Chapter 55
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One second, he’s standing beside me, the warmth of his presence keeping me grounded, and the next, he’s got Zane shoved up against the hallway wall, his forearm pressing into his chest.
“Say her name again,” Liam says, his voice terrifyingly calm. “Go on. I dare you.”
Zane’s eyes flash, but for once, he’s not so quick with a comeback. Maybe because he knows Liam isn’t bluffing.
I should step in. I should tell Liam to stop. But I don’t.
Because for the first time in a long time, someone is standing up for me.
Liam leans in, lowering his voice. “You want to talk about throwing people away? That’s rich, coming from you. But let me make something very clear.” His grip tightens, and I swear I hear Zane suck in a breath. “Emilia isn’t something you discarded. She’s someone you lost. And trust me, you will never get her back.”
A slow shiver runs down my spine.
Zane tries to laugh it off, but it sounds forced. “You think you’re any different? I respect you, I’m just trying to look out for you that’s why I’m like this.”
“I don’t want your respect and I didn’t ask you to look out for me.”
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Zane flinches. “Yeah? So what happens when you get tired of her?”
Liam doesn’t even hesitate. “I won’t.”
I feel my breath catch.
Zane scoffs, but there’s something behind his eyes now- something bitter. He jerks his shoulder back, forcing Liam to release him, and straightens his suit like nothing happened.
“Becca’s waiting for you at the pool. Maybe you should go to her and not make a fool of yourself here. Alright?” Liam’s words seem to be the sole reminder of his wife to be, but they’re so condescending, like he’s talking to a child or maybe the gum stuck beneath his shoe.
The latter might not be so far off.
Zane says nothing, then turns on his heel and stalks off.
The silence between us is charged.
Then Liam exhales, shaking out his hands before turning to me. His blue eyes lock onto mine, searching.
“You okay?” His voice is softer now, gentler.
I nod, but my body betrays me, the slight tremble in my hands giving me away.
Liam notices. Of course he does,
He reaches for me, his fingers brushing over mine, sending a warm, steadying pulse through me. “Forget him. He’s not worth it.”
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“I know. I have.” I say honestly. But how do I admit that my hands are only shaking so much because he defended me, not because of that asshole’s words?
He’ll never get tired of me, huh?
He really is good at pretend.
I wonder just how good he is. Does it stop at the fake smiles? Or is the way he is looking at me, like I’m something worth protecting. Like I’m someone he won’t let go of.
Is that fake too?
I shake my head softly. “I was heading over to the pool. Lacey told me about it.”
He looks me over for a few more minutes before nodding. “Sure thing. Let’s change and head out.”
The pool is packed by the time we arrive. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything. Laughter and splashes echo through the air, mingling with the scent of chlorine and coconut sunscreen.
Lacey spots us first, waving wildly from a lounge chair. “There you are! I was about to send a search party.”
She’s lying, of course. Lacey wouldn’t have moved from that chair if her life depended on it. But I appreciate the sentiment.
I smile, more aware of Liam’s hand on the small of my back than ever. I ditched wearing the sundress over my swimsuit, it has an open back, stopping right above my ass and exactly where his hand stops. “Of course you were.”
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Liam chuckles beside me, his fingers skimming lightly against my bare skin before he drops his hand entirely. I should be relieved, but instead, my skin feels colder without his touch.
“About time you got here,” Lacey says, adjusting her
sunglasses. “I need backup. Some guy in blue trunks won’t stop flexing at me.”
I follow her gaze to a guy doing bicep curls with a suspiciously full margarita. “Well, in his defense, that’s some impressive multitasking.”
Lacey groans and flops dramatically onto her chair. “I hate it here.”
“Sure you do,” Liam says with a snort then looks around. “Where’s your better half run off to?”
Lacey shakes her head, an exaggerated look of exasperation on her face. “We were both sharing the pains of bearing the sight in front of us. Single! Do you know how difficult it is being one of the only couples on this cruise that aren’t actually a couple?! Then every guy here is either hot, taken or cheating!”
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