I grabbed a sweater and shoved it into my bag, blinking back tears while my chest squeezed painfully.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Crap!”My heart tried to launch itself out of my throat at the unexpected interruption.Spinning to face the door, I found Liam, his arms crossed, with a deep scowl on his face.
God, his eyes were so blue.I’d miss those eyes.And the man they belonged to, of course.He’d turned out to be so much more than brilliant blue eyes.So much more than I’d expected.
But now it’s over.You blew it, Maya.
“Where are you going?”He demanded, his voice low.
I swallowed hard, forcing a detached expression onto my features.I refused to let on that I’d miss him.But … he’s supposed to be with Nana right now.
“What are you doing here?”I snapped, my melancholy switching to anger in a flash.“Where’s Nana?You’re supposed to be watching her.”
His jaw tightened.“She’s asleep.She’s fine.”
Panic eroded all rational thought, and I pushed past him, racing straight into Nana’s apartment, my breath hitching painfully in my chest.I lurched to a stop near Nana’s bed.
Thank god.
She still slept peacefully.Not out in the cold.Not lost.My chest shuddered as I blew out a breath.She’s safe.
No thanks to you,a snide voice in my head said.I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the voice away.It wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know.
When I returned to my room, I caught Liam inspecting my duffel bag.He pulled out myAliens Do It Bettert-shirt.Despite the tension thick in the air, a smile tugged at his lips.I wondered whether he was remembering his first time at book club.Tears stung my eyes as it hit me: it really was over now.
“I’m leaving,” I said, injecting false bravado into my voice.“It’s time for me to go.”
His smile vanished.“What do you mean you’re leaving?”His eyes darted around the room.“Where’s the guy who’s helping you?”
I forced a laugh.I didn’t deserve anyone’s help.
“I’m serious.”His brows knit together.“Who’s helping you leave?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard a man’s voice before I walked in,” he said, his jaw tightening.“Where is he?”
I stared at him, blinking as I tried to puzzle out what he was saying.He sounded … Was he … jealous?“You think I have a random guy in here?”
His shoulders stiffened.“I don’t know, Maya.You freaked out earlier, then I heard a man’s voice in here.So, tell me—who is he?Is he the other guy?Or am I?”He searched the room now, peering under the bed and glancing out the window.“Huh.There’s no one there,” he muttered, as though genuinely surprised.
“I could have sworn I heard a man talking.”He rubbed his chin as he half-heartedly searched for the mystery man he thought was hiding in my room.
Choking back a laugh, I grabbed my phone and pressed play on my Rickman playlist.The speaker picked up mid-sonnet:
“I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;”
Liam stilled.
“I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.”
I turned the recording off.“Is that what you heard?”
