CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
BIANCA
Someone’s shaking me gently and I blink rapidly, coming back to reality. The sun streams through the curtains, and I sigh at what happened last night. My eyes dart around the space, remembering that I’m in Mom’s room. Liam looms beside me, mumbling my name, and I hum, pretending I’m listening.
“Bianca.” That catches my attention. He’s been calling me “Freckles” this whole time, never my name until now. I must’ve spaced out again.
He brings a hand to caress my cheek and I smooth out the crease that forms between his eyebrows. “You’re gonna get wrinkles.”
He gives me a look. “What can I do for you, Freckles?” I open my mouth when he stops me. “We can talk if you want to ... or not. I can sit here with you—not that I don’t want to be here.”
I let out a small laugh and he smiles sadly at me. “I think you might be the world’s worst rambler.”
He hooks a finger under my chin, a delicious tingle shooting down my spine. “Well, I need to beat you atsomething,” he retorts and rubs his nose against mine. I glance over, seeing Mom fast asleep.It’s been a hard night, and we were told that it would be best if we stayed here and rested. Of course, the Parkers decided they would stay with us, and I slept next to Mom, holding her till she fell asleep.
“I’m sorry about last night,” Liam starts, his eyebrows furrowing in sadness.
My eyes narrow a bit. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was his fault, not yours, okay?” He looks away as if he doesn’t believe me, but seems to accept it somewhat as he reaches to hug me once more.
“Thirteen years ago, when you were in your accident, I wish I’d known you then so I could’ve comforted you.” I pull back at that.
My heart drops for my soft man.
“Well, you’re here now,” I say. I look toward Mom, then back at him. “You weren’t there that night, but you’ve been there for me since then. Last night you defended me, you comforted me, you love me more than I deserve.” He moves to say something, but I stop him. “Just you being beside me is all I’ll ever need. Get me?” I grab his face so he knows I’m serious. He nods at that, and I kiss him on the nose, snuggling into him right after.
Ana and William walk in, and I shoot up to hug them both. William holds a tray with an assortment of teas, and I smile, knowing it was all Ana’s doing.
“We brought something to drink,” she says, briefly looking at me. She heads over to my mom, softly waking her. “How are you, Kate?” Her voice lowers to a whisper while Mom sits up, wincing. She sighs while we all look at her. Fresh tears spring to my eyes as I see the purple hue on her cheek and a look of defeat swimming in her eyes.
Ana throws her arms around her and Mom whispers a frail, “Hi, everyone.” Her head swivels toward me and her eyebrows furrow in concern. “No crying. I’m okay, I promise.”
I shake my head as my mind takes me back to last night where she was at the mercy of her fiancé, a man who was supposed to love and protect her from violence, not be the one to introduce her to it. My heart cries for Mom because no matter what she says, she’snotokay. Liam hugs me to his side. I lay my head against his arm after I see him grip Mom’s hand gently.
“Mom, I’m so sorry. I feel like it’s my fault—”
She waves me off. “Bianca, never ever think this was your fault. Doesn’t matter what happened, a man shouldneverput a hand on a woman or vice versa. As much as I want to lie and say it came out of nowhere, we’ve been fighting for weeks ever since—” She looks toward Ana and William, and their eyes widen in realization, and that confirms what I suspected.
Of course, having them in our lives bothered Josh.
Tears fill her eyes again and I rub my thumb under them when Ana speaks up. “But that doesn’t give him any reason to”—Ana’s voice cracks slightly—“hit you.” The room grows quiet and she clears her throat. “I knew I hated that guy for a reason.” At that, Mom is the first one to burst out laughing, and we follow her lead.
Leave it to Ana to break the ice.
“I second that,” William speaks up, and Liam loudly agrees too. He sneaks his arms around my waist. Mom’s eyes seem to dart to the action and a small gasp erupts, and I look up to see Ana with a smirk on her face, shock apparent on William’s.
She fans her face as if she can’t believe what she’s seeing. “So, you’re dating?Finally?” she asks, and I look at Liam for help, but he only shrugs, making a scowl come over my face.
Traitor.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“You guys are so cute,” everyone says harmoniously, and Liam and I groan together, causing them to let out more small chuckles.
Mom then reaches out and I grip her hand while her eyes go to Liam. “Thank you for defending her, Liam, and me too.” He nods and his arms tighten a bit, almost as if his mind is going back to that moment.
“Of course, Ms. Kate.” My heart lurches, and there comes a gentle but promising kiss on my temple.
After a bit, William and Ana head home to freshen up while Liam goes out to grab us some food. It’sMom and me as my head rests on her shoulder, comforting her as best as I can. We’re talking about anything and everything when I catch a tear slipping down her face. She looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes and my heart breaks for her. Her eyes are downcast toward her now bare ring finger and she sighs.
