them.
They were still very much in that honeymoon phase I had never once experienced with anyone in my entire life.
I quickly walked back to the house and shut myself in my room.
Working only shoved my thoughts aside for so long. I caught up with Daniel regarding Hush Shoes. Clyde had returned with more vigor than ever, and the product was in the early stages of launching––right on schedule––so there wasn’t much more for me to handle on this end.
Baking didn’t hold its usual sway or distraction, and no matter what I did, my fingers somehow kept navigating back to Liam’s texting thread. Nothing new was ever there, but my mind kept thinking he’d reach out.
Finally, I grabbed my keys, deciding I couldn’t stay there any longer.
I wanted a shot of something strong. I wanted to dance, and let loose, but more than anything, I just didn’t want to be alone.
The local bar was likely the last place I should go to tonight. The locals didn’t like me, and anywhere I went with my car was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Mix that with alcohol and bad decisions, and it wasn’t a great idea.
Still, somehow, I ended up in front of the large warehouse that had faux logs along the outside, creating a cute aesthetic that seemed to fit every other building in town. Iron fire pits blazed. People gathered, and long-necked bottles were raised as men and women laughed conversationally.
Women moved their hips, wearing cute denim skirts with tall boots, leather jackets, and fuzzy earmuffs. Music blared from an open garage door, where patrons danced, and a few played pool. I was idling in my SUV against the curb, people watching, when I saw someone waving their hand at me.
Jeffery walked over, wearing a nice button-down shirt under a brown leather jacket. His hat was gone, revealing unruly blond hair that had been swept to the side with product and what seemed like a lot of finger grazing.
I rolled down my window, keeping my heater blasting.
“What are you doin’ here?” He smiled wide, revealing straight white teeth.
His palms landed on my door where my window had just slipped under.
“I was thinking about going in.” Although with how many people there were, I already knew I wouldn’t brave it. I didn’t want to be alone, but this wouldn’t be a good idea.
Jeffery’s smile grew, and a lock of hair fell across his forehead as he dipped his face then focused those brown eyes on me.
“Well, come on then.”
My stomach clenched tight. My mind was on Liam and the girls, and no matter how many shots I had tonight, it wouldn’t change that. I wanted to know if he was okay.
“I was just checking it out. Maybe another time.”
“You sure?” Jeffery’s eyes searched my face, silently asking me to change my mind.
Part of me wanted to. The part that wanted not to care about Liam Croft. The part that wanted to heed the warnings about him. The part that didn’t want to give in to the strange dips and pricks inside my belly every time those silver eyes landed on me.
I barely knew Jeffery. We’d spent a few hours together this morning, but that didn’t mean I trusted him. Tonight, I needed to feel safe and in control, not anxious and worried about my surroundings.
“Yeah, I’m sure. See you around?”
He shoved off my door and nodded, biting his lip. “Yeah.”
I rolled up my window and started to drive. Jeffery watched me the entire time until I was out of sight.
My car headed toward the store almost on its own. I would settle for ice cream and maybe some cheap wine. I was almost there when a text came through over Bluetooth.
Liam:
Can you come over?
I pulled over so fast my tire jumped the curb. I shoved the parking gear up, and then shamelessly grabbed my cell from the console.
Yeah. Now?
He answered immediately.
Yes
I didn’t play it cool and wait.
I instantly replied.
On my way…
There was a set of ropes playing tug of war in my belly as I walked up the few steps to his porch and rapped my knuckles against his door. The entrance looked newer, with fresh pewter paint and a security camera, along with a keypad to access. It was similar to what we had at our house in Malibu.
After a few latches clicked from behind the door, it swung open, and for some reason I wasn’t prepared for the gravity of seeing Liam dressed down, barefoot and looking worried. Fear and anger practically vibrated off him in waves as he moved aside to let me in.
I set my things down and shrugged out of my jacket.
“The girls asleep?” I asked quietly, not hearing any sound other than the dishwasher.
“Yeah, they just went down.”