The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

I hadn’t spoken one word to Ari the whole way home.

The only thing she’d said to me was, “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t believe her.

Her actions were stupid, and it pissed me off. After what she told me, she was shutting me out? All I wanted to do was help her. Protect her. Love her. Save her. And she wouldn’t let me do anything.

I mean, the girl was fucking kidnapped and this guy must’ve been a complete psycho, so you’d think she’d want my help. But instead, she wanted to end things.

And if that’s what she wanted, that’s what she was going to get.

I parked my Jeep in the garage and hopped out. I grabbed my bags from the back and left her to get hers. An asshole move? Yes. But the worst was yet to come.

I headed inside, and Ari trailed behind me. When we reached the foyer she gasped in surprise when she saw all of her bags neatly packed and waiting by the front door.

“Liam?” Her voice was soft and full of hurt. It fucking pained me, but I had to do what I had to do. She wanted to end it, and I needed a clean break.

I started up the stairs but stopped on the third stair and turned around to face her. I towered above her from my perch; she looked so incredibly small standing beside her bags.

“I’ve already arranged for you to stay with Rebecca. She’ll be here to pick you up any minute.”

She inhaled a shaky breath. I watched the tears pool in her eyes. “So that’s it then? You’re kicking me out?”

I shook my head roughly, snorting. “Don’t try to make this out to be my fault. I’m not the bad guy here. This is you, all you.”

She wrapped her arms around her body like she was trying to hold herself together.

I wished she knew that I was dying inside.

I’d thought I’d known what it was like to be hurt when Kennedy cheated on me and my best friend betrayed me, but standing there, staring at Ari and the tears threatening to escape her lids, was a thousand times worse. It was like someone had shoved a knife in my chest and twisted it.

“You knew this would have to happen,” I told her, surprised by how steady my voice sounded even though I was breaking on the inside.

She nodded and sniffled. “Yeah, I was going to leave anyway.”

I didn’t know what to say then. I’ll miss you, was too personal. Stay safe, sounded too ominous. And, I love you. I will always love you, was the truth, but I couldn’t say it.

Clearing my throat, I stole one last glance at her standing in the foyer. I took in her long legs accentuated by the pair of white shorts she wore, her smooth stomach exposed in her pink, lace-looking top, and her dark hair hanging wild around her shoulders.

Lastly, I looked into her eyes, and I saw the same turmoil in hers that I felt on the inside. My eyes, though, only reflected anger back at her. I was good at concealing my emotions—too good, sometimes.

Without saying goodbye, I turned and walked the rest of the way upstairs, leaving behind the last part of my heart in her hands.

***

Hours later, when I emerged from my room, she was gone.

Of course she was, but it still stung.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed hearing her move through the house, or seeing her flip-flops lying on the floor—the little things.

I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and collapsed on the couch. I didn’t turn the TV on or any music. I couldn’t bear to hear any of it. Besides, no noise could drown out the raucous in my head.

Before Ari, I was by myself most of the time. It never bothered me. Right then, though, it was the worst fucking feeling in the world.

She’d forever changed me, and there was no going back.

I’d wished she was there.