When my vision clears and she’s all I see again, I discover something different. A new side of her, maybe. There’s more to her eyes now than satisfaction, there’s something so much deeper, so real and honest. In this second, I have exactly what I asked for. All of her. Without the barriers. Without the poison.
Chapter 7
Aria
The rich aroma of coffee brewing stirred me from sleep the next morning. A couple of hours atop, beneath, and draped over Liam’s hard body kick-started my day with a smile on my face. It wasn’t until we drove back to central Los Angeles later that Sunday morning that I was reminded how soon this fantasy of ours would come to an end.
Last night I had wondered if maybe I’d wake up with some clarity in how to make this all work but the truth is, I have no idea. I can’t hurt Jackson in the way I would if I chose to be with Liam. Though the thought of walking away from Liam today, pretending that what I experienced with him wasn’t real and incredible, seems wrong, too.
I sense a similar tension in Liam. He’s been too quiet on the drive home, obviously lost in his thoughts the same way I’m lost in mine.
When he pulls to a stop outside my condo, there’s nothing I want to do more than stay in this car next to him. My heart suddenly feels like it’s ripping in two, and I’m scrambling to somehow put the pieces back together again. Knowing I must, I turn to face him, discovering his conflicted stare on me. “So…” I begin, not really knowing what to say, or how to leave him.
His eyes search mine then he gestures. “Come on.” He opens his door. “Let’s take a walk.” He’s out of the car a second later, moving quickly to my side and opening the door for me.
Once I join him outside, the warm sun squinting my eyes, he shuts the door behind me. Silently, he takes my hand and walks across the street toward the small park. The heavy silence between us continues as we stride along the pathway, passing by people and their dogs enjoying the beautiful day.
Liam finally gestures to one of the benches overlooking the expanse of the park with the branches of mature trees waving with the breeze. He sits first then I join him, staring off at a group of young women sitting under a tree, breaking into laughter. I draw in a big long breath, taking it all in. The sun. The silence. My park. The place I walk daily. Life seems exactly like it did when I left on Friday. Yet everything feels different.
Liam eventually breaks the silence. “I don’t want to give you up.”
I swallow the emotion rising in my throat and turn to face him, discovering his gentle expression. “I don’t know how to make this work,” I tell him honestly.
“Do you want this to work between us?”
How easy it would be to say yes. “It’s a complicated answer, and you know that.”
“Why, because of Jackson?” Liam’s voice blisters.
I nod, glancing down at his strong hand cradling mine. “Jackson is like family to me,” I explain, returning my attention to him. “To be with you would hurt him, and I can’t do that.”
Liam cocks his head. “The problem here is that you think I’ve done something to wrong him. Is that right?”
I shrug. “Jackson has never told me what went down between you two. But dating you when I know he hates you would be unfair of me, especially since I knew him first.”
Liam snorts, glancing away. “Unfair of you.” He shakes his head, obviously frustrated, then looks at me. “In this, you’re thinking of him, not of yourself.” He brushes his knuckles across my cheek. “How sweet you are, Aria.”
A moment passes between us. Liam watching me intently, obviously thoughtful. He draws in a very long, deep breath, shutting his eyes. When they reopen, his brows are drawn, lips pinched. “Jackson is not who you think he is. He does not deserve the kindness you bestow on him.”
I sigh, expecting Liam to go this route. “Please don’t do this. Bashing Jackson isn’t going to get you anywhere but my leaving.”
“This isn’t about bashing him,” Liam counters, releasing my hand to lean his elbows on his knees, hands twined in front of him. “Remember when I said that I like to win fairly?” He glances sideways at me and waits for my nod before adding, “It’
s why I’ve never told you the truth about what happened between Jackson and me. I didn’t want to destroy him to win your loyalty.”
“Then why are you now?” It had to be asked.
“Because Jackson stands between you and me. He’s poisoned your mind with things that aren’t true. Maybe in fear of losing your friendship, which I can tell is very important to him.” Liam pauses to draw in a long breath, telling me this conversation is hard on him before adding gently, “You can’t make a choice without all the knowledge. And I won’t force you to decide, but I will arm you with the information.”
“Okay,” I say, “then arm me.”
“Has Jackson ever told you about Sophia?” he asks.
I don’t recognize the name and shake my head.
“I suppose that shouldn’t be much of a surprise.” Liam glances out at the young couple playing Frisbee before he looks back at me. “Sophia was my girlfriend in law school. We were together just shy of two years.”
“Was the relationship serious?” I hadn’t known he’d had a long-term girlfriend before but I guess that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. He is in his early thirties.