I looked her up and down, taking in her tiny frame. She couldn’t have been much more than five feet.
“You’re awfully feisty,” I commented.
“And you’re rude.”
Ollie snickered and began to slow clap. “Liam, I think you’ve met your match.”
I snorted and glared down at her. “Not likely.”
“Before you two claw each other’s eyes out or something, we all need to talk,” he explained.
“Talk?” I repeated. “About what?”
“Ari needs a place to stay. You have the room. Let’s make this easy and all agree.” Ollie grinned like what he’d said was no big deal.
“What?” I growled. “No.”
“Him?” She glared at Ollie and pointed at me. “You want to me to live with this asshole?”
Ollie snorted. “Well, yeah. Liam, you have like five spare bedrooms. What’s the big deal? You guys will probably never see each other.”
“You know I like my privacy,” I ground out the words between my teeth.
Ollie shook his head. “Your privacy,” he mimicked my tone, “is your downfall. Stop isolating yourself.”
“I know you like your strays, Ollie, but she’s not my responsibility.”
“Jesus Christ, Liam, can’t you do something selfless for once in your life. Ari needs some help getting back on her feet.”
“How do I know she’s not going to sell stories about me to the media?”
Ollie sighed heavily. “Dude, you need to realize not everyone is out to get you. Please, she needs help.”
“She is standing right here.” Ari pointed to herself. “And I have no desire to live with this asshole.”
Ollie grinned at me. “See, she doesn’t even like you. It’s perfect.”
I tore my beanie off and ran my fingers roughly through my hair. I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to sort my thoughts.
I hated people in my space.
Especially people I didn’t know.
But I wasn’t a complete asshole, and I knew if I left I’d feel guilty for not helping her.
I didn’t do well with guilt.
“Fine,” I huffed out.
“Excellent!” Ollie cheered.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Ari’s exclamation cut through Ollie’s cheers. “Do I not get any say in this?”
“No,” Ollie and I said simultaneously.
She threw up her arms and mumbled something under her breath.
“Look,” Ollie said softly to her. “It’s a temporary thing. Liam’s place is huge, you won’t even have to deal with his sorry ass, and we’ll help you get a job so you can save some money to get back on your feet.”
She nodded at his words and looked up at me. “I hate to impose, I honestly do, if you just give me a few days I can—”
I held up a hand to silence her. “No.”
“No?” she repeated, her dark brows furrowing into a thin line.
“You’ll stay with me as long as you need. Ollie’s right, I have plenty of space, but there will be rules,” I warned her.
She nodded. “I would expect as much.”
“Good.” I glared at Ollie and pointed at him. “You owe me for this.”
“Of course.” He grinned and moved toward the bedroom. “Lock up on your way out, will you?”
I shook my head and turned toward Ari. “Grab your things. Ollie woke me up, and I need more sleep or I’ll be an even bigger asshole than you’ve witnessed here.”
She picked up a small pile of clothes. “I’m ready.”
“That’s it?” I questioned, an air of shock to my voice.
She nodded.
Well, fuck. I feel like a huge dick. This girl literally has nothing.
“Okay, then, let’s go.” I nodded at the door.
She went first, and I closed the door behind us, purposely leaving it unlocked.
“Yours?” she asked, nodding at my white Jeep.
“Yep.” I pushed a button and unlocked the doors.
She climbed inside—which was highly entertaining to watch with her short little legs—and set her clothes in her lap. I slid in and stared at that small pile of clothes like it had personally insulted me.
“You can drop me off at a shelter or something. It’s okay.”
I looked up at her face with her softly spoken words. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Um…no.”
“You’re staying with me,” I declared, starting my car. “I thought we’d established that.”
“You didn’t seem too happy about that fact.” She shrugged. “I’ll be fine on my own.” She looked doubtful at those words. “You don’t need to take care of me.”
I sighed heavily. “I know I don’t, but I’m going to. Ollie and Talia help a lot of people, but they’ve never asked me to be involved before. You must be special.”
She shook her head. “I’m nothing special.”
I wanted to argue that fact with her, but I’d already come across as a jerk, so I figured I’d keep my mouth shut for now.
When the gates opened into my neighborhood, Ari gasped.
“You live here?” she asked, almost pressing her face to the glass to see better.
“Yeah,” I replied, amused by her reaction.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
“No one.”
She laughed softly. “Liar.”
The road wound higher and higher until I finally reached my house.
“Holy shit,” she gasped, looking up at my house with her mouth parted in awe.
I pushed a button and the garage door rolled up. I pulled inside and killed the engine.
“Let’s establish some rules first.”
“Okay.” She nodded and turned in her seat to face me fully. “Rules are good.”
“I like things neat,” I told her, holding up a single finger as I began to name off things on my invisible list. “If you move something put it back where you found it, got it?” I waited for her to nod. “You’re free to eat anything you want so don’t worry about asking me, but if you make a mess in the kitchen you need to clean it up.”
She narrowed her blue eyes in thought. “Are you a neat-freak or something?”
“I don’t like messes.” Holding up a third finger, I said, “And lastly, stay out of my way.”
“I can do that.” She nodded resolutely. “Once I get a job and save some money I’ll be out of your hair. Trust me when I say I’m not looking to bum off of you. I really wish I didn’t have to accept your help or anyone’s, but I have to.” Her lower lip trembled; something told me it had less to do with sadness and more to do with fear. Shaking her head, she let out a soft self-deprecating laugh. “I never thought my life would turn out like this. Homeless, with no idea where my life is headed, forced to accept help from strangers and hope for the best.”
I realized then how scared she must have been. She’d just met Ollie and Talia, and suddenly they’d thrust her upon me. I'd wanted to ask her how she ended up in that predicament, but from the guarded look in her eyes I knew she wouldn’t tell me. Besides, it was best that I didn’t get too close to her.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I’ll show you to your room.”
I was trying to remain as cordial as possible to make up for my earlier behavior, but I still wasn’t thrilled about the situation.
She gathered up her small bundle of clothes and hopped out of my Jeep. I led her inside, careful not to touch her when she passed me to step into the house.
“Quick tour,” I muttered, leading her around downstairs. “Kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom through that door, and that door,” I pointed to the door my darkroom was behind, “is off-limits. Open that door and you’re out of here in two seconds flat.”
So much for trying to make up for earlier.
She looked from the door up to me with wide eyes. “Okay?” It came out sounding like a question.
I rubbed my hands together and my lips twisted into a f
rown. I didn’t bother to explain my reasoning for making the room off-limits.
“All right, this way.” I nodded toward the stairs and jogged up them.
She followed behind, her steps so much lighter than my heavy stomping.
“My room is there.” I pointed to the double doors leading into the master bedroom. “Also off-limits.”
She laughed at that. “It’s cute that you think I’d even want to go into your room.”
I raised my brows and kept my lips sealed despite the urge to chuckle. I liked her sass.
I led her down the hall to the room farthest from mine. Swinging the door open, I waved her inside.
“Your room,” I stated, leaning against the doorframe as she passed me to step inside.
Her arm brushed mine, and she jumped as if she’d been shocked. Her wide blue eyes shot up to mine, and she cleared her throat awkwardly but said nothing about her reaction.
“Thank you. This is more than I could’ve asked for.” She glanced around the room.
I dipped my head at her words. “If you need anything…” I started to say, “come find me,” but quickly changed my mind. “Call Ollie or Talia. They’ll be able to help you.”
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “So…if I can’t find a towel in your house, I should call your friends?”
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “Ask me. Them. Whatever. I don’t give a fuck.”
With a sharp exhale, I turned and left.
I knew she probably thought I was the biggest asshole on the planet, and she would have been right.
Ari
I stared at the now empty doorway and shook my head.
That was one strange guy. Then again, maybe he only seemed odd because I’d basically crashed into his life. Although, dumped would be a more apt word.
I’d taken a leap of faith with Ollie and Talia, and I was forced to do it again with that guy.
Liam.
I was desperate to know more about him. He looked young, not much older than me, but there was this hardened look in his eyes that made him appear older. He had to be rich too, to own a place like this. Maybe he was an actor or something. Although, he didn’t strike me as the type.
I set my pathetic belongings down on the bed. The room was painted white and there were three large windows that you could see the ocean from. The bed had an upholstered, teal headboard, and the bedding was white and different shades of blue. The rest of the furniture was a mix of white and blue.
A guy hadn’t decorated the room, that much was obvious, and I wondered if Liam had a girlfriend. Or had one as in the past tense because I didn’t get the impression there was a woman around then.
I sat my butt on the end of the bed and took a deep breath before blowing it out.
Forty-eight hours ago I’d been running for my life.
And now I am hiding.
I was so desperate to stay out of his clutches that I was entrusting my wellbeing to strangers. I was a survivor, though, and I’d do what I had to do. As much as the situation sucked, I knew I was safest in his house. I didn’t even know Liam, but something told me not many people crossed him. He didn’t know it, but he’d become my unofficial protector and his house my sanctuary. The fact that his neighborhood was gated was an added bonus. I wouldn’t be there long if I had any say in the matter. Once I got a job and saved enough money, I’d disappear, because staying in one place for too long wouldn’t be safe. I knew when I fled I’d probably spend the rest of my life on the run, but that option was better than staying with him.
Blaise.
Even his name made goosebumps break out across my skin, and I shivered from the memories alone.
I wished I could banish his name and face from my memories. I wanted to forget that the last few years of my life existed.
I wanted to bury Scarlett and resurrect Ari.
With a sigh, I stood from the bed and padded over to the dresser. Above it hung a large round mirror. The girl reflected there was a stranger.
Well, actually she wasn’t.
It was the old me that stared back, not Scarlett, and the fact that my own appearance seemed alien spoke volumes.
Blaise had made me dye my hair red, and I was forced to wear brown contacts in order to hide my naturally vibrant-blue eyes.
Before I fled Oregon, I’d dyed my hair back to its natural dark-brown-nearly-black color and shed the contacts. I wondered if Blaise saw me if he’d even recognize me. I hoped I’d never get the answer to that.
I turned away from the mirror and instead studied the photographs framed on the walls. All of them were in black and white. Most of the pictures were of the ocean and various surfers. One picture, in particular, caught my eye. The guy’s back was turned away from the camera, and he stood staring at the ocean, one hand braced on his brow to shield the sun from his eyes, and a surfboard clasped in his other hand. His hair was a wild curly mess, and I felt certain that the guy was Ollie. If the guy was Ollie, I wondered if that meant Liam had taken the photos. I had a hard time picturing him with a camera in hand, but the fact of the matter was I didn’t know him.
It was still early in the morning, and it sounded like Liam had gone back to bed, but I knew there was no chance of me getting any more sleep.
I didn’t feel like creeping around Liam’s house, either, so I turned on the TV mounted on the wall.
I jumped when the sound kicked on. It wasn’t even that loud, but it’d been so long since I’d watched TV that it startled me.
I took a deep breath and pressed a hand to my racing heart.
“It’s only a TV,” I scolded myself.
Shaking my head at my own stupidity, I settled on the bed and figured I’d watch TV until Liam got up and then I could make breakfast for the both of us. Maybe if I show him I am useful and intend to help out he’ll feel better about me crashing here.
Then again, something told me nothing impressed that guy.
***
It was after noon when Liam finally got up. I’d long since ceased waiting for him and made my own breakfast.
I’d felt weird creeping through his kitchen, using his things and eating his food, but he had said he didn’t care if I ate his food as long as I kept his kitchen clean.
I’d made crepes for breakfast—one thing I could do, and do well, was cook—and had left a plate for him.
When he crept down the stairs I stood from where I’d been sitting at the kitchen table. I clasped my hands together and kept my head down as he entered the room.
“What are you doing?” he muttered, his voice thick with sleep.
My head quickly snapped up, and my hands fell to my sides when I realized what I’d done.
I’d acted as if he was Blaise.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, taking a seat once more. “I made some extra breakfast if you want some.” I pointed at the Saran-Wrap-covered plate.
He glanced at it, and his lips thinned into a line. He removed the Saran Wrap and picked up the plate so he could sniff it.
“Uh…” I started. “I didn’t poison it, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He eyed me over the plate but said nothing. I wasn’t surprised; I got the impression he was a guy of few words.
He grabbed a fork from the drawer and bumped it closed with his hip. He took a bite, chewed, and tilted his head to the side to study me.
“It’s good.”
I don’t know why, but I did an internal victory dance at his admission. He set the plate on the counter, and continued to eat but didn’t speak. I slid off the bar stool and started to leave when he cleared his throat.
I glanced at him over my shoulder and saw in his eyes that he wanted me to wait, so I turned around to face him fully. He crossed his arms over his chest, pulling his gray t-shirt taut across his body.
“Ollie sent me a text to let you know he and Talia will be by to pick you up this evening once they’re off from work.”
“Do you know what for?” I asked softly, half-afrai
d the sound of my voice might anger him.
“I think he’s trying to get a job lined up for you. Not really sure.” He shrugged and lifted his hand to rub at the back of his head. The gesture made his shirt ride up, exposing his smooth, muscled stomach. I quickly diverted my gaze to the ground, but his chuckle let me know he’d caught me.
“Cool,” I said awkwardly, edging toward the doorway.
He wasn’t paying attention to me, though. His attention was focused on the food, and I knew I’d been dismissed that time.
I was used to being pushed away, so his coldness didn’t bother me.
But maybe it should have.
***
I tried to make myself look halfway decent if Ollie and Talia were going to take me around to apply for jobs, but it was futile. Hopefully I could pull off the “fresh-faced” look, but I didn’t think anyone would buy that thanks to the dark circles under my eyes.
I changed into the clothes Talia had given me the morning before Liam showed up. It was a pair of white shorts and a flowered blousy-type top. It wasn’t really job interview material, but it was better than my jeans and hoodie.
A knock sounded on the bedroom door, and a second later Talia poked her head inside.
“Hey.” She smiled brightly, and I silently envied her carefree happiness. “Are you ready?”
I nodded my head.
“Good. I think we’ve already secured the job for you, but Darren wanted to meet you first.”
“Thanks for this.” I motioned to the outfit I wore.
“It looks good on you.” She smiled reassuringly, and I knew she understood how hard it was for me to accept help. She eased the door closed quietly, and in a hushed tone, asked, “How’s it going with Liam?”
I shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I’ve mostly been in my room, though, so it isn’t like we’ve really interacted.”
“I want you to know that Liam can be…” She paused, searching for the right word. “Intense. He’s hard to get to know, and he’ll do his best to force you to hate him, but don’t let that get to you. He really is a nice guy if you can push past his bullshit.”
“Noted.” I nodded, but I really had no interest in getting to know Liam. Living there was only a temporary situation, and I wasn’t looking to make friends, not even with Ollie and Talia. Making a connection would make it hard to leave, and I couldn’t afford that.
The Lies That Define Us Page 2