But today was the day and, oh, how Ihatedtoday.
I wasn’t mad at him anymore. Really. I was just tired of walking on eggshells when he was around. I needed to get this over with. For my sanity. And maybe his. Though he didn’t seem bothered by anything he’d said to me that night. He hadn’t even made eye contact with me since then. I tried so hard not to be a coward, but failed. I had made it my mission to busy myself whenever he was home to avoid confronting him. Not that I had a hard time finding things to occupy my time.
Something I’d found myself studying, other than disgusting infectious diseases and the monotonous anatomy of a cell, was Liam’s afternoon routines. The annoying part was, he didn’t walk around, checking things off his planner; he was a veryfly by the seat of your pantskind of guy. I could never predict what he was going to do or where he was going to be. It was infuriating.
The sliding door behind me opened, and I nearly jumped out of my skin, first at the thought of being murdered in my llama pajamas and then by the sight of a sopping wet Liam sporting black swim shorts and tanned skin.
I’d gotten myself so worked up about talking to him, I hadn’t even taken my wardrobe into account.
Great. Llamas.Why in the hell hadn’t I changed?
The sunlight hit the back of him like a spotlight, casting a six-foot silhouette in the doorway. Drops of water danced in the air as he shook a towel through it.
I mentally took note of Saturday afternoon swim sessions.
“My God. I thought you were an intruder.”
He glanced down at my hands gripping a textbook. “Interesting choice of weapon.”
I stepped around the couch. “Do you have a minute?”
Liam nodded toward the stairs. “I need to shower. Danny should be back soon if you need something.”
“I wanted to talk toyouactually.”
“I’m sure whatever it is can wait.”
I balled my hands into fists at my sides. “I’ve already waited long enough. Please.”
He paused, hooking the damp towel over his shoulder. He must’ve been swimming laps because his abs were contracting with every hard exhale.
“Lexie told me what happened the other night. I wouldn’t have said all those things to you if I had known it wasn’t you who had gone through my journals. They’re very personal to me, and I guess I felt betrayed. I took it out on the wrong person, and I just wanted to apologize…”
His frown loosened as he stepped closer.
“If I hurt you.”
“Mmm.” His eyes searched mine, as if he couldn’t believe my sincerity.
“I took it too far,” I continued, glancing down at his naked chest and back up at him. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head in relief. “It means a lot to hear you say that.” My breath shook when his gaze dropped to my lips. “That night has been haunting me every day for the past week.”
“Really?”
His eyes slowly raked back up to mine, and he hooked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Nope.”
I frowned as he retreated back with a smirk.
“You’ve certainly gained a set of lips on you, but what you think of me is the least of my concerns.” Liam laughed. “I don’t want or need your pathetic apology.”
Instead of lighting me up with that familiar red-hot rage, Liam’s words made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I didn’t know why I had expected anything more from him. That was who he was. That was who we were together—a puzzle made of glass. No matter how hard you tried to force the pieces together, someone was always going to get hurt.
11
Liam
Ipaced back and forth in the hallway outside my room, caught between washing off my afternoon swim and running back downstairs to tell Avery I hadn’t meant what I said.
