Chapter 55
Inside, the house is packed, the air heavy with sweat and alcohol and bad decisions. I shove past people, ignoring every noise, every laugh, every careless glance that dares brush over me.
Then Silas is suddenly in front of me, stepping right into my path.
“Archer…hey, what’s going on? Where’s Liv?” His voice holds a rare thread of confusion, almost concern.
I don’t stop moving.
I shoulder straight past him, growling under my breath: “Not now, Silas.”
His hand snags my arm for half a second, but I tear it free without even looking back.
Then I see him.
He’s planted on the couch. Maddison in his lap, one hand in his hair, the other resting on his chest, her laugh too loud and too sharp. He leans in close to her, like he’s enjoying himself. Rage floods me, hot and blinding. I don’t even hesitate. The whole room stutters to a stop.
Rafe’s eyes cut to me the second I send all the shit on the table flying, glass and bottles crashing at his feet. Maddison tightens her grip around his neck like she thinks she’s safe there, clinging to him like she’s entitled to that spot.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Rafe snaps, brows drawn tight, voice loud enough for everyone around us to hear.
I swing, my fist connecting with his jaw. Maddison screams as Rafe’s head snaps back and then he’s jumping to his feet. Maddison falling to the floor.
"As if you don’t know!" I spit back.
Rafe wipes the blood from his mouth. His gaze is locked on me now, sharp and cold.
"You gonna enlighten me, Archer?" he sneers, squaring up. "You storm in here like some righteous asshole but I don’t have a clue what you’re on about."
"You’ve got a girl out there crying her fucking heart out over you because she cares so much,” I bite back, pushing closer, "and you don’t even fucking see it. Or maybe you do, maybe you do and you’re just too much of a coward to do anything about it."
Rafe scoffs, shaking his head like I’m the crazy one here. "You don’t know what you’re talking about," he fires back, voice low but cutting. "Why do you care? She’s just another girl.”
I laugh, bitter and humorless. "Care? You think this is about me? Look at yourself, Rafe. You act like Liv means nothing, and you can just sit here with Maddison draped over you while she’s outside falling apart because of you."
His expression wavers, just a crack, a half-second flicker of something real, and then I see it. His eyes darting toward the crowd, scanning, searching. He’s looking for her.
Good.
I lean in, my voice dropping low and lethal. "You can pretend all you want but you know. You fucking know, she deserves so much better than this coward who won’t even own up to his own feelings.”
Rafe straightens, defiance rising again, but he doesn’t deny it this time. Doesn’t say a word.
I straighten and give him one last look of disappointment. I turn and walk away, straight for the front door. I catch Silas’ eye and nod toward the front door, he meets me there but says nothing just follows me out.
I point over the car. “Other side.” I tell him as I yank the door open and climb in, slamming the door behind me.
The other door opens and he peeks his head in and his face falls when he see’s the wreck Rafe has left Liv in. His eyes dart to me. I say nothing. I just grab her arm and gently pull her towards me. Silas slides in and closes his door.
Liv turns and falls into my open arms and I hold her close. My hand stroking her arm gently.
Silas gives the driver my address and we pull off into the night.
Liv’s breaths are shuddering and heavy. She’s trying to hold it in and I just want to tell her she doesn’t have to but I don’t know if that will make it worse.
So, I just keep rubbering her arm and holding her close.
Silas is watching her intensely. His hand has taken home on her thigh. Gently squeezing every so often.
Neither of us knows what to do in this situation so we sit in silence and watch as the neighborhood passes.
Frank pulls to a stop outside of my house. Silas opens the door and pulls Liv with him. Frank turns back and I place my hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry. She will be taken care of.” I tell him but he doesn’t look like he believes me.
He looks out the window at Liv. Silas has picked her up and is holding her in his arms while she rests her head on his chest.
“Her parents know my grandma, Mrs. Gravemont. Have them call her. She will be ok with us.”
He nods, so I climb out of the car. When we get inside the house I close the door behind us but I watch through the window.
Frank does indeed call her parents but he must be satisfied with what they tell him because he drives off.
I’m sure her phone will be going off but I don’t even know if she has it.
“What’s going on?” Silas asks me in a hushed whisper.
“Rafe.” Is all I can tell him. I don’t want to say much more. Liv looks like she might be sleeping but incase she’s not, I don’t want to upset her more.
We climb the stairs and head for my room. Inside we close and lock the door. Grandma usually doesn’t bother us but for now, it can be locked.
Silas lays Liv in my bed and I cover her with a blanket.
We both take a seat on the chest at the foot of the bed. I drop my head into my hands and sigh. My shoulders finally falling.
“Dude, what happened?” Silas asks. He’s looking over at Liv who is in fact sleeping.
“To be honest. I don’t know.” I lift my head and look at him. “I followed Liv out to the car and when I climbed in she was a mess.” I look over my shoulder at her as well. “I had seen Rafe talking to her earlier and I knew it had something to do with him.”
“What did he say.”
“Nothing. Like usual.” I scoff. Typical Rafe. Brush it off until it’s not a problem anymore. My brows pinch. Problem. Liv isn’t a problem. If anything she’s a solution. She’s been the best thing to happen to us since we met each other.
“I don’t understand.” Silas mutters. “I…” His voice trails off.
“What?” I ask.
“Rafe took Maddison upstairs. I caught Liv watching.” He laughs a little but the sound falls flat. No smile on his face. “ She was upset then.”
Rafe took Maddison upstairs. No wonder she was a mess.
“He asked why you two weren’t enough for me.” A small voice from behind us says. We both turn to find Liv sitting up. Face cast down at her hands in her lap.
My face scrunches. What a fucking asshole. “Why would he say that?”
“Because I got him a birthday gift.” She’s wringing her hands roughly. Her jaw keeps tensing and I can see every time she swallows. She’s fighting back more tears.
Silas stands and walks over to the side of the bed and crawls in with her. He puts his arms around her and pulls her close, resting his chin on her head.
“He got mad at a gift?” I ask confused. I look to Silas and he’s got one brow raised, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Ah. He must’ve liked the gift. No excuse but man what an idiot. Typical Rafe. He really needs to work on himself and his emotions.
I stand and move to the other side of the bed. I kick off my shoes and climb in under the covers. It’s subtle but I notice Liv move more into Silas, almost as if she’s pulling away from me. She sniffles again but this time it sounds like she’s crying again.
I grab her arm to try and get her to turn to me but she won’t.
“Liv.” I say. Nothing. My thoughts starts to race. “Liv?” This time more of a question. I hear her take a shaky breath and she clenches Silas’ shirt. I look up at him and he looks frozen. He has no clue what to do.
So I do the only thing I can think of. I climb out of the covers and crawl in front of Liv and Silas.
“Look at me.” I demand but nothing. I take a deep breath and sigh heavy. “Turn her around.” I tell Silas. He looks at me like he wants to question me but instead he moves his hands to her waist, picks her up and places her in his lap, facing me. And my god, she is practically sobbing again.
Her mouth forms a frown as she tries to hold back. Her eyes red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears.
“Pretty girl. What is going on?” I reach up and wipe one of her cheeks. “If you’re upset about Rafe you don’t have to hide that from us.” I’m scanning her face for any tell but there’s just hurt and sadness.
“It’s..” She stammers. Her voice tight. “It’s not just Rafe.” She’s fidgeting again. This time with the sleeve of her sweater.
I’m thrown off by her comment and so is Silas. His head tilts and his brows are pinched. He looks at me for help but I just shrug.
“What else is bothering you?” I ask, my thumb stroking her cheek again.
“Why don’t you want me?” She’s so quiet I almost miss it. But clearly I heard her right because even Silas looks down at her like she’s grown three more heads.
My hand drops. “I don’t understand. I do want you. I’ve wanted you since before I even knew that I did.”
She lifts her face, and finally looks me directly in the eyes. “You touch me. You kiss me. You…,” She trails off and takes in a stuttered breath. “You command me with Silas.” She whispers. “But you haven’t wanted me.”
Silas’ mouth has fallen open and I swear if he doesn’t unfurl his brows they are going to get stuck like that.
I go to speak but I close my mouth again. I know what she’s referring to. I know what she means. She’s right. I have touched her. Kissed her. I’ve commanded her with Silas and without, but never fucked her myself. She’s asking why I haven’t fucked her yet. Or rather, why I don’t want to.
I see the moment it clicks for Silas as well and he stares me down.
I look away from him and stare at the wall for a while. So long that Liv has started to cry again. It’s more quiet this time but it breaks my heart nonetheless.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I make this decision. I move to the edge of the bed and climb off. I walk away and out of the room.