Please, God, don’t let him have another woman in here. I can’t handle it.
Liam opens the door smiling and it falters when he sees me. “Hey,” he says, closing the door behind him, pushing us out into the hall.
“Wow,” I say in disbelief.
“Wow?”
“You’re kidding me, right? You have someone else here? Not only do you tell Aaron you’ll step aside, but you move on so quickly.” I’m so beside myself I can’t think. I push his chest and slap him. “I hate you all!”
Liam’s arms wrap around me and stop my physical assault. “What the hell are you talking about? Calm down,” he commands as I struggle to get out of his hold. “Natalie, stop.”
“How could you? I trusted you!” I begin to cry.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I heard a girl laughing, and you pushed me into the damn hall.” Tears fall like rain as he refuses to let me go.
“It’s Quinn and the girl he’s talking to.” He releases me a little so I can look at him. “Did you think I had another girl in there?”
My eyes meet his with drops streaming down my face. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“Only you. I wouldn’t be able to be with anyone else.” Liam holds me close, and I try to melt into him. His words soothe me, and being in his arms allows me a sense of comfort.
“Don’t give me up so easily,” I cry against his chest and he lets out a deep breath.
“Let’s go inside?” he offers.
I nod and he pulls me to his side.
As we enter, I see no broken bottles and everything is cleaned up better than when I left. It’s been not even a day since I was here. So much has happened in the last few days, but my mind and body feel as if it’s been a lot longer.
“Hey, Lee,” Quinn says and looks at Liam then sits. “We’ll get out of here and let you guys talk,” he offers and grabs his date’s hand. She stands and smiles at me.
“I’m sorry to run you off.”
“You didn’t. Ready, Ash?” I look at her and she looks familiar.
Liam juts his head toward the kitchen, and Quinn nods and heads there. “I just need to talk to Quinn a second,” Liam quietly tells me in my ear before kissing the side of my head.
She walks over and waves awkwardly. “Hi, I’m Ashton Caputo. We kinda met, but didn’t really, because well, it wasn’t the time for introductions. However, I think that may be our thing,” Ashton rambles. “Anyway, I’m Catherine’s best friend from New Jersey.” It takes a second, but I remember she was with Catherine. She’s absolutely stunning. Her long, red hair flows down her back and her eyes shimmer.
“I sort of remember.”
“I’m visiting Mark, but he pawned me off on Quinn while they left for a few days to go . . . well, anyway, so we came here to meet Liam,” she explains.
“Are you and Mark . . . ?” I ask with wide eyes.
“No!” she waves her hands animatedly. “We tried that and it was like putting the same person in the other and one trying to claw its way out. We’re just friends.”
“Ahh, so you’re both smartasses?”
“Well, he’s an ass and I’m smart.” She pauses and I smile.
Ashton seems uncomfortable, and I instantly hate that I’ve ruined their night. “What brings you down here?”
Her eyes close and she shakes her head. “I needed a break from my life, so Mark suggested I come to Virginia for the week. Just so happened to be a busy week here as well.”
“You could say that,” I half laugh.
“I know you don’t know me, but I feel like I know you. Cat talks about you a lot and she’s worried about you. I don’t know much other than what I’ve overheard, but are you okay?”
I sit on the couch and Ashton sits beside me. “Short answer . . . no. I’m so far from okay I don’t even know what it looks like. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t burden you on your vacation.”
“Please,” she scoffs. “This is an escape from my self-inflicted hell. Plus, with Cat gone, I don’t have much girl talk, so please don’t feel bad. I miss this. She’s practically married to Jackson, and they’re in a good place, so I get nothing.” She grins, and I feel at ease with her. “You have a lot going on, and believe me, I only know what I’m overhearing from G.I. Joe over there. Mark told me that he had to go do something and then dropped me off at Quinn’s. So I’ve pieced a few things together.”
I smile and even if she knows everything, I’m grateful she’s allowing me the sense of privacy. “Quick version . . . my dead husband isn’t dead. Liam is his best friend and has told him he’ll back off. I’m in love with him, and Liam deploys soon. Basically, I’m losing my friggin’ mind.”
“Well, who do you want?”
“Liam,” I say without any hesitation.