Ah, there she was. The bitter ex-girlfriend. I could relate. Not to the mean and bitter part, but to the heartbroken girl I knew she was inside. You don’t grow up in a world full of passionate Italians and not learn a thing or two about handling a mean girl, though.
“Listen, I’m sorry you’re hurting. Really. I know it sucks to see your ex with someone else. I’m the one who wanted to come here. He didn’t tell me it was someplace you liked to go. I’m sorry if that hurt you. So, if throwing soda at me and calling me a whore makes you feel better at night, I’m okay with that.”
Glancing at Liam, I smiled softly.
“If that is what it’s going to cost me to be with Liam, it’s totally worth it.”
Returning my gaze to Cassidy, I let my smile falter ever so slightly.
“But Liam is a person. You get that, right? He’s not something anyone owns. Not you. Not me. He can choose to be with whomever he desires. I’m happy to be the lucky girl he wants, and I intend to stay that girl for as long as he desires.”
Cassidy just stood there glaring again, but this time, I was done. Turning my back to her, I looked to Liam. He was watching me with a surprising amount of gratitude. Smiling, I motioned to the door.
“Shall we go? I think I left a few things at your place the last time I stayed over that I can change into.”
Okay, so maybe that sentence wasn’t so nice. But you have to give me one dig. Nodding, he rose, and I give him credit for not even looking at Cassidy as he helped me to my feet. We hurried away, returned our skates, and walked out of the building. As soon as we hit the parking lot, Liam tried to pull me into a hug, but I pushed him away.
“No reason for us to ruin two new shirts.”
He rolled his eyes but was still grinning ridiculously at me.
“I can’t believe you just did that. You were spectacular.”
Biting my lower lip, I whispered, “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“Fighting anger with kindness, it’s not what she expected. She’s going to think I’m trying to be a better person now and come at you again. Harder this time. Which was exactly the opposite of what you wanted.”
Liam pulled me toward him, and this time I didn’t stop him. I could feel his warmth seep through me. Leaning back slightly, he cupped my chin and whispered, “You are a better person; I’m not worried about it. I can’t believe how brilliant that was. People have only ever reacted to her with anger, or they shrink in fear. We’ll just have to stick together. Eventually she will give up. She will realize she will lose against you and will pull out of the race before she would accept defeat. She’s a coward. That’s why she bullies people.”
He kept hugging me for a minute, tightening his hold even, before heading to the car. I really didn’t want another confrontation so soon, and I didn’t think Cassidy would stay at the rink much longer. A few people had seen us talking.
When we were on our way back to Liam’s, I looked to him and asked the question I seemed to need the answer to. I don’t know why. No matter what he said, I wasn’t sure the answer would make me feel better.
“Did you really love her?”
Liam didn’t respond right away. I was glad. He was really trying to be honest with me. I appreciated that.
“I was so different when I was with her. I think… I think I thought I was in love with her. But now… Now I’m not even certain the person I used to be could even feel love.”
Reaching over, I squeezed his arm and forced him to look at me. We were at a red light and I could see that he was tired. Like the weight of his past was getting too heavy to carry. I wished he would share it with me.
“Were you really that bad of a person?”
He closed his eyes and turned them back to the road. As he started driving again, he whispered, “Yes, Bella. I absolutely was.”
I settled my hand over his and entwined his fingers through mine. Leaning over, I rested my head on his arm and responded, “Well, you have me now, and I won’t let you become him again.”
He leaned his head against mine and took a deep breath.
“Promise?”
“Prometto.”
Chapter 9
Week2–Tuesday
