CHAPTER 2
As we walk into the house, everyone is doing green tea shots. Olivia’s older sister, Lindsay, was inside with her friends talking about recent town gossip when I walked in, and everyone stopped talking and looked directly at us.
“Well would you look at that, Isabel finally brought a guy around,” she said with the most piercing voice.
“Everybody this is Liam” Introducing him, grabbing a seltzer and beer out of the fridge “Busch or Bud?”
“Bud is great, thank you” he winks at me, giving me instant butterflies.
“Well, good job, Isabel, he’s cute. But… does Noah know?” Lindsay’s voice carried a sharp edge, just enough to sting. “I just don’t want any trouble at my sister's party.”
I froze for a beat, heart skipping. “No, he doesn’t,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though a flash of defensiveness heated my chest. “We haven’t been speaking.
As far as I’m concerned, who I’m seeing isn’t his business anymore, that’s how he wanted it.
But I ran it by your sister, so all is good. ”
I took a long swig of my seltzer, hoping to calm the sudden jitter in my stomach, but I couldn’t ignore the prickling sting of hostility in her tone. Something about the way she said it made me feel exposed, like I’d accidentally walked into a trap I didn’t even know was set.
Just then, Noah walks in the back door, grabbing a beer like he owns the place. The room goes quiet-everyone’s eyes flicking from him to me, and then back to Liam and me. My stomach twists.
Noah glares at me, a silent question in his eyes, but then he notices me leaning against Liam, perched on the counter among the others. A flicker of something-disbelief? irritation?-crosses his face before he masks it with a slow, deliberate slur.
“Hey, I’m Noah,” he says, looking straight at Liam, hand outstretched.
“Liam, nice to meet you,” Liam says, taking the handshake.
Noah’s gaze snaps back to me for a brief second, then drops, and suddenly his eyes are soft,sad, almost grief stricken. My chest tightens at the shift, caught between relief and unease.
“Well, enjoy the party, Liam,” he says, voice smooth but carrying an edge, handing Liam another beer. “We tend to get a bit crazy around here, so I hope you can keep up.”
He turns and walks back out the door, leaving a charged silence behind him, and I can feel it, like the air itself is heavier, my pulse louder than it should be.
I look at Liam with apologetic eyes, he whispers in my ear as he slides his arms around my waist “Isabel, it’s okay. He doesn't bother me” the feeling of his breath on my skin gives me chills.
“So Liam, what are your intentions with our Isabel?” Lindsay breaks our moment.
“We don’t want to rush anything, and I’m not looking for anything serious right now…
but I want you to know my intentions are completely genuine,” he says, voice calm, confident, his gaze shifting to me.
“This is just for fun before you go to school, but I like having you in my life. Day by day, we’ll see where it goes and honestly, I hope it’s me you want to keep coming back to. ”
“Well, don’t break her heart. We have a lot of love for this girl, and if you do, well, we might have to come after you. Lord knows, she’s had enough heartbreak to last for a lifetime” Lindsay breaks the moment we were having.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he says, voice smooth, confident. “We’re still figuring things out, but I’ve got to admit, I’m already completely crazy about this girl.”
His hand slides to my hips, a gentle but deliberate grip, as if reminding me-without saying it-that I’m his. “Hurting her? That’s the last thing I’d ever do. She’s too important for me to let anything come between us, and honestly, I don’t plan on letting anyone else try.”
The charm in his tone makes it feel protective, but the words leave no doubt: he’s staking his claim.
“Good answer. Now let's just hope that's true” glaring at him as she walked out of the house.
It was just Liam and me alone in the kitchen and I looked at him with adoring eyes.
“You’re crazy about me, huh?” I tease.
He doesn’t smile. Not really. “I was honest about everything I just said, Isabel,” he says softly. “I am crazy about you. I think about you all the time. I miss you every second I’m not with you.”
He exhales, like he’s been holding this in. “I know we just started this. I know you want to take it slow. But I don’t want to pretend this is less than what it is. I want to be with you.” His hands settle around my waist, steady, grounding. “Be with me, Isabel. Be my girlfriend.”
He pulls me in before I can overthink it, kissing me like the decision’s already been made.
“Okay” I replied breathlessly.
We walked outside with everybody else and for just a moment, for the first time in weeks, I was happy.
“I’m gonna go in and get another drink, do you want anything?” I whisper to Liam, giving myself an excuse to be close to him.
“No, I’m okay. I’ll miss you” he whispers while kissing my neck.
The way this man makes me feel is incredible. I get to the kitchen, throw the empty can into the recycle bin, and then go to grab a new one. Just as I close the door I feel a hand grab my arm, hard.
“Hey Isabel, can I talk to you for a minute?” Noah glared at me with this darkness that took me by surprise.
No, is what I want to say.
“Uhm, sure. But you’re going to let go of me first, Noah,” I say, a fire of pain shooting through my arm as his grip tightens.
“I’m sorry about earlier, Bella,” he mutters, voice low but edged with anger. “I don’t know what got over me. I guess I’m taking a little longer to move on than you.” His gaze burns into mine, dark and unyielding.
His words ignited a fire in me. I am not the villain here. I will not be gaslit into guilt for surviving the space he left behind.
“Noah, I’m sorry you’ve been ignoring me for weeks,” I snapped, finally finding my voice.
“We agreed to keep things civil, not ruin whatever friendship we had but you couldn’t.
I respected your space. While you were taking yours, I needed someone to just..
hang out with, to be myself. Olivia has Brad.
I am done being a third wheel. So I found my own way.
Liam makes sense to me right now. That’s it. ”
I try to pull free. “I’m sorry if that hurts you, but this was your decision. Now let go of me.”
His grip doesn’t loosen.
“Bella, I fucked up. I should have never ended things. I didn’t want space. I just didn’t want you to go” finally freeing my arm.
“Well… that’s not really your call,” Liam says evenly as he steps out of the darkness, his voice calm but unmistakably firm.
“She wants more for herself. An education. A life that isn’t confined to the same town, the same people, the same mistakes.
” His eyes flick briefly to me, then back to Noah.
“And honestly, anyone paying attention could see she hasn’t been happy here for a long time.
” He exhales, almost amused. “You had your chance. You decided you didn’t want it.
I’m actually grateful you did, it made things a lot clearer for her.
” Liam steps closer, not aggressive, just certain.
“So let me be very clear. She’s with me now.
And as long as that’s the case, you don’t get access to her, physically or emotionally.
I don’t think friendship is a good idea either.
” His gaze drops, pointed, to Noah’s hand.
“And you will never put your hands on my girlfriend again. Are we clear?”
“Girlfriend?” he says quietly, the hope drained from his voice.
“Noah, it’s too late. The line is drawn.” swallowing the lump in my throat, wondering how we have gotten to this point. I turn to walk away.
“Bella-” he said, grabbing my arm a little harder than before.
I can feel the tension tightening in the air as Liam quickens his pace toward us.
“Liam, please don’t,” I plead under my breath. “I’ve got him under control. He’s just drunk-he’s not thinking rationally.” I don’t want anyone else to know what’s happening. Just us. Just this moment.
“I think you need to go to bed,” Liam says calmly, already assessing the situation.
“No,” Noah mutters, fumbling with the keys in his hand. “I’m just going to go home.”
“No,” I say firmly. “You and I are going upstairs, and you’re going to sleep.” I turn and shoot Liam a look, silently begging him to let me handle it, to let this end without exploding.
He hesitates, concern flashing across his face, then nods. “I think that’s a good idea,” he says quietly. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Noah laughs under his breath, unsteady on his feet. “She doesn’t need you,” he slurs, eyes burning into Liam. “She needs me. She’s always needed me. She’ll always be mine.”
He sways closer. “You can’t erase the history we have.”
I help Noah inside and guide him upstairs, into Olivia’s spare bedroom.
“There’s my girl,” he slurs, leaning in, trying to kiss me. The stench of alcohol rolls off him, thick enough to make my stomach turn.
I shove him back. “Noah. Whatever this was..it’s over.” My voice is steady, even though my heart is pounding. “You made your choice. I made mine tonight.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“Let me be very clear.” I push him onto the bed, hard enough that he stumbles back against the mattress. “If you ever put your hands on me again, I won’t hesitate. Do not test me.”
I don’t wait for a response. I turn and walk out, shutting the door behind me before he can say another word. I walk into the kitchen and get myself a drink, a strong one.
Liam is standing by the door with an ice pack, looking concerned.
“Thank you” applying the ice to my now very newly bruised wrist.
“You are amazing, you know that?” He comes towards me.
“Oh, I am? Just how amazing” winking, hoping he will walk over and kiss me.
“Can we just take a moment to appreciate how well you handled that?” he says, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. “That.. was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I shake my head, trying to downplay it. “It was nothing. He won’t even remember it in the morning.”
He steps closer, sliding his hands to cup my face, and presses his lips to mine. Soft. Warm. Perfect. I could stay like this forever, lose myself in him and only him.
When he pulls back, his eyes search mine, concern flickering across his features.
I place my hand on his cheek, my voice soft. “What is it?”
“Has he ever laid his hands on you before?”
“He’s never touched me like that,” I say, my voice steady. “Even when we were little, he was always my protector. But I don’t think he’ll recover from seeing what happened tonight. I’ve never seen him like this or this drunk.”
I pause, letting the words settle. “Whatever unfinished business we had… it’s over now. Done.”
Liam’s hand slides to rest on my waist, firm and grounding, his voice low and certain. “Good,” he murmurs. “Because no one is ever going to put their hands on you like that again. Not him, not anyone. You’re mine.”
“Good,” he murmurs, voice low, almost dangerous. “Because you’re the one thing I will never share.”
His hands grip my hips with firm authority, lifting me onto the counter like I weigh nothing. When he kisses me, it’s fierce, possessive, a claim made without words. Every press of his lips, every tug of his body, says the same thing: You’re mine, and no one else will ever get you.
We sat there making out with the most passion I have ever felt on the counter of my best friend's kitchen.
This was it. This was how this was supposed to feel. I have only known this man for a few weeks, and I was starting to fall in love with him. He was the one I wanted to grow old with. This was it.
Just then the door shuts and we stop and look up and it’s Olivia and Brad.
“Oh, there’s my best friend!” screeches Olivia, clearly fucked up.
“How bad is it Brad?” bursting out laughing, laced with a hint of concern.
“Well, I think the vomit in her hair should answer that question”.
“Well, okay then. Let's get you in the shower” I hop off the counter, as Liam helps Brad carry her into the bathtub.
The boys leave Olivia and I alone, while I strip her down to wash her hair.
“You know Bella, I always thought it was going to be you and Noah in the end” she slurs.
“What do you mean by that?” stopping what I was doing to look at her.
“It was always you two. You were so happy until you weren’t. You were like fire and gasoline, you made each other shine brighter.” with a touch of sadness in her voice.
“We were fire and gasoline, we were no good for each other. We brought out the worst in each other, and in the end, he didn’t even want me” I reply with the same sound of sadness in my voice.
“But tonight, seeing you with Liam. You’re different.
Your head’s a little taller, your smile is a little wider, and your sparkle is a little brighter” she said, smiling at me.
“ Isabel, you deserve the world, and you deserve to be happy. Let me repeat that, you deserve to be happy” cupping my face.
I continued to wash her beautiful red hair, got the vomit off the rest of her and handed her a toothbrush, and helped her into pajamas.
Was she right? Do I deserve to be happy?
Because right now the universe has not been very kind when it comes to men, and it seems as though I’m the only thing they seem to have in common.
“Alright dude, let's get you to bed”.
Liam and I stumble as we try to get this very drunk girl up the stairs, saying none of the 3 of us were that sober.
We get her into bed, with a trash can and tuck her in and she passes out quite quickly. Before passing out completely, she looks at us and says “Will you guys stay in here with me?”
Liam and I looked at each other and then at Olivia, “Yeah I guess” we replied in unison.
“Well, I hope you don't mind the floor because I’m not risking getting thrown up on”.
“The floor sounds great to me,” he says walking up to me, and grabbing my waist from behind “Anywhere with you is where I want to be”.
For the first time in a long time, I was truly happy. Olivia was right, I deserve to be happy.