25. Chapter 25 - Liam
I watch Madison and Lainey head off towards the bonfire. Fuck . What could they possibly be talking about other than me? They sure as shit are not talking about nails and hair. I should intervene… but after seeing Madison go off with Diego to the cabana, and hearing her climb to ecstasy, I can’t bring myself to do it.
Jealousy is such a cunt.
I wish it wasn’t there. I wish I could forget about her. Move on with my fucking life like I said I would. I promised Madison I would try. And I am trying. It’s just not that fucking simple.
Lainey has been extremely patient with me, but I know it hurts her. She showed me her frustration every time Madison and I talked about the Jack and Jill. She’s been on edge since the moment we got here. Anytime I was around Madison, she would be extra clingy.
I know I need to cut Madison out of me. I’m just struggling to make the final slice.
My vision wanders over to Diego leaning against the bar. He’s chatting with his sister. Her smile is as big as the Empire State Building. One hand lingers at her womb, the other rubs up and down her brother’s bicep. Tears are pooled in the rims of her eyes.
Curious as to what they are talking about, I saunter over there. When I reach them, Sel swipes the tears away with her index fingers. Diego spins around to greet me.
“You alright, Sel?” I ask, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m fine, Liam. Thanks for asking. Gah ,” she fans herself. “It’s these pregnancy hormones that are making me a total emotional mess.” She laughs sweetly, leaning forward to place a kiss on her brother’s cheek. “I’m happy for you, Hermano . Mamá would be too. Anyways, I’m off to go find Kil.” She sniffles again before excusing herself.
“Listen, I am sorry for what I said about Madison earlier. You were right to have threatened me. I deserved it.” My attempt at an apology is put on hold as we both direct our attention to the woman we both fell in love with.
The one making her way towards us with purpose. Fuck. What did Lainey say to her? The expression on her face is not good. Not good at all.
She is a woman on a mission.
Diego chuckles, leaning against the bar and taking a sip of his blood orange margarita.
I look at the bartender in desperation. My expression must have sold her. A rock glass with two fingers of my favorite whiskey slides in front of me not a breath later. I take a healthy sip as Madison reaches us.
“Godspeed,” Diego snorts facetiously behind his glass.
I glare at him, knowing he knows this woman’s wrath when she’s mad.
Madison makes herself known, clearing her throat as she stands between the two of us. We direct our attention to her—and like the coward I can be around her—I keep my mouth shut.
“Have a nice chat?” Diego eggs her on.
Arsehole .
“Excuse me…” She gets the bartender’s attention. “Can I please have what he is drinking?” Surprisingly, she points to my glass. This is bad . Madison loves her tequila. She even has a thing for gin or vodka. When she drinks whiskey you know she’s deep in her feelings.
The bartender pours her drink, handing it to her. Maddy takes two large swigs. My fists clench seeing Diego’s amused face.
“ Fuck that burns,” she rasps pressing her left palm to her sternum. That’s when I spot her ring. How could you not? The thing is huge.
A perfect diamond nestled between two radiant sapphires slaps me square in the face.
Literally and figuratively.
I step back in shock. Madison just slapped me.
“ That’s for talking about my sex life in front of everyone.” She grips my shirt and tugs me forward by the collar, getting close to my face. “I need you to get your shit together and get over me, Liam. I know it’s not easy. We shared something special. There is no denying that. But I have moved on. You need to do the same. Diego proposed again and I said yes. We plan on building a life together. There doesn’t need to be awkwardness or even tension between us all. I’d like to keep our friendship if you can handle it. But, apparently, you can’t. Don't tell her I said this, but Lainey is deeply hurt by your actions as of lately. Especially when it comes to me. You can’t continue to keep her at arms length. She deserves better than that. Either claim your woman or let her go. I refuse to be the reason you two have issues.” The anger radiates out of her like steam coming off a hot spring.
Her white knuckled hand releases my shirt as she takes another sip of her drink. Diego drapes his arm over her shoulder and places a kiss to her temple. I expect another jab, but he remains quiet, letting Madison have her moment.
I know what you’re thinking…Oh my God, she hit him. Stop. Ju st stop right there. Welcome to the underworld. We handle things differently here. Red flags are green flags in our world. Hell, I trained her to do that.
I’m actually quite proud. She’s grown a lot. Stood up for herself.
Anger and lust simmer under the surface of my skin. The sting I feel on my face is turning me on. Had this happened a year ago, I would have tossed my woman over my shoulders and fucked the sass right out of her. But she’s not . And that’s the problem. Perhaps I should stay single. I need to focus on being a good leader. Shit like this, the drama . I don’t need it. Madison was the exception. Quite frankly, she is the only one who can ever really penetrate my walls.
This. This person. It’s who I am to my core. I am an arsehole. Madison and I not working out destroyed what was left of my heart. It was stupid of me to ever consider replacing her.
I finish my drink, slamming the glass onto the tiki bar. “I’ll handle it. I never meant to offend you. You’re right. I have a hard time erasing the past. Congrats to the two of you, by the way. I see your ring is back where it belongs. Cheers.” I raise my refreshed glass to the two of them before storming off towards the bonfire where Lainey is.
Lainey spots me headed her way. She pats the space next to her on the oversized bean bag chair, but I remain standing. Her brows come together in concern at my dickhead behavior. Her bare feet hit the sand as she stands, stepping into my space. A shaky hand grips my bicep.
“I take it you and Madison had a chat.” Her tone gives her away. She’s hurt and she’s pissed.
“I can’t do this, Lain.” I spit it out, getting right to the point.
“What did she say to you?” Her voice raises an octave over the bass of the music.
“It doesn’t matter. Leave her out of this.” I bark before inwardly cringing at my behavior .
A scoff leaves her lips before she storms off. Over her shoulder she shouts, “Fuck you, Liam.”
I hang my head. I really am an arsehole.
Lifting it again, I track Lainey. She’s headed straight towards Madison.
Fuck.
My feet are moving, jogging my way back to the bar. I reach out to grip Lainey by the bicep, but she’s already in Madison’s face.
“What the fuck did you say to him?” she screams, pointing her index finger in Madison’s face.
Diego angles his body between them as I try to wrangle Lainey back.
“I told him to get over me. Exactly what we talked about, Lainey. What the hell are you getting in my face for?” Madison asks bewilderedly.
“He just broke up with me. I asked you to talk to him, not convince him to break up with me!” she screams. Her voice carries, directing a few heads our way.
“Lain, come on. Let’s talk inside,” I encourage. The last thing I want is to ruin Con and Lexi’s day.
She spins around to glare at me. “I want nothing to do with you, Liam. We could have been great. But you just can’t get over her. What is it about Madison that has all of you men unable to keep your cocks in your pants?”
Madison visibly cringes, retreating a step.
Lainey shifts her anger towards Diego. “Keep an eye on the two of them. That fire is still there. You’d be a fool to trust they won’t burn you in the process of sorting out their feelings.” With those parting words, she stomps off to the main house.
I release a massive sigh, scrubbing a hand over my face. When I remove my hand, I notice Madison walking away from us. Diego turns on his heel to go after her, but stops himself and lets her leave. He turns back to me, his face paler than usual .
“Are we going to have a problem, Liam?”
I don’t have an answer. I won’t try and get between them, but I can’t help my feelings. Instead, I walk away in search of a cabana to sort my shit out.
I slip inside one of the cabanas and stop short. Madison is there, sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. Sobs rack her body. She hasn’t looked up, which means she hasn’t heard me come in. I could turn around right now, give her space.
But I can’t.
My feet sink into the sand as I make my way over to her. I quietly sit down on the couch next to her. The wicker creaks and groans as I get comfortable. It reminds me of our night at the club. The day I recognized my true feelings for her. It was her friend’s twenty-first birthday.
Madison lifts her head, mascara is splotched beneath her eyes. I want to run my fingers beneath it, but I hold back. I can’t be that man for her anymore. She has a man. It’s time I really come to terms with that.
“Am I the biggest slut for having been with all of you? For sharing my body, my soul, my trust with you?”
I can’t help it this time. I reach out and pull her to me by the shoulder. She settles against my chest. “No, sweetheart. You aren’t. No one thinks that. Not even Lainey. She’s just hurt. I guarantee she didn’t mean that. Believe it or not, she’s really a girl’s girl. The drinking mixed with the emotions tonight had her saying things to hurt me. It wasn’t meant to hurt you. I’m sorry it went down like that. I handled it poorly.”
Madison sniffles against my chest. “I should have been more responsible with all of your hearts. You, Killian, Diego.” Her voice cracks on a sob, her chest vibrating against me. “I’m to blame for this mess. Maybe I should just leave like I planned to. ”
I gently push her back to look at her. My thumb and index finger grip her chin. Beautiful glassy brown eyes stare back at me. “Is that what you really want?”
Her head swivels back and forth between my fingers as she bites her lower lip.
I move my hand to cup her face, rubbing my thumb along her cheek. Moisture collects along it.
Through my peripheral, the curtain draws back and Diego enters. His lips form a thin line.
I ignore him. “What do you want, Madison? Fuck all the noise. What do you really want?”
Diego crosses his arms over his chest, seemingly waiting for her response.
She trembles as fresh tears cascade down her cheeks and onto my hand.
Her head spins to look at The Bone Breaker .
“It’s him, Liam. I told you this. You just weren’t really hearing me. I need you to let this die here. We don’t have to hate each other, but this dies right here and now. Whatever you feel for me needs to go. I am not the girl for you. We are toxic. Can’t you see that?” The agony in her voice guts me.
I release her, nodding my response. She’s absolutely right.
She stands, letting my hand fall to my lap. Diego sends me a sympathetic half-smile before wrapping his arm around his woman and guiding her out of the tent.
Single . Unless I sort out my issues, I am remaining single.
And on that note, I pour myself a drink and head back out to party the night away with the rest of the bridal party.
What is the expression?
“It is better to dance in the rain than to sit under a leaking roof.”