“Get rid of the source,” she replies, like it’s that easy. “When Hailey and I used to feel guilty about being in love, we’d cut the things and people and places out of our lives that made us feel that way. Get rid of everything that makes this relationship feel less than to you.”
“I’d have to tell everyone on tour the truth,” I whisper.
She nods.
“They might never look at me the same,” I worry.
Candice shrugs. “But they also might understand.”
Chapter 23
July, Now
After we help tidy the kitchen and say our goodnights, Liam and I head to one of Candice and Hailey’s guest bedrooms. It’s cozier than the hotel rooms we’ve gotten accustomed to, the walls covered in Hatch Show Prints, the pillowcases patterned in daisies.
“Did that go okay?” he asks, the skin between his brows tensed.
“You charmed the pants off them. I got a peek at Hailey’s phone while she was adding you on LinkedIn. That’s her love language. And Candice kept squeezing my hand under the table while you spoke, and Harry keptwinkingat me, so overall, I’d say that was a home run.”
Liam’s lips tilt up. “My first in years.”
“Good to be back?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“I never used to think of you as a people pleaser,” I say. “Since you’re also very confident and surefooted. But youareone in your own way, aren’t you?”
He watches me in the half-light, eyes glazed in thought. “I’ve never thought about it. But I guess I am. I’ve always wanted to please my partners. My coaches, teachers, bosses. And my own family.”
“It works,” I promise him, stooping to unzip my carry-on. “We’re all constantly pleased.”
“Paige.”
I twist up.
“C’mere,” he rumbles.
When I stand, he pushes my back to the nearest wall. “I want to try something.”
In slow motion, his hands find my hips. His eyes get that look I remember in my bones. But instead of relaxing, my spine locks.
“You heard us,” I groan miserably.
“On accident,” he whispers. “I was coming back up to see if you needed more help. I didn’t mean to spy.”
“Which part?”
Please not the part where I admitted to already loving you—
He sighs softly, eyes watching mine. “You telling Candice that I’ve been keeping my hands off you because I still don’t trust that this is real.”
“Please don’t kiss me out of pity,” I beg him. “I would never forgive myself.”
His lashes lower, dark eyes dropping to my lips. “I haven’t kissed you yet because we haven’t talked about our breakup yet, Paige. It has nothing to do with not trusting you. It stopped being about trust the second you stayed.”
“Stayed?”
His arms coast up mine, and his thumbs settle near the soft spots of my throat. “This time,” he whispers, “when you thought of leaving me. I asked you not to, and you stayed.”
