The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

The waves crashed against the sand, the cold water covering my feet before retreating. I bent and rolled up the bottoms of my jeans so they wouldn’t get soaked.

It was one of the first times I’d truly been alone since coming home from the hospital.

The only time my mom let me out of her sight was when I showered. Even when I was sleeping, she was constantly checking on me. I kept going out of my way to remind her that I was okay, and she didn’t need to worry, but she was still overprotective.

The sky began to turn orange, lighting up the world.

&n

bsp; “Liam?”

My body froze. I couldn’t have possibly heard right.

I turned around slowly, afraid that if I moved too fast she’d turn into a mirage and disappear before my eyes, but there she stood in a lacy, white skirt and a purple top. Her dark hair whipped around her shoulders and her blue eyes were bright but wary.

“Hi,” she said softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.

“Hey.” I stood awkwardly with one hand in my pocket and the other held to my chest in the sling.

She looked me over, as if she was assessing all the damage I’d sustained. I looked better than when I left the hospital; the bruises on my neck were fading, as were the ones on my arms.

When the men had grabbed me from the beach, I’d put up one hell of a fight. I wasn’t going to go down easy. That moment had been the only time when I wasn’t grateful for living on a private section of a beach. No one had heard the scuffle, and when the one guy knocked me out, it was game over.

“You look good.” She spoke a little louder this time, like she was gaining confidence.

“You do too.” I stayed where I was even though every fiber of my being screamed at me to hold her.

I was saved by having to move when she took a step forward. Then two. Then three. Until she stood right in front of me and had to bend her head back slightly to see me.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around.” She ducked her head. “The F.B.I. wanted to know everything I knew and…and it took a while to tell them.” She bit her lip slightly.

“You’ve been through a lot,” I commented.

“You too.” She nodded at my bandaged shoulder sadly. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t mean to get attached. I thought I’d be here a few weeks, tops, and then I’d leave. No one would miss me. But I…I fell in love with you. With this place. With having friends. With finally belonging again. I felt like I had a family again, even if it was an unconventional one. I didn’t want to leave. I couldn’t. And because I was too cowardly to leave, you got hurt. And Talia. And Darren and Rebecca died for it. Not to mention the other innocent people in the restaurant. They all died because of me,” she cried softly. “I’m more sorry for that than you’ll ever know.”

“It’s not your fault, it’s Blaise’s,” I told her, reaching out to hold her cheek; she relaxed into my touch.

“That’s what my therapist keeps telling me,” she sighed, “but I’m having trouble believing her.”

“You’re seeing a therapist?”

She nodded sadly. “The agents told me it would be good for me, so they set up my first appointment, and I liked her so I’ve been going back. It’s eating up a lot of money, but I know I need it. I should have insurance and I.D. soon. The F.B.I. said they had people that would help me get my life back to relatively normal.” She leaned forward a bit, like she was trying to shield herself from the cold. “I wanted to come see you sooner, but like I said, I was a bit held up, and…and I knew I wasn’t ready to face you. I understand if you hate me. I wouldn’t blame you. I don’t blame you.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. “I came here to give you one last truth: I miss you. I could’ve said I was sorry or even that I love you, but you already know those truths. I miss you so much that it hurts everywhere. I miss the way things were, and I miss where things could’ve gone if I hadn’t messed it all up.” She swiped away tears. “And if you don’t want anything to do with me anymore, I want you to know I understand, but even then, I’ll miss you.”

I stared down at her, marveling at her words.

“You crazy, silly, beautiful girl.” I rubbed my thumb over her cheek. “How could you ever think I’d say goodbye to you?”

She let out a laugh.

“Truth: I want to spend forever with you. Is that okay with you?”

She nodded eagerly and smiled one of the biggest smiles I’d ever seen on her.

I lowered my head and kissed her like I never had before, branding her lips to mine. I felt her arms wind around my neck, and I smiled against her lips.

Beneath the fully risen sun, I was reborn.