Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Liam
Reading people is something I’ve always been good at. It started when I was a kid, and my mom would sit in silence in her chair in the corner of her bedroom.
She’d pretend to be reading, but she bookmarked the same page for months.
I’d watch from my spot in the center of her bed where I’d sit and play with my toys.
She never turned a page. She rarely looked at the book.
She’d stare out the window for hours.
I didn’t know why until a few years ago. She’s never confided in me. Winola told me that sometimes people think they’ve reached a point of no return where their secrets have to stay buried.
That’s bullshit.
It’s never too late to admit your sins and cleanse your soul.
If the person listening to your confession loves you, they’ll steer you into the light of forgiveness.
I want to do that with my mom but she chose to hide behind the truth she created in her mind.
Athena is hiding something too.
She hasn’t said a word since we left Wild Lilac.
I strolled next to her, holding her hand while she looked off in the distance.
If there’s another man in the picture, I’ll fight for her. Dammit, I will beg her on bended knee to give me a chance to love her.
I’m ready for that. I need that.
I’ll do whatever the fuck I can to sort my own life so I can start one with her that will last until we’re both old and gray.
She opens the door of her apartment and steps inside. I follow, locking the door behind me.
I’m not going to make a move.
I hoped that I’d get to feel her body against mine at some point today, but she needs something else from me.
Understanding, or support. Hell, maybe she just needs silence.
Her fingertips dance over the front of her neck.
It’s bare.
“Where’s your locket?” I blurt out.
Her bottom lip quivers. “It was never my locket.”
That makes no sense. “What do you mean it was never your locket?”
Her gaze trails over my face. “We don’t have to talk about this.”
“I want to talk about it.”
She takes a full step back. “We’ve never talked about our lives or anything serious, Liam.”
She’s right. We’ve kept this on the surface, but I want it to be more. I fucking need it to be more because I want to tell her my truth.
I stalk toward her. “I care about you. I want to be here for you.”
Her fingers trail over her neck. “Are you sure? This is so messed up.”
It can’t be more messed up than the hell I’ve been living in.
“Tell me.” I cup her cheeks in my hands. “Tell me, lilac.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “My mom stole that locket from my dad on the night I was conceived. She’s in prison now but not for that. For other things; bad things.”
Her mom isn’t a saint. I know that from what Audrey shared.
Biting her bottom lip, she sighs. “The pictures in the locket were of a man and a woman. I thought they were my grandparents.”
Makes sense to me.
“Where’s the locket now?” I gaze around the room.
“It was stolen from a gallery twenty-four years ago.” She closes her eyes. “It belongs to a jewelry designer. Her parents’ pictures are in it.”
Fuck.
“I took it back to her.” She exhales. “She gave me the name of the thief; my dad. He died a few years ago.”
I gather her in my arms, pressing her cheek to my chest. “I’m sorry, Athena. Jesus, I am so fucking sorry.”
“I know now,” she whispers. “At least, I know where I come from.”
This is the point where I tell her my story.
I step back so I can look down at her. “Athena.”
Her eyes find mine. “I’m going to be okay.”
I nod. “You’re strong. Listen, I want to tell…”
“My birthday is next Sunday,” she blurts out. “We’re having dinner at Nova. My family is having dinner there at seven. I’d like you to come.”
I swear to God, my heart stalls inside my chest.
I know this has to be big for her. It’s big for me. I don’t hesitate because this is the first step on a path I want to take. I want a future with her. I need a future with her.
My past can wait.
“I’ll be there, lilac.”
She leans up to sweep her lips over mine in a soft kiss. “Thank you, Liam.”
Thank you, Athena, for giving me a reason to hope.
I hold onto those words as we fall onto her bed, and her hands drop to my belt.