He kissed me then. Soft and careful, mindful of my injuries, but real.
When we broke apart, Mia stirred against my side. Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep, and she looked between us with a drowsy frown.
“Are you guys being gross?”
Liam laughed. It was wet and surprised and the best sound I’d heard all day.
“Little bit,” he admitted.
“Ugh.” She burrowed closer against my good shoulder, closing her eyes again. “At least wait until I’m not in the bed.”
I tilted my head, the corner of my mouth lifting despite the ache in my shoulder.
“No promises.”
She grumbled something unintelligible and went back to sleep.
Liam’s hand found mine, fingers threading together, careful of the bandages, of the places that still hurt.
His grip was warm. Steady. Real.
Mia slept against my side, her weight solid and familiar, the rise and fall of her breathing anchoring me to the bed, to the room, to this moment.
I stayed still, afraid to break it. Afraid that if I moved, the day would come rushing back in.
But nothing did.
We were still here.
Together.
The deputy came later that night to take our statements.
Todd had been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and violating the restraining order. He was being held without bail. The evidence was overwhelming. Multiple witnesses. My injury. Mia’s testimony.
He wasn’t getting out this time.
It was over.
I kept waiting to feel relief. Waiting for the fear to lift. For the tension I’d carried for years to finally release its grip on my body.
Instead, I felt hollow. Scoured out. Like something essential had been scraped from inside me, leaving too much empty space behind. Like I wasn’t sure what shape I’d take once healing finally began.
Liam held my hand through the deputy’s questions, through the paperwork, through the long hours of waiting for discharge.
He didn’t let go.
Not when I said I was fine. Not when I insisted I didn’t need help.
Maybe because he knew I was lying.
Maybe because he needed to hold on just as much as I did.
CHAPTER 19
Liam
The casseroles started showingup on the second day. Lucy brought one. Owen's girlfriend Sarah dropped off two. Mrs. Patterson from down the road left a lasagna on the porch with a note that said "Praying for you all."
