Chapter 147
I almost laugh. She’s got nerve, I’ll give her that.
I take a step closer. Then another. Just to test her.
She doesn’t move, doesn’t blink – just tightens her grip like she means it.
I’m close enough to say something smug when-
SMACK!
Pain explodes across my shoulder. “Mmph- fuck!”
She lowers the mop slightly, but doesn’t back off. “Next one’s to the ribs.”
I rub the spot she hit, still smiling. “You always this violent, or am I just lucky?”
“No, you’re just dumb.”
I nod, impressed. “Dumb and kinda into it.”
That gets her. Her expression flickers – confused, then mildly horrified – but she doesn’t let go of the mop.
God, she’s fun.
“I see why my brother’s into you,” I say, running a hand through my hair, still catching my breath. There’s a rush under my skin now – something wild and burning and stupidly alive.
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Seeing Rowland always drags me under. Makes me feel like I’m drowning in everything I’ll never be. And Liam… Liam just adds fuel to the fire I can’t put out all that quiet competence, all
that ease.
But this girl?
This girl’s looking at me like I’m speaking in tongues and she’s still ready to rearrange my bones with a mop.
And for some reason, that makes it worse. Or better.
“Hit me again, beautiful,” I say, grinning now. “I might actually enjoy it.”
She stares at me like I’ve just crawled out of a sewer.
“Are you actually insane?” she asks, face twisted in the most gloriously offended expression I’ve ever seen. “You break in through a window, talk shit, ask to be assaulted, and now you’re flirting? I should’ve hit you harder.”
God, she’s incredible.
I press a palm to my chest. “Marry me.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh my God-”
The door swings open just then, and in walks Liam.
Perfect timing.
He freezes in the doorway, eyes locking on the scene: me, grinning like a lunatic; her, mop raised; both of us way too close.
I see the shift in his face. The second he processes it.
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So I make it worse.
I grab the mop with one hand and tug her toward me, catching her completely off guard. Before she can wriggle free, I duck down and kiss her.
She doesn’t just resist – she fights. She bites my lip so hard I actually flinch, her knee aiming somewhere dangerous.
Still. My blood’s buzzing. I let her go, laughing, tasting copper.
Liam’s already across the room.
He shoves me hard – back hits the wall — and if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under, cremated, and scattered off a cliff.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he growls, voice low and shaking with rage.
I lick my lip, tasting blood, smiling wider.
“Bonding,” I say.
Then I look at the girl still clutching the mop like a weapon and shrug. “Told you I’d like it.”
LIAM
“I’m sixteen, Li. I’m not a kid anymore.”
Lucille’s arms are crossed, her face pulled into what I think is supposed to be a glare – except there’s no heat behind it. Not really.
I sigh. Maybe this is on me. In my head, they’re all still babies. Even Maya, and she’s only five years younger. Veronica’s a
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senior and still calls me at 2 AM because she had a bad dream. And Lucille… Lucille is too soft–hearted to realise that people can smile at her and still treat her like shit.
I wince.
Julie and I might’ve gentle–parented a little too well.
Then I think about how Seth and Eliza turned out and wonder how the hell gentle parenting skipped them entirely.
“I’m not saying you are,” I tell her. “You’re old enough to stand up for yourself. And not let anyone give you sh-” I catch myself. “A hard time. I don’t have friends who get off on making me feel like crap.”
“But I’m not upset!” Lucille argues, indignant. “They’re just jokes. Pranks. I actually have a sense of humour, Liam.”
I frown. “Does your sense of humour include drinking toilet water? Or having your Gatorade swapped with mineral water?” I level her with a look. “You break out in hives when you drink that stuff. Come on, Luci. Be serious.”
–
She doesn’t budge — and, God help me, some stupid part of me is proud of her for it. I just wish she’d channel that backbone toward people who deserve it.
“They are my friends,” she snaps. “You don’t know how they show affection. And you and Julie are always going on about letting us make our own choices – until we actually try, and suddenly we’re too young to know anything.”
Well. Can’t argue with that.
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