The song “Fall in Love” plays through the bedroom, the song reminding me of his arms holding me in my house as we slowly danced to it… my very first glimpse into his beautiful soul that embedded itself to mine.
When I step to the threshold, the sight takes my breath away. Long white curtains blow out in the room, it billows toward me like reaching hands, and between their movements I catch fragments of him—the dark lines of ink across his back, the way his head bows forward as if the weight of it all is too much, sitting in the middle of the floor, a whiskey in hand, his voice cracking through the lyrics.
One second it’s a blessing,
And the next it’s already gone.
A broken heart, I’m a walking testimony.
My confession is a lesson,
That I’m pouring out in this song.
You don’t want to fall in love.
I gasp, holding my breath. The sound escapes me before I can stop it, and his body goes rigid. He doesn’t turn aroundimmediately. The glass freezes halfway to his lips, and I watch the muscles in his back tense one by one, like a wave of recognition traveling through his body.
My heart hammers so violently that I’m certain he must hear it over the music. “Sara.”
When he finally turns, his blue eyes are bloodshot, rimmed with exhaustion. He looks destroyed and so beautifully handsome all at once.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, his eyes turning dark in an instant, making my presence feel as if I’ve overstepped.
“I’m not sorry for being here, Liam.” I say, my voice strained…
“You have a way of always finding me.” He laughs, laced with pain as he drains his drink. His jaw twitches at the sight of me in the dress he bought.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He rises to his full height, revealing his torso I've kissed, the taut muscles of his tattooed chest and abdomen glistening under the soft light. His dark jeans hang low on his hips, accentuating the V of his abs that draws my gaze like a magnet. I feel a rush of all the moments we shared, the warmth of his embrace, and the way he made me feel alive, leaving me momentarily speechless as my heart races in response to how much I miss him.
“I… I’m as stubborn as you, Liam, and I’m not leaving until one of us gives in.” I stand tall, itching to go to him.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I miss you, Liam...” I take a breath. “I wanted to be brave and ask you to please forgive me. I… it’s been an awful week, and that agony you described, I feel it. It hurts Liam.” I drop my hands to my sides as his unmoved gaze stares back at me.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” he asks incredulously as he takes a step closer to me.
“Liam… I know you feel this. I know you do. Don’t shut me out. I’m handing my heart to you, because the outcome of not fighting for you is worse than letting you break us apart.”
“It’s already all broken, Sara.”
“Stop it! just stop it. You and I are both barely surviving. Stop pretending you don’t feel this between us. Can you seriously tell me, to my face, you’ll find a love like this elsewhere?” He searches my expression as my anger boils. “Do you think I was eager to leave you to go play hero? I was scared out of my mind!”
“I don’t want a love like this, ever. again.” He grits his teeth, taking one more step closer to me.
“Bullshit!” I sob, scream, my voice cracking. “No, Liam, I don’t believe you. You gave up on me. What you feel for me is too strong, and you can’t bear the courage to love me properly.”
Liam’s eyes widen when I close the distance between us and push at his chest.
“You love me so fucking much it burns you alive, and you’re dragging me into your fire with you. Stop it! You’re hurting me.” I breathe helplessly as I can’t stop the pounding pain in my chest.
“What. are. you. doing. here?” His eyes lower to my lips as he grabs my chin, his chest heaving against mine.
“I came… I came to tell you about the man I can’t live without.” My voice cracks as I continue and whisper, “you.”
“What else, Sara?” His eyes fill with his own tears, his voice shaking. “What else, baby?”
“I came to ask you to let me back in. I belong to you, Liam. I love you—the man that you are, the man that you represent, and the man you will become. I love you for your need to be loved, and I promise to love that man with even more ounces of the soul I am pouring out to you.” I sniff, shaking. “Please… you are enough, you don’t see yourself like I do. I need you to see what I see. You’ve asked me to do that for you once, remember?”
