Chapter 48 Anna
Anna
I feel like I’ve been walking on air all week. After last weekend with Liam, everything in my life feels brighter. That night has been on an infinite loop—not just the physical intensity, but the moment we said those three little words. The way his voice cracked when he asked me to say it again.
The bell signals the end of another school week. Three months ago, I would’ve dreaded being alone with my thoughts for the weekend. Now, I’m counting down the hours until Liam’s game against Sheffield tomorrow.
I follow my class out for pickup duty, waving and smiling at the children as they rush past to start their weekends.
My gaze shifts across the street to where Liam waits for Finn in his Range Rover. I catch Liam’s eye through the windscreen. He gives me a subtle wink that sends flames up my neck, and I wave innocently.
When his gaze dips to his lap, I turn my attention to the other kids. My phone buzzes in my pocket. Liam. I tap into our text thread, reading his message.
Liam: I can’t wait to taste you again this weekend.
My pulse quickens.
I’m so caught up in the promise of his hands and mouth that I don’t hear footsteps behind me.
“Liam Murphy? Well, well. Isn’t this an interesting turn of events.”
I jump with a squeal and whirl around to find Roger standing right behind me, close enough that he’s clearly just read over my shoulder.
Shit.
I quickly press the lock button, but it’s too late. He’s already seen it.
An unpleasant expression twists his face. It’s the same constipated look April gets when she’s off her magnesium.
“What do you want, Roger?” I ask, shoving my phone away and trying to play it cool. My heart is racing.
“Him?” He moves closer, invading my space. “Oh, Anna. You’ve got to be joking. You’re screwing Liam Murphy?”
A drop of spit hits me in the face and I almost gag, wiping it away ferociously.
“I am not,” I sigh. “That’s ridic—”
“Is that why you made such a fuss about his kid’s allergy? Trying to impress Daddy?” he says. “How long has this been going on, Anna?”
His smile is taunting and I have the urge to smack it straight off his horrible face.
Ice rips through my bloodstream, but I roll my eyes, turning away to resume my job.
“No. You don’t get to turn me down, sleep with a kid’s parent, then ignore me,” he seethes. “I know it was you who reported me to Cedric.”
Cedric’s spoken to him? Good. So he bloody should.
I spin on my heel. “You need to back the fuck off.”
“Or what? You’ll tell Cedric?” He steps closer, crowding my space. “Bit hypocritical of you to report me for some stupid allergen signs when you’ve been intimate with a parent. I wonder what Principal Taylor would think about you shagging Liam Murphy. Bit of a conflict of interest, isn’t it?”
“You’re making up stories and being ridiculous,” I say.
“Am I? After submitting that report and getting me in shit, you owe me.” He steps closer.
“I know what I saw. Give me another chance to prove I’m better than him, or I’ll make sure everyone at Richmond Private knows what a little slut you really are.
” His hand shoots out, gripping my elbow hard enough to make me cry out. “Starting with the school board.”
Tears prick my eyes as I try to pull away, but his grip tightens, digging into my skin.
“Let go of me, you fucking creep!”
“Not until we have an understanding.” His face is inches from mine. “One night, Anna. That’s all I’m asking. Then this little mishap stays between us.”
“You’re hurting me, Roger,” I whimper.
“Choose. Me or your precious career,” he grits out. He’s squeezing so hard my arm breaks out in pins and needles, and panic starts to rise.
Suddenly, a door slams across the street.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” Liam’s voice cuts through the air like a machete. Roger’s grip loosens just slightly as he turns, but he doesn’t let go.
Liam crosses the street in long, furious strides. His face is vicious. The remaining students and parents start to notice the commotion and look our way. This is the only thing that causes Roger to let me go, stepping back and lifting his hands in surrender. “We were just joking, mate. Ease up.”
“Is this him?” Liam demands, pointing toward Roger. “This the guy that won’t leave you alone?”
“Liam, don’t—” I start, but Roger cuts me off.
“How sweet. If it isn’t the big bad footballer coming to rescue his little girlfriend.” Roger’s smile is nothing short of nasty, but I can detect the fear in his voice now.
“Get. Away. From her,” Liam warns, each word a threat.
“Or what? You’ll hit me?” Roger opens his arms wide. “Ha, go ahead. Let’s see what another assault charge will do for your reputation.” He gestures to the parents who’ve stopped to watch us. “That would make quite the headline, wouldn’t it?”
“I’m not going to ask again,” Liam says, dropping his voice.
“Liam, please,” I say, terrified of what could happen. Terrified of what I know Liam wants to do. “Just walk away.”
Roger’s laugh is hollow and vile. “Anna’s fine. She was just asking me to go back to her house, is all.”
“He’s stirring you up, Liam. Please, don’t worry about me. I’ve got this. Just walk away,” I insist.
Liam’s jaw clenches hard, his nostrils flaring as he stares Roger down. My lip shakes as I suck in a deep breath, watching as Liam gives me a sharp nod and turns to walk away.
But then Roger has to go and open his stupid mouth again.
“Whatever,” he mutters, dropping his voice so it’s barely audible. “It’s not like I want her used-up, tacky cunt anyway. God knows where it’s been.”
Except Liam hears it.
Oh, shit.
Everything happens in slow motion. I watch Liam halt, then pivot. Panic flashes through me as he marches back toward Roger.
I rush forward. “No, Liam, please! This is exactly what he wants!” I reach out to stop him. “Please. Don’t—”
But I’m too late. Liam swings, his fist connecting with Roger’s cheekbone so hard I’m sure I hear it shatter with a sickening crack. Roger stumbles backward, scarlet immediately pouring from his nose as he collapses to the ground.
“Ah! I think you broke my nose, you fucker!” Roger screams, blood seeping out between his fingers.
Liam stands stock-still, as if in shock.
My hands fly to my mouth as I glare at Liam, shaking my head. “What have you done?” I whisper, my voice muffled by my palms. “Liam. What did you do?”
The small crowd of parents has grown larger. My pulse thunders in my ears with the urgent whispers, and children murmuring from the noise and commotion.
“I’m pressing charges!” Roger splutters, trying to sit up. “Everyone saw that!”
Liam blinks, as if coming back to himself. He looks down at his reddened knuckles, then at Roger on the ground, and then at me. The fury has drained from his face, replaced with regret and horror.
“Anna, I—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Don’t,” I say, my voice sharper now as tears threaten to spill. “Just don’t. Take Finn and leave, Liam.”
Josie pushes through the crowd. “What happened?” She freezes in place when she takes in the scene before her. “Anna, are you all right?”
I can’t find my words. My arm throbs where Roger grabbed me, but that’s insignificant compared to what Liam just did.
He lost control.
Liam takes a cautious step toward me. “Anna, please. He was hurting you. I couldn’t just—”
“That wasn’t your decision to make! You should have just walked away,” I say, my voice catching. I pinch the bridge of my nose to ward off the tears. “Just go!”
The few remaining parents usher their children away from the scene.
Christ, this is going to be everywhere by tomorrow.
Josie helps Roger to his feet, and he shrugs her off, not before shooting me a venomous look and storming away.
“Miss Anna?” Finn’s sweet voice cuts through everything. I turn to see him standing by the school steps with his gargantuan backpack, his little face confused. “What are you and Da talking about?”
My heart cleaves in two.
“We’re just talking about the school curriculum, Finn.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. “Your dad was just leaving.”
“Finn, bud, why don’t you go wait in the car,” Liam says, his voice hollow as he holds out his keys to Finn.
Finn shrugs then dashes toward him, snatching the keys and climbing into the car.
Liam’s hands flex and he takes another step forward. “Anna—”
“Please just go.”
The school’s front doors burst open and Cedric strides out with a grim look on his face. “What in God’s name happened here?”
“Mr. Taylor,” I start.
“I hear Mr. Murphy has assaulted one of our teachers,” he says, planting his hands on his hips as he glares at Liam.
“He was just trying to—”
“He’s right,” Liam says, looking directly at me. “I hit him.”
Cedric’s eyes move between Liam and me, and I can see him trying to put the puzzle pieces together.
“Miss Browne, I need to see you in my office immediately,” he says. “Mr. Murphy, I suggest you leave the premises before this situation escalates any further. We’ll be in touch.”
Liam’s throat works as he swallows, his jaw ticking as he watches me.
I meet his eyes, holding for a second before exhaling. I turn and follow Cedric inside.
“Anna,” Liam says, his voice splintering.
It takes all of my control to ignore him, but I do.
His footsteps sound faintly from down the drive, and a beat later, a car door slams.
Only when I reach the school’s front doors do I turn, catching Liam’s eyes one more time through his windscreen. The devastation on his faces matches mine exactly.
With all the strength I can muster, I follow Cedric inside.