I let Frank hurt me because I believed he was more powerful than me.I’ve spent my life in love with a man who belongs to my brother.
I can’t do this.
I can’t do this anymore.
I want to belong.
I want to be with someone who wants me above anyone else.Who will tear down the city to show me how much I mean to him?Not making me feel guilty because what I want hurts another.
Can’t my brother see he doesn’t lose Liam by allowing him to love me?
Angry tears stream down my face as I turn the water off and rip the towel from the rail.I go through the steps of brushing my teeth, drying my hair, and getting dressed in a pair of leggings and lycra top.
When I step out into Liam’s bedroom, he’s sitting on the bed with his head in his hands.
He’s talked to Jayden.
My heartbeat speeds up, knowing what he’s going to say.I consider waiting for his rejection after last night, I know it would break me.
Liam glances up, and I nod behind me.“Go have a shower.”
“Jess, come here.”Liam reaches out his hand.
I’m tempted.
But I’m not the same person I was yesterday.
Hopeful.Naïve.Stupid.
“I need to eat.My tummy is funny,” I lie, smiling.
Liam nods, stands and kisses the top of my head, then he makes his way into the bathroom.The moment the door is shut, I fire off a text message, and when I get the reply, I jump into action.
Ten minutes later, I’m outside, climbing into an Uber.Thankfully, Jayden was in his shower as I grabbed my things from his room.
Hugging the stuffed elephant Liam got me at the zoo, I feel sick as we pull away from the curb.
By the time I reach Melanie and Sarah’s place, my phone is blowing up with messages from both Jayden and Liam.Putting it on silent, I climb out of the Uber and smile at the two happy faces meeting me on the sidewalk.
“Honey, what happened last night?Savannah was in the group asking all sorts of questions?”Melanie asks.
I gather my bags and wave her off.“A misunderstanding.”
“Well, come on in, and we’ll show you your room.”
I need to give my statement to the police today.I’ll tell Mom and Naomi, in time, but nobody else needs to know.
I don’t want it to define me.
There is a lot of healing to be done along with losing Liam and the damage now done to Jayden and my relationship.We used to be close, but I think he knew there was something between Liam and I all these years and hated us both for it.
I never wanted to steal him.
I just wanted to love him, too.
Melanie and Sarah’s house is pretty terrible compared to Liam’s, but it’s clean and the room has a comfy-looking bed, set of drawers, and its own bathroom.
This will do while I figure out my life.
