His laugh is rich and deep. “Grandpa realized I wasn’t moving, and he asked me what was wrong. I was embarrassed to tell him the truth—that I was afraid—but I also didn’t have another excuse to get out of it. I felt cornered, so I told him that I didn’t want to fly his plane because I hated flying with him, which wasn’t true. I loved being up in the sky with him. But my fear had gotten the better of me, so I lied. And, in turn, I hurt him. I saw it in his eyes, and that made me feel sick for real. So, I fessed up the truth. I told him that I didn’t want to learn to fly because I was afraid.”
“What did he say?”
“He hugged me. My grandpa’s kind of a hugger. You’ll learn that when you meet him.”
I’m going to meet his grandpa?
“And then he said to me, ‘Liam, there’s nothing wrong with being afraid. Everyone feels fear. But the day you let your fear control you is the day you stop living. Really living.’ Then, he asked me if I wanted to live.”
My eyes are on Liam’s face. I’m riveted. I’ve forgotten that I’m on a roller coaster and that it’s currently climbing hundreds of feet in the air. Well, I haven’t forgotten, but it’s not at the forefront of my mind. What Liam is telling me is. Because it matters to me, more than he could ever realize.
My mouth is dry as I ask, “What did you say?”
He grins, his eyes lighting up. “Well, I was twelve years old, and I didn’t really have a fucking clue what he was trying to tell me. He’d just hugged me, and I always felt better when my grandpa hugged me. But I knew he was talking about living, and I definitely wanted to do that. And I wanted to make him happy. So, I got on the plane. And it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I copiloted the fuck out of that plane, and I loved it.
“If I hadn’t done that, then I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I wouldn’t have the businesses I have. My airplanes wouldn’t be flying millions of people all over the world to exotic locations. And I wouldn’t have met you, and I wouldn’t be sitting here next to you on this ride, helping you conquer this fear. My choice to conquer my fear brought me to this moment. It brought me to you.”
Sweet Jesus.
There’s a lump the size of this roller coaster stuck in my throat. Out of nowhere, I feel tears start to creep in. I blink away from him and turn my face forward as I close my eyes.
I feel Liam’s body move closer, his shoulder pressing to mine.
“Open your eyes, Boston.” His breath brushes over the shell of my ear, making me shiver.
I take a deep breath, making sure I’m not going to bawl like a little girl, and I open my eyes to see that we’ve stopped.
And we’re at the top of the roller coaster track.
I can see the whole of London from up here. The sun is setting in the distance, and the sight is incredibly beautiful—just like Liam.
My eyes sweep the view, looking at the dusky pink and orange glow from the sun, as the last remnants of it brush over the tops of the buildings, like an artist’s paintbrush. And below, the streetlamps are coming on, and lights inside the buildings are turned on.
It looks like a painting. A beautiful painting.
“You were right,” I whisper. “It’s beautiful.”
“Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Liam’s free hand touches my cheek, turning my face to his. He presses his lips to mine. Then, he slides his lips over my cheek and says into my ear, “He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”
I tilt my head back a touch to look in his eyes. “You’re quoting Aristotle to me?” I grin.
An impressed look flashes through his eyes. “Boston, I’m as smart as I am good-looking, which is extremely, in case you had any doubt.”
“Nope. Never doubted that for a second.” I shake my head, a smile still fixed on my lips.
“So”—his eyes leave mine to look over the view—“do you feel free right now?”
“Yeah,” I exhale. “I guess I do.”
“Good. You’re about to feel a whole lot freer—”
His words are cut off by the loud screams around us as the roller coaster plunges forward at breakneck speed.
Actually, I think I might have broken my neck. Not that I can feel anything or move.
My head is stuck to the headrest. My hair is plastered back to my head. The wind is rushing in my ears along with screams of delight from other riders, and I’m pretty sure my stomach is still at the top of the ride.
And even though I’m terrified out of my mind and I just realized that those screams I hear are actually coming from me…even with all of that, my heart feels light.
And that’s because of the man sitting beside me. The man who is still holding my hand, just like he promised he would.
With some effort, against the g-force, I manage to turn my head to look at him.
Liam’s stare is on me, and he’s smiling and laughing. Probably because I’ve been screaming like a little girl.
Even still, my heart squeezes in my chest at the sight of him laughing.
I smile back at him—at least, the best I can with my lips that have been g-forced to my face.
I feel happy and free. I feel alive.
The shock of those words reverberates around inside me. Like a ball spinning around a moving roulette wheel.
I feel alive.
For the first time in a really long time, I feel alive.
And it’s because of him.
I’m smiling and laughing and doing something that scares the crap out of me.
I’m living because of Liam.
And that thought alone brings with it a whole new brand of fear in me. A fear that terrifies me in a way that I have never known before.