“Bailey—”
As he stepped out onto the porch, I stiffened. The reality of the situation crashed down upon me, and I finally saw Liam for what he really was.
Everything I loved about him so much had all been a lie. And it all started with that dance. Nothing had been real, and I only had myself to blame for refusing to see the truth.
But him…
He’d slept with another woman, and that was something I could never forgive.
25
LIAM
“Are you okay?”Ellie asked as I stood on the front porch and watched the love of my life drive away.
Gritting my teeth, I stormed back inside, refusing to allow myself to feel a thing. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Liam—”
“You said you have to get home. I’ll get dressed.”
My breath scissored in and out of my lungs as I fought the waves of desperation to run after her and tell her everything. This was for the best. I made my bed. Now I had to lie in it.
I dressed as quickly as possible, nearly giving up on the idea of wearing a shirt at all when I couldn’t get my damn arm through the sleeve. But just as I was about to break down in tears over a fucking shirt, Ellie walked in and quietly helped me.
“There,” she whispered.
“Thanks.”
“Liam, maybe we should?—”
“No. It doesn’t matter.”
“But—”
Scowling, my anger took over, but it wasn’t for her. No, I waspissed at myself. I made the decision to hurt her, and there was no turning back from that.
“It’s done,” I snapped, ending her attempt to somehow make this better.
“Alright.” Her soft voice eased the ache slightly, and as she slid her hand over mine, squeezing gently, I tried to take her comfort, but nothing would fix what I had just done.
“Let’s go.”
But before I could escape, my brother came flying through the front door, his eyes narrowing in accusation as he saw Ellie’s hand wrapped in mine.
“Son of a bitch,” he growled. “Tell me Bailey did not see this.”
When I said nothing, he cursed under his breath.
“I just saw her driving like a bat out of hell down the driveway. This is why?”
Again, I said nothing.
“It’s bad enough that you decided to break her heart, but this?—”
“Is none of your goddamn business,” I snapped.
“You can’t be fucking serious! Liam, that woman?—”
