The Lies That Define Us (Us 2)

“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. Shit, 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 reassurance. “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 fucking Cheetos, Liam? There’s no party without Cheetos!”