The Lies That Define Us Part 20

Liam followed me to the stairs and watched to make sure I went to my room.

"Door closed, Ari," he called.

"I feel like I'm five and being sent to my room," I hollered back.

He didn't respond, but his laughter was answer enough.

G.o.d, I loved his laugh. I didn't know if it was necessarily the sound of it that I loved, or the fact that he had begun to do it so readily. When I first met him at Ollie's house I'd known he was someone who didn't smile much. All of that was different after his parents visited.

I set everything down on my bed before strolling over to the window. I spotted Liam outside speaking to the guys. His hands moved as he spoke, almost like he was directing something. I don't know why, maybe he felt the weight of my gaze, but he looked up then and saw me in the window.

He glowered up at me, but unlike every single time he'd looked at me like that before this time there was a playfulness to the pout in his lips, and I couldn't stop the grin that overtook my face.

It quickly faded though when he headed inside. One of those brief moments of panic overtook me, and I feared he might be coming to punish me. Punish me for what? I didn't know. I got punished a lot for things that had no merit.

He returned a moment later, and I breathed out a sigh of relief.

I watched as he lifted a thin silver device and aimed it at my window.

Wha-?

The window went black.

The view in front of me completely disappeared, and I was left with nothing but a big wall of nothingness. I tapped my finger against the gla.s.s. Then my fist. The view didn't reappear.

My shoulders sagged dejectedly.

Well...there went that.

Liam said to dress nice, and since he made it sound like I'd be up here for at least an hour, I decided to get ready.

I started with a quick, hot shower before moving on to my hair and makeup. I didn't do anything crazy, but I did straighten my hair. The straightener had been a gift from Talia. I'd felt bad, but she insisted it wasn't a big deal, and she'd wanted to get me something, so I'd accepted it.

Talia was someone else I needed to hang out with more often. I'd have to tell Rebecca I was finally ready to go to the mall and ask if Talia could come with us. I was sure those two would get along great. Plus, they already knew each other pretty well since Ollie, Talia, Liam, Brady, and Jeremiah hung out at Mo's a lot. I noticed Liam didn't come by much after I started working there, but Rebecca had told me he was a regular. I frowned at that thought. Did Liam not come there anymore because of me? I hoped not. I'd have to ask him about it.

When I finished with my hair, I moved on to applying a little bit of makeup. Since I had the time to kill, I decided to try to conquer the complicated winged eyeliner. After messing up five times and smearing black eyeliner all over my face I decided that maybe winged eyeliner wasn't for me.

I rifled through my closet and found the perfect dress stuffed all the way to the right side away from everything else. I'd never had a reason to wear it before that day. It wasn't fancy, but it wasn't casual, either. It was black with a lace design over a nude-colored slip. I knew it would be striking on and make a statement. The back was open almost to the b.u.t.t area, and the straps holding up the dress were a thin spaghetti type. The front was cut into a triangle shape over the b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I slipped it on and appraised my reflection in the floor-length mirror on the back of the closet door. It was a tight fit, not because it was too snug, but because it was meant to hug every single curve and accentuate them. The fabric clung to my hips and thighs before flaring out. The nude slip ended at the knee, but the black lace design continued all the way down to my toes.

I did a little twirl, and when I stopped to face the mirror I was surprised to find a full-blown smile on my face. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled that big. I reached tentative fingers up to my bottom lip, almost like I thought if I touched it, it might disappear. It remained, though, even brighter than before.

There was a knock at the door then, and Liam spoke hesitantly, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah, you can come in," I called back as I bent to pick up a pair of strappy black heels. Little pieces of clothing and shoes continued to trickle in. All from Liam, I knew, even though he never said anything.

The door cracked open, and he stepped inside.

His hair was damp from the shower and brushed away from his face. I was so used to the s.h.a.ggy strands hanging slightly in his eyes that it was a bit strange to see him so...so formal. He was even dressed nicer too, in a pair of khaki pants with the bottoms rolled up slightly and a knit t-shirt in a maroon color. The red tone of his shirt made his blue eyes appear even icier. With his sharply-cut cheekbones and pursed lips, he could cut you straight down to your soul with one glare. But he wasn't glaring, not right then, anyway.

His gaze swept from my feet to the small stretch of legs visible through the lace fabric, up my thighs, over my chest, before finally he met my eyes. His lips parted in a small sigh. "Wow," he breathed, shaking his head, "you look amazing, Ari."

I'd be lying if I said the compliment didn't please me.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I winked at him.

Oh my G.o.d. I winked. Like some fifties movie star or something.

Before I could freak out too much, he grinned and shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Everyone's waiting for you." He fought an even bigger smile.

"For me?" I raised a brow as I adjusted the strap on the heel. When it was in place, I strode toward him, my body heating from the l.u.s.t in his eyes.

"It is your party." His hand landed on my waist, but before I could even relish in his touch his hand dropped away and disappeared back in his pocket. He did that a lot around me, as if he was imprisoning his hands in his pockets to keep from touching me.

"My party?" I continued to question him. "I don't remember planning a party. In fact, I distinctly remember being told to go to my room like a child," I teased him.

"No more questions, Ari." He swept his hand toward the hallway leading to the stairs. There was a hardness in his eyes, but it was less like he was mad and more like he was trying to keep from ruining something.

With a shake of my head, I brushed past him out into the hallway. He followed closely, hovering right behind me. His presence was so potent that I knew he could've been fifteen feet behind me and I would've still felt him just as forcefully.

I started down the steps, my eyes narrowing in confusion at how dark it was.

I heard the sounds of shuffling and quiet murmurs of, "Shh," and "Be quiet."

"Liam?" I asked hesitantly as my heart sped up with panic. I looked over my shoulder at him as I froze midway down the stairs. I kept trying to tell myself that logically it was nothing, but my brain couldn't be reasoned with at that moment. All I could see in my mind were images of Blaise and his men waiting for me, throwing a bag over my head, and dragging me away to some place where no one would hear me scream.

"It's okay," Liam said softly, his eyes searching my face. He seemed to be working hard to puzzle something out in his mind, but I knew he'd come nowhere near to the truth. When I still didn't move, he pulled one of his hands from his pockets and extended it to me. "Take my hand."

I closed my eyes, marveling at how three simple words could suddenly extinguish all of my fears.

I let out a soft breath and placed my hand in his. He maneuvered by me so that he was now in front and guided me down the last of the steps.

When our feet were planted on the first floor, the lights in the family room suddenly flicked on, and there was an exclamation of, "Surprise!"

A small scream clawed out of my throat, and I scuttled behind Liam. I grasped the soft cotton of his shirt in my hands and held on tight until I was probably tugging on the collar and choking him.

"Ari?" Liam exclaimed in concern, trying to turn so he could reach me, but I was still holding on tightly to his shirt. I swore I heard a few seams start to rip.

"Hey, hey, hey," he crooned in a soothing tone, his hands somehow finding my waist and pulling me to his front where he held me flush to his chest. I noticed that he'd turned so his large body was blocking the family room from my sight. "It's okay." He took my face in his hands, lifting my head so I was forced to meet his eyes. I knew there was no way I could mask the overwhelming fear swimming in them. "It's just a surprise party, that's all. s.h.i.t, I'm so sorry, Ari. I...I didn't know."

A surprise party for me? But why?

I struggled to find the words to ask the question, but I couldn't seem to get my mouth to work.

I held on to Liam and took several slow deep breaths to calm my racing heart. When I felt like I was no longer about to jump out of my skin, I was able to ask, "A party? Why?"

He smoothed his fingers through my hair, and the gesture helped to soothe me further.

"You said you hadn't had a birthday party since you were fourteen. I wanted to change that."

"B-But it's not my birthday."

He smiled. "I figured as much," he shrugged, "but I thought you deserved a party."

"Oh." I was at a loss for words. It was honestly one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for me, and further proof that Liam was far kinder than he gave himself credit for. I felt foolish for my reaction, but, then again, it was to be expected with my past. It wasn't like Liam knew any of that.

"I feel silly," I admitted, tugging my bottom lip between my teeth nervously.

He brushed my hair back over my shoulder, and his fingers lingered against my bare skin for a few seconds longer than necessary. "Don't. It's okay. It's my fault for springing this on you." He took my hand in his and squeezed it in rea.s.surance. "When you're ready we can walk in there, or you can turn around and go upstairs. I won't force you into this."

My fingers shook in his hold. I didn't want to tuck tail and run back to my room like a frightened child. I wanted to face the situation head on and show myself how silly I was being, but the thought of stepping around the shield that was Liam and facing all the people that were no doubt standing there staring wasn't appealing either.

I shook my head and looked up at him so he'd know I wasn't lying when I spoke. "I don't want to go upstairs, but..."

"What?" he prompted. "What can I do?"

"Can you just...make them go do their own thing or something? I don't want people staring at me," I admitted with a bit of defeat in my tone.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Liam breathed, relief evident in his tone. He turned around, still careful to keep me shielded from the eyes of everyone, and lifted his arms in the air. He pointed to the back of the house and said in a raised voice, "All right, everyone, let's move this party outside!"

There was a chorus of cheers, and I heard people shuffling by.

Somewhere near the kitchen, Ollie yelled out, "Where are the f.u.c.king Cheetos, Liam? There's no party without Cheetos!"

Liam laughed, his body shaking in front of me. "Outside, Olls! They're outside!"

"Cheeeeetoooooos. Move. Get out of my way!" Ollie chanted, and I was sure he was shoving people out of his way.

Liam turned around to face me, and I smiled apprehensively at him. "How many people did you invite to this party?"

He looked sheepish and ducked his head. "Uh...Ollie, Talia," he began to tick people off on his fingers, "Brady, Jeremiah, Rebecca, a few of the other people you work with that Rebecca said were off, and knowing Ollie, the rest of Malibu was probably invited. Hence the reason I've only had parties on the Fourth of July in the past. Ollie likes to invite strangers," he hissed under his breath like it was some sort of secret.

I laughed lightly. Knowing Ollie, he'd probably invite the old lady in line behind him at the grocery store if he felt inclined.

Taking a step away from him since I felt more comfortable and free from the penetrating gazes of the surprise party guests, I ventured to ask, "How do you know Rebecca so well?"

Liam scrunched his face up in some sort of embarra.s.sed wince. "I used to go to Mo's all the time."

"Used to..." I repeated, fighting a sting of hurt. "Before I came along, you mean."

I started to brush past him, but he wrapped his hand around my elbow and pulled my back flush against his chest. My breath left me in a gush when his lips brushed the sh.e.l.l of my ear.

"I couldn't bear to be around you. Not when you provoked such unwanted feelings in me. You made-make," he corrected, "me feel alive, and for so long I've been nothing but dead inside. I didn't know how to handle that, so I stayed away from you as much as possible. No more, though." His hand slid around my elbow and over to the curve of my stomach before venturing lower to settle at my waist. "I didn't want to want you, but I do want you, and I'm not staying away anymore, Ari. You know that. Don't hold my past behavior over my head. I was doing what I thought I had to in order to stay sane. Everything I did and said, none of it has ever been your fault. It's mine. All mine." He lowered his head, and his hair tickled the skin of my neck before his soft lips pressed ever so lightly against the spot where my pulse thumped like mad.

"What are we, Liam?" I whispered softly, my hooded eyes staring back at me in the mirror hanging in the foyer. He lifted his head, looking at our forms reflected in the mirror too. His lips twitched into a wry half-smile, like he was pleased by what he saw.

He grasped my hips and turned me around so I was facing him. His hair was drying now and the s.h.a.ggy strands brushed the tops of his eyebrows. "I don't know," he answered with complete honesty, "but I hope you give me the chance to figure it out." His face fell into darkened shadows and he confessed, "I don't want to f.u.c.k this up, but I probably will. It's what I do."

"One day at a time," I told him in as rea.s.suring of a tone as I could muster. "Don't overthink this."

He nodded and took a step away from me. I hated the distance between us, but I had to listen to my own words, too. One day at a time. Baby steps. Both of us were trying to figure out our lives but for different reasons, and thinking about a relationship would only add to that stress. Liam needed to focus on surfing and I...

f.u.c.k.

I needed to focus on leaving.

That one word was like a sucker punch to the gut. How could I possibly leave? I liked it there. I liked the people. And I maybe, kinda-sorta, might have definitely fallen head over heels in love with Liam. I couldn't abandon that. I'd made a new life for myself-one I loved.

I was going to be sick just thinking about it.

But I knew I should. I'd be safer and so would the ones I'd grown to care about.

That little nagging voice that belonged to my conscience urged me to flee that night-the sooner I was gone the better, before I fell any deeper, but the devil on my shoulder urged me to stay and that voice was so much louder.

"We're missing the party," Liam prompted, pulling me from my stupor.

"Oh, right." I shook my head and straightened my dress. "Do I look okay?" I questioned nervously.

His eyes roamed my body much the way he'd done in my room, but the hunger in his pale-blue eyes only seemed to strengthen. "f.u.c.king gorgeous."

I smiled widely. "I'm not sure what f.u.c.king gorgeous is on the scale."

His eyes glinted devilishly, and I knew I was in for it. His voice lowered and it dripped with s.e.x. "f.u.c.king gorgeous is the kind where you're so beautiful all I can think about doing is ripping that dress off your body, laying you down on the table, and f.u.c.king you so hard that you can't walk straight for three days."

I gulped.

His lips lifted in a pleased smirk at having left me speechless.

"Considering we have a party to attend, that doesn't seem like a viable option at the moment. Besides, I know you're not ready for that yet." He winked, and I felt my whole body clench with the need for him to touch me. I'd never felt anything like that before.

"How do you know that?" I didn't know how I managed to speak the words, but I was glad I did.

"Because I can read you better than you think, Ari."

With a satisfied smile, he turned on his heel and headed for the backyard. He didn't look back for me, but he already knew I'd follow.

I paused before stepping outside and took a deep breath.

There was nothing scary about a party.

Liam hesitated by the door waiting for me. He didn't try to rush me, which I was thankful for.

I nodded when I was ready, and he smiled rea.s.suringly.

The party was nothing like Liam's Fourth of July party. That one had been loud, with people everywhere, and completely over the top. Mine was much more subdued, which I was thankful for. There was no deejay playing this time, only music filtering from a Bluetooth speaker. Twinkle lights were wrapped around the chairs and chaises, adding to the atmosphere. Some kind of glowing orbs floated in the pool, which was currently unoccupied, but I doubted it would stay empty for long. Food was set up and a three-tier cake in a soft purple hue towered above the table.

I spotted Ollie, Talia, and Liam's other friends laughing by the stone wall and my eyes continued to flit around until I saw Rebecca laughing with two of the other girls we worked with.