by Kennedy Fox
I shrug as if it was no big deal to jump through hoops to get them. “I know people.”
Maddie looks at them again. “The concert isn’t until next summer.” She arches a brow, tilting her head at me. “Does that mean you think we’ll still be together then? Or is this like when a guy makes plans six months in advance so the chick will sleep with him now?”
“Fuck, you caught me.” I grip her hips and pull her closer.
“I love it, thank you.” Maddie kisses me softly, and I lean in, wanting more of her. “I hope you know what you just signed up for.” She smirks, shaking her hips. “I have every song of hers memorized.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, honestly.” I press my lips to her forehead. “I can’t wait.”
“Me too. We’ll hopefully have a lot to celebrate by then.”
Hell, I sure hope so.
“I feel bad now. All I got you was a personalized ornament.” She frowns. “It…has our faces painted on it. With our names on the bottom. And the year.” She slaps herself in the forehead. “I wanted to commemorate our first Christmas. It sounds super lame now that I’m saying it out loud.”
Grabbing her wrist, I remove her hand and tilt her chin up to look at me. “It sounds…amazing. Thoughtful. Very Maddie. And I already know it’s going to be the best gift I’ve ever received.”
On Christmas, I take Maddie to my aunt’s house, where my dad and stepmom are temporarily living. I’m devastated about the fire that destroyed my childhood home and them losing everything. Luckily, they’ll get an insurance check to help them start over and buy a new house or build one. My dad deserves to know the truth, but I can’t tell him. That would be opening a can of worms about the O’Learys, and this is one of those “the less he knows, the better” situations. It was hard enough to explain to him that Victoria and I split and the babies weren’t mine. He was so excited to become a grandpa, and having to witness the disappointment in his eyes nearly shattered me.
I think he was confused that I quickly jumped into a relationship with Maddie after, but he didn’t voice a concern, so I assumed there was no issue with me “moving on” so fast. He knows I’ll do whatever I want, but I’m grateful for his blessing either way. I want him to like Maddie and for us to be able to spend quality time together.
And if this is the last time I get with my dad, I want it to be special and memorable for him.
“Dad, I got you something,” I tell him as we sit in the living room with beers in our hands. Aunt Ruthie made hot apple cider, but then my uncle Matt came in carrying a six-pack.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he says, setting his beer down. We never exchange gifts, but I wanted to this time.
“I know, but I saw this, and it made me think of you,” I explain, handing over the small package Maddie wrapped. It’s also so he has one thing from me…just in case.
After giving me an incredulous look, he takes it. I drink my beer as he unwraps the paper, then smiles when he realizes what it is.
“This is a pretty nice lookin’ watch, Liam.” He takes it out and holds it under the light.
“Turn it around,” Maddie tells him, beaming.
My dad does as she says, then squints to read the engravement.
“My hero,” he reads aloud. My father’s hardly an emotional person, but he chokes up. “Wow, Liam.”
I stand and round the coffee table, then wrap my arms around him. “I mean it, old man. You stepped up and took care of me. I think about that every day. You’re my hero, always.”
My dad shifts and returns the hug, holding back tears in the process. “I love you, son.”
“Love you too.”
Aunt Ruthie serves everyone pie and turns on the fireplace.
“So, Maddie…” my stepmom begins. “You were Liam’s roommate before you two started dating, right?”
Maddie nods and takes a large bite of her dessert, I suspect to avoid having to talk about our relationship since they think it’s recent.
“How did things change from roommates to dating?” she asks. I know she’s not being judgy, but it’s uncomfortable.
“Well…” Maddie swallows her food, then smirks at me. “He finally came to his senses and saw what was right in front of him the whole time.”
Alright, that’s mostly true.
My dad chuckles, looking at his wife with pride. “Sounds like an Evans man.”
I smile and shrug. “I thought she was too good for me.”
“Oh, she is…” Aunt Ruthie teases. “Being in love is a good look on you, Liam.”
Reaching over, I grab Maddie’s hand and press a kiss on her knuckles. “It sure is.”
We end up watching A Christmas Story, and as Maddie snuggles into me, I look around and soak in my surroundings. This has been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time, one spent with family and the love of my life, eating, drinking, celebrating.
If I don’t come back, it’s not only going to affect Maddie but also everyone who loves me.
And that feeling is enough to gut me.
The next day, I’m back to training and reality.
“Come on, Liam, keep your shoulders tight,” Tyler scolds. I swing at him and miss, then he swoops his foot underneath my legs, and I fall flat on my back.
Motherfucker.
“Get up,” he demands, not giving me the chance to rest. “Your opponent gets you down, he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep you there. You fall, you bounce right the fuck up. You got me?” Tyler sounds pissed, and I’ve been off my game all day, but yesterday really brought everything into perspective for me. Realizing how much this one fight might change my life is wearing me down.
“You should’ve just let me fake my death months ago when I asked you to,” I chastise him.
“Or I could grab my gun and get the job done for real?” he mocks with a frustrating glare. “But then you know that means leaving me with Maddie, and we’ll probably grieve together and get pretty close. Then I’ll turn on my Southern charm, and well…I’ll let you use your imagination for the rest.”
“You fucking bastard,” I hiss, jumping to my feet and storming toward him. He blocks every punch I attempt, smirking like an asshole.
“Whatcha gonna do about it when you’re dead?” He moves his head to the side, and I miss his face. “You gonna give up and let me have your girl?”
“Over my fucking dead body, you motherfucker.” I get a punch to his gut and another to his jaw.
“That all you got? If so, I’ll have Maddie in my bed by Valentine’s Day.”
I fill with rage, wrap my arms around his waist, and push my head into his stomach, pushing him into the ropes and punching him in the ribs.
Tyler has his arms around my head, tightening his grip as I attempt to lift his body over my shoulders.
“She’s gonna look so goddamn sweet underneath me,” he continues in labored breaths. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed those perky nipple piercings.”
Standing and meeting his eyes, I grit my teeth and drive my fist in his gut. Over and over until I grab his throat and squeeze.
“You’re supposed to be my friend, you asshole.” I seethe, pushing my thumbs into his windpipe. “Talking about my girl like that makes you the biggest douchebag in the world.”
Tyler fights back, trying to loosen my grip, but the adrenaline pumping through my blood fuels my rage. I curse at him when he brings his knee up and drives it into my groin, making me drop to the ground.
He falls with me, sucking in air as he tries to catch his breath. I climb on top of him, throwing fists to his face, but he holds up his arms and blocks me. In one swift movement, he drives into my waist and flips me over, landing on my side. Tyler grabs my arm and pulls it behind my back as he pushes his knee into my ribs and other arm.
“Goddammit,” I hiss when he yanks my arm harder.
“You fuckin’ done?”
“Fuck you,” I spit.
Tyler releases me, then stand
s as he chuckles. I look up at him as he shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. The asshole was purposely pissing me off. “You’re ready.”
Chapter Nineteen
MADDIE
The last forty-eight hours I’ve been lost in my head about this damn fight. We’ve been counting down the days for weeks as Liam has trained and prepared, and now the day he leaves is here. Time flew by so quickly and honestly, I’m scared of what could possibly happen. Things never seem to go the way they’re supposed to, and while Tyler has explained to me several times how ready Liam is, it doesn’t make me feel any better about the situation. I understand the consequences, and it’s much more than him just getting his ass kicked. He could be killed. Losing him isn’t an option, but it could very well be my reality.
Tonight, I can’t sleep. I’ve been tossing and turning, and eventually, I roll over and look at the time on my phone to see it’s just past three. I’ve laid here with my eyes closed, counted to one thousand backward, but nothing is helping me get my mind off Liam leaving in the morning. We’ll say our goodbyes, and he'll get on that plane and not return to me. Just thinking about it nearly brings me to tears, but I try to hold it in, something I’ve gotten really good at doing. Liam knows I’m upset regardless of how much I’ve tried to stay strong. Our future is literally in his opponent’s hands, and the unknown of what could happen drives me insane.
Eventually, I drift off, but it seems like only an hour passes before I’m being woken up by Liam. He nuzzles into my neck, and I smile at the way his lips brush against my skin.
“Morning, baby,” he whispers, and I turn to face him. “I have to get ready to leave in a couple of hours.” His voice is strained and sad.
“Morning.” It doesn’t matter that my eyes are burning or that I’m exhausted, I decide to get up too because I want to spend every minute I can with him before he leaves. After I brush my teeth and pull up my hair into a messy bun, I go into the kitchen where Liam is standing shirtless, filling up a mug with coffee. I lean against the counter and watch him, memorizing the way he looks right now. Glancing over, he catches me gawking and smirks. All the training he’s done the past few weeks has really done his body good.
And my vagina bad. Bad because all I want to do is jump him, and I’ve had to restrain.
After he takes a sip, he sets down the mug and walks over to me, then wraps his arms around my waist. I sink into his strong body, not wanting him to let me go, but our moment is interrupted when I hear a throat clearing behind us. Turning around, I shoot daggers at Sophie.
“Coffee.” She points at the machine we’re blocking like she’s a caveman coming to claim hers. Sometimes mornings just aren’t her thing.
I laugh, trying to ignore her. “I’m busy.”
Liam kisses my forehead, then we pull apart. Sophie goes to the fridge and grabs the creamer, pouring it into her cup. She releases a sigh and smiles after she takes a sip. Moments later, Tyler and Mason enter the kitchen, chatting about the upcoming events. It’s then I realize Liam’s and my morning alone is short-lived. I don’t know why the hell they’re all up so early anyway. It’s as if the smell of coffee brewing summoned them all.
Mason volunteers to cook breakfast, and I can’t help but obsess over the fact that we only have mere hours left. Time is slipping between my fingers and there’s nothing I can do about it. Feeling chilled, I decide to grab a hoodie from my room, and as I’m walking into the kitchen, I overhear Tyler talking to Liam.
“After the fight, you’ll more than likely need to go to the hospital,” he tells him.
Liam asks why, and Tyler continues to explain that he’ll probably be messed up in some way and will need medical attention because he’s not going to walk away unscathed. Tyler says he’ll probably have broken ribs, black eyes, and be bruised. The visual my mind creates causes me to shiver with fear.
I sit next to Liam at the table, and the anxiety slowly takes over. It scares the shit out of me that something bad may happen, and he’ll return injured. As if he notices, he places his hand on my thigh and tries to calm me. Mason finishes cooking and sets a plate stacked full of French toast in the middle of the table along with a jar of Nutella and bananas. Sophie grabs the syrup and plates while I grab the silverware, then we all sit.
As we eat, I try to push my worries away, but it’s no use. My emotions are starting to bubble over. No one brings up the elephant in the room even though we all know what’s coming. Tyler and Liam will leave for Vegas, and no one knows what’s going to happen or when they’ll return. The air is thick as we chat about randomness. Once our plates are clear, we thank Mason for cooking, and although I offer to help clean up, Sophie says she’s got it. She gives me a small smile and tells me to go spend time with Liam instead.
Liam grabs my hand as we walk to the bedroom. After we’re inside, he shuts the door, then slams his lips against mine, kissing away all my thoughts. He cups my face, bracing us, and pours all his emotions into me. I wrap my arms around his bare waist and hold him as close as I can.
“Liam,” I whisper as a tear falls down my cheek. “I’m so scared.”
He leans back, gently placing his finger under my chin and forcing me to look into his eyes. Searching my face, Liam shakes his head.
“I’m coming home to you, Maddie. I know you’re thinking the worst, but things will be better after this, and we’ll be able to finally live without fear. It’ll all be over.”
“But until you come back to me, fear is all I’ll have,” I admit, hating how weak I sound because I wanted to be strong for him.
The look of sadness on his face is evident as he rests his forehead against mine, sucking in a breath. “I’m so sorry to put you through this, baby. I wish things were different.”
I let out a ragged breath, knowing the next forty-five minutes will pass by in a blink. “Just please be careful. Please.” I close my eyes as I beg him to stay safe.
“I will. Trust me, I’ll do whatever it takes to win that fight and put this nightmare behind us.”
We pull apart so Liam can finish getting ready. He grabs his duffel bag and double-checks what he packed, then adds extra clothes inside before changing. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watch him. Once he’s finally ready, Liam turns to me and smiles.
“I love you,” he says, sitting next to me.
“I love you more, so much more.”
He presses butterfly kisses along my jaw before meeting my mouth. Together, we’re lost in the moment. I wish I could freeze time and keep him here with me forever. Unfortunately, it’s not an option. Eventually, we break apart, and Liam stands.
“Should probably get going before Tyler yells at me.” He’s not happy about leaving either. I can see the turmoil brewing in his eyes.
“Yeah, you don’t want to miss your flight.” I walk with him to the living room where Sophie, Mason, and Tyler are sitting around drinking coffee. Liam announces he’s ready to leave, and everyone stands, but Tyler runs upstairs. I plaster on a smile, but I’m dying on the inside as he wraps his arms around Sophie and gives her a big hug.
“Be careful, Liam. Kick some ass,” Sophie tells him, then glances at me with a sad smile. If anyone in this room knows how much this is destroying me, it’s her. I might be able to somewhat hide how I really feel from Liam, but with Sophie, I’m transparent. Mason gives him a side hug and tells him to call as soon as it’s over. Tyler comes downstairs carrying a bag and says he’s good to go.
“I’m going to be fine,” Liam says, glancing around the room. “I’ll be home in a few days.”
He grabs his bag, and I follow him outside. Tyler gets in the truck as Liam wraps his arms around me. It’s chilly, the cool breeze sweeping over my skin, and I shiver. Liam holds me, kisses me, and then leaves with an I love you and a reassuring smile. I watch his truck until the taillights are out of sight.
Yesterday, after Liam left, was horrible. I laid in bed and cried, sleeping for the better half of the day until So
phie forced me to eat dinner. Liam texted me when he landed and called me before he went to bed, but I didn’t feel any better about him being there. Talking to him just reiterated how real the whole situation is. Somehow, I fell asleep without him lying next to me. My bed hasn’t felt this empty in a long time.
I wake up the next morning, and I know my eyes are red and puffy. After I shower, I put on some jeans and a T-shirt, then grab a hoodie. While going through my morning routine, I realize that I need a new pack of my birth control pills. I got a three-month supply and put the extras in my nightstand.
As I dig through the drawer, I notice a white envelope with my name on it in Liam’s writing. What the hell is this?
Ripping it open and unfolding the paper, I quickly realize it’s a letter from him. Sitting down on the bed, I read it.
Dear Maddie,
It’s after two in the morning, and I can’t sleep. Knowing I’m leaving in just a few days keeps my mind wandering, and though I’m content to just hold you in my arms all night, I decided I needed to write you this letter.
I don’t believe in coincidences, but I truly believe I met you for a reason. You’ve changed my life. Since the night we danced at that frat party, you’ve made an impact on me. Through all those times I fought it, I still felt there was a reason you and I were meant to be together. I hope you understand how deep my love for you is because I never want to be without you.
You’re it for me, baby.
Though I’m not much of a praying man, I’ve been praying like hell we get through this. That I come back to you, and we can start our lives together forever. A year ago, I had no idea what my life would be like, and now I only picture you and me. Oh, how your love has changed me.
But the reality is, this fight is dangerous. The reality is, something bad could happen. I tried not to think of the what-ifs, but they’ve been hitting me harder and faster, and I can’t ignore them. If something horrible does happen, I want you to know how deeply, insanely, madly in love with you I am. You need to know I wanted forever with you, and baby, if I don’t come back, promise me you’ll find happiness again.